goalieadam

Hi,

We have our L1 visas and we are flying out to start a new chapter in CA in a couple of weeks.

Obviously there is loads going through our minds at the moment and we are trying to sort loads of things out before we go, furntiture, cancel things in the Uk etc etc.

What i was wondering is what advice do people have for things that you wished or should get sorted before you leave the UK and the best things to get sorted as soon as you land in the US.

Just seeing if what people who have been through the process have as a lesson learned.

Thanks

notacrime

If you don't have online banking set up for your UK account then get that sorted out before you leave. Same goes for any credit card you want to maintain.

Get your mobile phone unlocked (call your carrier and ask, most will do it within a few days.) Then when you arrive in the US you can buy a t-mobile pay as you go SIM. It can be hard to buy a contract phone in the US when you don't have credit history or a credit card.

Once you are there get yourself down to the closest taqueria and order some carne asada tacos, soft shell.

Good luck with the move.

bevinva

Don't know if you have time left to do it but people have said get an American Express card in the UK because you can transfer it when you get to the US. That will help build a credit rating in the US.
Also visit every place you have never bothered to see that you can, it will make sense later. Eat all the kebabs, fish and chips, cheese, bacon, bread, and chocolate you can. Same goes for beer, as I said, it will all make sense after you get here.

sambapink

Where in CA?

bevinva

Stalker

hobbes79

Linked to online banking, put a trusted family member on your account. Some things are just so much easier if someone can walk into the bank. I put my dad on ours.

If you're a saddo and technically minded, get a friend to have a slingbox for you (didn't do it myself, but would have been nice sometimes!).

When in the US, try and put everything you can as a joint account with your partner eg. electric, phone, etc. If it's all in one name, it makes it difficult for the other to prove residency and just generally that they exist - even getting a library card is difficult if you can't! If you can't do joint, at least spread the wealth i.e. have electric in your name, phone in the name of your partner.

If you're going to have to buy a car quickly, do some research up front to save time paying for an expensive rental.

sambapink

No, actually.. I thought they might be able to bring me over a supply of teabags

bevinva

Good deals on GM cars at the moment.

The Horticulturalist

fill your suitcase with teabags, curly wurlys, proper beer, hob nobs, digestives, jaffa cakes, pataks curry paste, curry poweder and other curry type spices if you like to cook your own - not a whole lot of curry houses over here.

If you are inclined to make your own mince pies/Christmas puds then you'll need some ground mixed spice and atora.

rebs

We signed up to the AIG international relocation services.

http://www.aig.com/inbound-united-st..._20_15807.html

It's costs to sign up but we were able to get reasonably priced car insurance through this, plus an HSBC credit card with a decent credit limit.

Bob

Read the forums...this subject came up a week ago...

Englishmum

If you've got kids you need to notify the Child Benefit Centre as you will not be entitled to Child Benefit if you will be overseas long-term.

caleyjag

The biggest problem I usually have is easily solved. Mail yourself a crate of Irn Bru. And a crate of Tunnocks Caramel Logs to go with it.

BritishGuy36

It's too late for them to get an Amex account now. You need to get that set up a few months before you leave really.

Nobody has mentioned royal mail international redirection yet, get a year's mail redirection so that nobody still gets your guaranteed acceptance credit card application forms when new people are in your old house.

made of kent

def for this advice, I have loads of atora, and grab some mixed dried fruit as well.
Pataks can be found in the local asian store, at least in my neck of the woods.
can't muliquote, but child benefit, I phoned them and they said I can have payment if it is a year only?, I said well, how can we tell? he could be made redundant, and she said "claim it for the year, then get back to us, it is you right", so that is what I am doing.