Immigrate to US help

shullen

We are a family of four and my husband has recently been offered a job in NY State. Have anyone in the forum been living in the US? What are the pros and cons of moving to a completely different part of the world? Any advice and past experience would be very much appreciated!

olias

http://britishexpats.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=57

Olias

davetrousers

Healthcare insurance is a must!

ferf1223

I came the other way over 9 years ago.

Biggest difference as far as I see it...health insurance (and associated cost of such insurance, and healthcare costs) in the US - though facilities are vastly superior as a result - so there's some trade-off there, better holiday entitlement in the UK (which is true in general, but in specific circumstances such as this, maybe not).

Other things - working hours longer in the US, in general...there's not nearly so much of the 'I am only contracted for XX hours a day/week and I'm not working more than that' as there is here...most employees in the US are at will employees with limited rights as employees, so just get on with it. Not saying one is better than the other, but it is different. Life is, in general, more convenient in the US...it's easier, but offset but longer working hours and less holiday, generally.

Also less of a drinking culture in the US, though that again depends on where, exactly...not an issue for some, others would immediately be labeled alcoholics in the US.

The UK is home for me now, but it took me a loooong time to think of it that way. To me, the transition the other way would be much easier, but I can imagine some who have moved to the US from the UK would be difficult - change is rarely easy.

neilbond007

I moved from the UK to US 18 months ago. Moved with no family. Has your husband got the relevant visa yet? I got an L1 (which is usually a sure thing) but took months to go through as the criteria has been toughened up.

I LOVE it here.

Pros
Much more relaxed way of life.
Better standard of living.
Very cheap to eat out (and a huge variety of food)
Very low crime in 99% of areas (Downtown a little different - but you know where not to go, and stay away).
A summer where the sun shines!!
Cheap housing (well, at least where I am). This is my house. Cost $200k
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx154/neilbond007/?action=view&current=SANY0013.jpg
There are a couple of more pics in the album. One during the long, long winter!!

Cons
Cold winters!
Work 8.30 - 5.30
Less holidays (I get 20 days and an extra 5 is I work 50 days away in a 9 month period). Saying that, I had 5 holidays last year
Health care $$$$

And as for the non drinking culture - It's true that you don't go out to bars to get drunk (drink is ridiculously expensive in most bars) but boy are there parties at houses. May be the circles I move in, but round here it's any excuse for a drink!!

If you want to ask any more personal / detailed questions then feel free to PM me!

ferf1223

neilbond007 wrote: »

Less holidays (I get 20 days and an extra 5 is I work 50 days away in a 9 month period). Saying that, I had 5 holidays last year

That's still a lot to me though. My last job in the US I had worked at for 4 years and had 10 days holiday. First year - none, but you could borrow 5 days from your second year. Second year - 10 days, but most had borrowed 5 for first year so only had 5 left. Next increase was after 5 years and that was to 15. I couldn't believe when I got 20 days holiday immediately upon starting my job in the UK...it's one of the reasons I would find moving back difficult I think.

neilbond007

ferf1223 wrote: »

That's still a lot to me though. My last job in the US I had worked at for 4 years and had 10 days holiday. First year - none, but you could borrow 5 days from your second year. Second year - 10 days, but most had borrowed 5 for first year so only had 5 left. Next increase was after 5 years and that was to 15. I couldn't believe when I got 20 days holiday immediately upon starting my job in the UK...it's one of the reasons I would find moving back difficult I think.

It's because I've been witht he company for 12 years. I think the starting point is 10 days. No days.. that's pretty harsh

pollypenny

I never thought I'd say this, but OH and I would love to live in Florida.

Unfortunately, the health care situation would prevent that.

terriandaaron

Ot, But that is a lovely house!, We would love to move unfortunatly i think my daughters medical issues would restrict us from doing so with the whole healthcare thing:(

shullen

ferf1223 wrote: »

I came the other way over 9 years ago.

Biggest difference as far as I see it...health insurance (and associated cost of such insurance, and healthcare costs) in the US - though facilities are vastly superior as a result - so there's some trade-off there, better holiday entitlement in the UK (which is true in general, but in specific circumstances such as this, maybe not).

Other things - working hours longer in the US, in general...there's not nearly so much of the 'I am only contracted for XX hours a day/week and I'm not working more than that' as there is here...most employees in the US are at will employees with limited rights as employees, so just get on with it. Not saying one is better than the other, but it is different. Life is, in general, more convenient in the US...it's easier, but offset but longer working hours and less holiday, generally.

Also less of a drinking culture in the US, though that again depends on where, exactly...not an issue for some, others would immediately be labeled alcoholics in the US.

The UK is home for me now, but it took me a loooong time to think of it that way. To me, the transition the other way would be much easier, but I can imagine some who have moved to the US from the UK would be difficult - change is rarely easy.

Many thanks for this. Do you know whether you'd get the same level of health insurance if you have pre-existing conditions?

Holiday would be a big loss for me. I have 32 days in UK currently. Looks like I have to work a lot of years to get equivalent!

shullen

neilbond007 wrote: »

I moved from the UK to US 18 months ago. Moved with no family. Has your husband got the relevant visa yet? I got an L1 (which is usually a sure thing) but took months to go through as the criteria has been toughened up.

I LOVE it here.

Pros
Much more relaxed way of life.
Better standard of living.
Very cheap to eat out (and a huge variety of food)
Very low crime in 99% of areas (Downtown a little different - but you know where not to go, and stay away).
A summer where the sun shines!!
Cheap housing (well, at least where I am). This is my house. Cost $200k
There are a couple of more pics in the album. One during the long, long winter!!

Cons
Cold winters!
Work 8.30 - 5.30
Less holidays (I get 20 days and an extra 5 is I work 50 days away in a 9 month period). Saying that, I had 5 holidays last year
Health care $$$$

And as for the non drinking culture - It's true that you don't go out to bars to get drunk (drink is ridiculously expensive in most bars) but boy are there parties at houses. May be the circles I move in, but round here it's any excuse for a drink!!

If you want to ask any more personal / detailed questions then feel free to PM me!

You have a great house! The problem is the area we are thinking about moving to is the most expensive place in the whole state. So we have to pay a lot more for equivalent. House taxes are much higher than UK as well.

Drinking wouldn't be much of an issue for us. We have young kids and no baby sitter. So not much chance of going out anyway.

How long did it take for you to sort out the green card?

The other question is, do you know of any equivalent Martin Lewis in US? :money: