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Moving to America – What You Need to Know

So, you are moving to America!

Whether you are emigrating, taking a short term assignment or joining family in America we have put together the information you will need to make your move to the USA a smooth one.

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How To Get Citizenship Of The United States

. Immigrants from countries across the world have visions of becoming a citizen of The United States of America, the land of opportunity. Arriving there is the first step of a long journey to getting citizenship. We all have a general idea of U.S. Immigration Law. There are three other options for obtaining U.S. citizenship…

10 Unforgettable Things To Do In Phoenix

Phoenix also known as ‘Valley of the Sun’ is the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona. To live in Phoenix is such a great feeling, at least this is what all people there are claiming. It’s a bustling city in the middle of the desert and it does get hot sometimes up to…

Mortgages In The US For Expats And Non-Residents

Owning a home is a dream come true for any United States citizen. However, not everyone gets to fulfill this fantasy. Wishing to purchase a home in the US as an expat and a non-resident is a whole other ballpark. Even once you’ve solved the issue of money, there are many things you’ll need to familiarize yourself…

8 Best Places In America To Live And Retire For Outdoor Lovers

When you’ve lived in the city almost your entire life, there’s a high percentage that you would crave for someplace to retire. Probably someplace that has many trees and birds. There should be no judgment involved when you want to escape the concrete jungle and be one with nature. Outdoor lovers, most significantly, have a…

Expat Mental Health Challenges (And How to Deal with Them)

Every expat knows that living abroad can be challenging at times. There are many instances when expats are asking themselves if they’ve made the right decision when moving to a different country far from friends and family. You can always make new friends but there’s only one family. The COVID-19 pandemic made life even…

Life after a Foreign Divorce

Where there has been a divorce in another country, there are many reasons why spouses may need to apply to the courts in England and Wales. Jenny Arnold, senior associate solicitor at JMW Solicitors, sets out the approach of the courts to a foreign divorce. The doors of the English and…

Best Cities In The US For Expats

America and its lifestyle is one of the most attractive places for people wanting to experience a new lifestyle outside their home country. It is an enormous and diverse country and so which are the best cities in the US for expats and what do they offer? If you are a…

5 Financial Considerations If You’re Relocating To The US

Are you moving to the United States? Navigating an international relocation is certainly no simple task, especially if you’re moving for work and need to move by a certain deadline. Not to mention, balancing your work responsibilities alongside the complexities of an international move can be difficult to manage. One aspect…

Top US Blogs From UK Expats

MoneyTransfers.com have created a list of the Top 20 blogs from UK expats giving their insight into life as an expat in various locations around the world. Three of these blogs relate to living in the US. Here we show which blogs made the list with a brief description of each. …

How To Say ‘Willing To Relocate’ On Your CV

Prepared to take your career international? Make these CV changes. If you’re willing to relocate internationally for a job, how should you include that in your CV? Well, there are several ways that you can state on your CV that you’re willing to work anywhere in the world, but some methods allow you to be…

Initial Considerations

Will your partner be travelling with you?

If so, what will they be giving up in your present home and will they be able to continue with their career in your new home? You will need to check whether a separate visa is required for your partner to work or if your visa gives that right. If they are unable to work you will need to decide on the effect on your finances and what alternatives are available to give a fulfilling life (home business, training, voluntary work).

Are you taking family with you?

Moving with family raises many exciting opportunities, but also can create challenges. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey indicates that expat kids can take six months to settle in to their new country (see article). Getting young or even older children to prepare to move and leave their friends and family behind can be a challenge and should be thought through.

The options for education is another area that needs to be thought through.

Moving your child to a new country with a different education system can be a great opportunity to broaden their experience, but if they are close to key exams the timing can make this inadvisable. If you do take your family with you, it is important to decide between joining the local school system or choosing an international school.

Where will you be living?

Whether you will be living in a house or apartment, furnished or unfurnished, these decisions will affect what you need to take with you. The time you are planning to live overseas will also affect whether you should leave your property at home empty, rent it out or sell it. See the article Sell, Store or Ship.