Top Tips to Consider When Moving to the US

Planning your move

First and foremost, you’ll want to get all your ducks in a row when it comes to the logistics of your move. Upping sticks and heading abroad isn’t easy, but you can make becoming an expat simpler by having a rough plan in place.

Here are some of the most important moving factors you’ll want to keep in mind:

• Picking somewhere to live. One of the best aspects of moving to the US is the variety you’ll find throughout the country. Hone in on where and how you want to live your life in the states. That doesn’t just mean weather conditions, but also whether you want to set up camp in a town, city, or more rural area.

• Making it match up with your job. Ultimately, whether you’re keeping your old job or applying to a new one, you need to make sure your move is going to work alongside your career. If you work in technology, for example, a move to the middle of nowhere might make your professional life harder.

• Understanding the cost of living. The US has a fairly high cost of living – which is something that can be hard to manage if you’re moving from a country with cheaper prices. This will vary greatly by location, but on average the cost of living in the US is $969.24 per person, every month – before factoring in rent. For a family of four, this price will rise to $3,446.64. Make sure to research the best ways to save money when you’re living abroad to keep costs low.

• Moving your possessions. If you’re bringing a lot of your old life with you, you’ll also have to factor in the cost and admin involved with moving items internationally. You’ll be able to find moving companies who specialise in cross-border services. Just be aware of his additional costs, as well as the need for a fixed address for them to travel to.

• Understanding the impact on you and your family. Aside from the practical steps required, it’s also important to think about (and discuss) what moving to another country might look like for your family. This is particularly the case with younger kids, who might need more support when moving to a totally new environment.

Lots goes into moving countries, so think of these pointers as the core stepping stones you need to keep in mind – not the only factors to consider.

Be prepared for all the paperwork: visa and documents

Understandably, moving to a new country isn’t as simple as hopping on a plane, finding a spot to live in and cracking on with your new life. You’ll need to apply for a US visa, which will involve a variety of steps, depending on what type of application you’re doing.

The basic application process will follow these kinds of beats:

1. Find out what kind of visa you need

2. Fill in the Non-immigrant visa Application Form DS-160

3. Pay any application fees

4. Schedule a visa interview

5. Submit any documents which you need to show (the document file)

6. Attend the interview (and bring along all supporting documents you’ve been asked to)

7. Wait to be processed (if your application was successful)

This is a very simplified version of the entire process – which can take months in total from beginning to end. Make sure to check out the embassy website in full for the detailed breakdown of everything you need.

You’ll also need to bring a variety of personal documents with you in order to prove the legitimacy of any answers you’ve given. Some of the most important to bring to the US with you include:

• Your passport (which should have at least six months of validity)

• A signed work contract (and your CV is applicable)

• Marriage or divorce certificates

• Any academic certificates

• Medical insurance policies

• Your driving licence

• Any relevant bank statements

• Any medical certificates you have

While you won’t need to bring every piece of documentation with you along each step of the process, it’s smart to keep these somewhere you can quickly and easily access.

Think about healthcare options

It’s no secret that healthcare in the US can be expensive – especially if you’re moving from a country where you have free healthcare access as a result of the taxes you pay. That might sound a little scary for some, but thankfully there are alternatives which will mean you’re protected in the unlikely event of an accident.

Some of the best options for someone moving to the States include:

• Insurance – where you pay a premium every month to help support you in the event you need to pay hospital bills

• Care memberships – similar to insurance, you pay monthly fees for access to care (with no deductibles)

• Medical cost sharing – everyone pays into a shared pot, with people using this community pool to pay for expenses

• Indemnity insurance – this is a good option for people who don’t need access to all forms of healthcare, with it charging lower premiums for a limited number of services

Failing that, you can always pay for any expenses out of your pocket – although this should ideally be avoided, as fees can rise high for hospital stays.

Understanding the education system

If you’re moving with children, you’ll want to make sure they’re pointed towards the right avenues when it comes to their education. The US education system might be a little different to that of your native country, so it’s wise to brush up on how it works and what you need to know.

Opening your first bank account

You will need to open a bank account when moving to the US. It is an important part of moving abroad. It makes paying bills, rent, and general expenses much easier, and avoids you needing to incur heavy charges through your native bank every time you make a purchase.

Make sure to get all your documentation ready. As you might expect, there’s paperwork involved with opening a bank account. Just some of the documentation which you might need to show as evidence includes:

• Proof of your US address

• A US driving licence

• A valid passport

• A debit or credit card from your home country

• Immigration documents

• Proof of income

• A payment deposit

You’ll need a way to send money back home (and receive it)

Just because you’ve left your old life behind, it doesn’t mean you should cut all financial ties. You’ll still need a viable means of sending and receiving money from your home country. While this is possible directly through a bank, the modern world offers a number of alternatives which can be quicker and cheaper.

At WorldRemit we offer people the chance to move money between borders at a fraction of the cost. Some of the benefits to using a money transfer service ahead of a traditional bank are:

• Lower transaction fees when sending money

• Specialists in the field of international money transfers

• Quicker processes times (money can arrive on the day it was sent)

• Competitive and accurate exchange rate conversions

• Trusted by millions of people across the world

Make sure to use this kind of service if you want to avoid the hassle and expense of sending funds through the bank.  

The US is a giant place

The sheer scale of the US cannot be overlooked. In fact, when it comes to land mass alone, the US is roughly 40 times the size of a country like the UK. That means when you move, you’re going to be relatively restricted to visiting and engaging in the things that are near to you. Someone in New York is unlikely to take the time to drive 28 hours to Texas, for example.

Keep this in mind when choosing where you want to live. Also factor in the kind of weather you’re able to deal with. Conditions can be extreme on either coast, while in the south you have to expect temperatures to remain high throughout the year.

Don’t forget about hidden taxes

Paying taxes is always important – but you’re probably used to them being taken directly from your pay cheque, or as part of your end-of-fiscal-year tax return. When you shop in the US (and Canada), the price you see on store shelves is actually what an item will cost before tax is applied.

How much tax you’ll need to pay on top of the listed price depends on which state you’re in. Generally, they’ll range from 9-15% of the price of the item. What’s more, income tax may also differ according to your location.

There’s more of a culture shock than you might think

If you’re moving from a country like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, or even Canada, you may expect the fact you’re a native speaker to help you transition instantly to the American way of living. While it’s definitely true this’ll help, you’ll find every state and region has different customs which might take some time getting used to.

Educate yourself on some of the more general American customs which differ from the rest of the world, but also be sure to do a deep-dive on the exact state you’re intending to move to. This research will help make things a lot easier when you arrive.

Annual leave is fairly restricted

It’s customary in a lot of countries to get at least 20 days of annual leave a year (before bank and national holidays are even taken into account). In the US, there is no obligation on the part of any employer to offer paid holiday throughout the year.

And while you’ll get 10 national long weekends, there’s nothing stopping an employer from not giving you any (paid) days off apart from those. This is something you can discuss with your employer when you are offered a job.

You’ll need to totally start over with your credit score

When you move overseas, your credit score doesn’t move with you. That can be frustrating, but it isn’t all doom and gloom. In fact, if you weren’t happy with your credit score in your native country, this gives you the chance to start over.

Some of the best ways to start building a good score in the US include:

• Use a credit card to make payments

• Lease a car

• Take out a phone contract

• Get a credit builder product

• Utilise just 30% of your total available credit

• Don’t check your score too often (but do sporadically keep track of it)

• Make sure not to miss any payments

The sooner you look into this, the quicker you’ll be able to get your credit to a good place.

Do you feel better prepared for your move to the US? Make sure to keep all of these tips in mind to be as ready as possible for your move. There’s lots to consider when moving your life overseas, so be sure to check out our migration blog for support and advice on the process. This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter.

This communication is intended for marketing purposes only and does not constitute or provide legal, tax, investment or financial planning related advice.