Hi all

We’re moving from uk to NJ and I’d love to hear some recent experiences.

• Has anyone gone through the L1A process recently - how complex was the interview? I’m going via a blanket petition straight to the interview.
• Is it generally okay to leave UK pensions as-is for now?
• Did you have to sell ISAs (stocks & shares or cash) before moving?
• Any other financial, shipping, or family-move tips you wish you’d known earlier?

Thanks in advance.🙏

Hi ans Welcome to BE

As you might have noticed the USA section is split into several groups. With the exception of your first question, the rest of your posting is not a visa question but rather about logistics. As such I am asking that your post be redirected to the USA general forum for answers.

Rete

I've moved your thread to the main US forums as Rete suggested. Can't help with the interview as ours were waived for the non immigrant visa (we only had interviews in London for our green cards), but hopefully searching the forums will give you some info on fairly recent visa interviews.

Your ISA's won't be tax free in the US and you can't add anything further to it, so I think the general advice is to get rid (before you become US tax resident). Again, a search of the forum will bring up some relevant threads I'm sure. f you're only on a temporary visa, then I'd leave your pensions where they are for now.

My only tip is to make sure you're on a really good package, it's sooooo much more expensive in the US! Most things cost 3 times as much for me. Hopefully if you're on a L1A you're on a good expat assignment package, but do make sure it's up to scratch particularly where healthcare is concerned, and housing too if that's being provided (ours didn't give us enough in the housing budget, we had to get them to up it).

Best of luck.

Any investment that is not cash, bonds or individual shares will be taxed prohibitively, much more than regular capital gains tax, and likely require onerous additional reporting to the IRS and FinCEN depending upon the value of the investment. There are severe penalties for non compliance and the reporting requirements for any kind of pooled investment fund, like an OEIC, ETF, Investment Trust, etc are complex, requiring expensive professional assistance at least the first time around, Best to liquidate everything that is not cash, bonds or an individual share before you arrive. The day you arrive, or after, is too late to avoid these issues. It does not matter if they are held in a tax free wrapper, the US does not recognize that. Foreign pensions must be reported on an FBAR and on Form 8938 but are otherwise protected from the onerous taxation that applies to all other non cash, bond and individual share investments (until withdrawn). Life insurance must also be reported as well as bank accounts, pensions, and investments on Form 8938. Essentially everything except property, art and collectibles. It would be prudent to seek US tax advice and get your affairs in order before moving.

Keep your UK bank accounts as you won’t be able to open a UK account when a US resident. Ditto for any future pension arrangements.

I was originally on an L1 visa but I did not have to have an interview, only when I applied to change my status to Permanent Resident (Green Card).
Personally I would keep everything financial as is in the UK until you decide and you are approved to stay in the USA permanently. For transferring money from UK to US I use Wise.com who are easy to use and seem to have good ROE and rates.
Good luck with the immigration process. For me it was a long and at times stressful journey dealing with them. My advice when dealing with immigration services is be polite and don't try any English humour with them as you will find people take you literally!

Why NJ? Worst state.

Opinions are like noses ... everyone has one.

Thanks everyone for the insights.

I have found the process overwhelming and I am thankful to have received some tips.

Hi 👋

When it comes to shipping, check out this post on our partner forum - Everything you need to know about International Removals - hopefully it can help get you started, alongside hearing some of the personal experiences of the lovely people here in the forum 🙂

You are right, Rete, NJ is not “the” worst:

It's common for NJ to be the butt of jokes and considered the worst place to live in the country, but this is usually from people who have only seen the turnpike and Newark (or never even been at all).

It's expensive but that's because many people live in the Greater NYC area which also comes with amazing benefits. There are lots of highways, a major port and airport etc. but that's because geographically anything going along the East Coast needs to go through NJ.
It has some of the best schools and public transit (by US standards of course), highest salaries, diverse communities and food/entertainment.
Surprisingly it also has beautiful rural areas like the Delaware Water Gap, a long stunning coastline and even great agriculture. Locally grown food is always the best and NJ tomatoes, blueberries and corn are no exception.

There are pros and cons to everywhere and everyone wants different things in where they live. But most of NJ's reputation is just that, a reputation, and not an informed one.

Ive been once and was nothing out of the ordinary. Not too weird by American standards. The real odity is not being able to pump gas into your own car, that is like being transported back ot the 50s

I have to say I have grown to love it especially when it's -15C outside Visiting the UK and having to handle the oily pump was real crash to earth
But I also have it on my mental list of ways in which America is a socialist state in denial. (Pro sports draft system being another great example )

Walmart and US military being a social safety net also for so many!

My buddy who actually lived in NJ for some time ranted and raved about the Italian pizza there. After a sample size of ~10 pizza shops, I was suitably underwhelemed. Scicily can rest easy still for its pizza crown.

I prefer Neapolitan style too. NJ/NY is it's own thing that's super thin and crispy. It's good but not my fave, I like some chew not just a cracker. Some American friends of mine visited Naples and were disappointed with the perceived soft/soupy pizzas. Taste is taste.
Razza in Jersey City is Italian style and good (and Una in NYC), and Artie's in Maplewood is sort of a hybrid with a chewy crust but still very crispy. Plenty of good pizza in both NY and NJ though.
Then of course there's Detroit style square pan pizzas and Chicago deep dish. Connecticut have good "bar pie" style with basically zero crust. OK now I'm hungry.

Other Italian American cuisine I can't really get on board with. Everything swimming in sweet red sauce and gooey cheap mozzarella. When real Italian food is much more varied and subtle. Not for me (ok the occasional eggplant parm maybe...). Don't get me started on how they pronounce it all mozzarelle, rigut, gabagool.

Bagels are 100% better in the good NJ places than NY. But London bagels are still better!