start up capital for USA

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

posted earlier that DH is thinking of applying for jobs in NYC/SanFran etc

we've been toing and froing becaue he wants to make sure it's viable before applying, and seems to think we'll need a good £5K or so before moving to cover cost.

What start up costs were involved when you moved to USA? Am assuming shipping stuff, deposit and at least 1st months' rent, flights...?

TIA

[MmeOrangeBlackandBlueberry]

A lot more than 5k.

[expatinscotland]

For SanFran or NYC? Way more than £5K.

Those cities are as expensive as London to live in.

[Simbacatlives]

What nationality are you?

If you need a work visa the employer etc will usually pay for that - expensive and hard to get unless you are specialist. I seem to remember that the employer has to pay about a 1000 dollars- not sure if they can make you pay it.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

ugh poo, ok...thankyou, good to know what we need to set to get before moving then!

The plan would be DH getting a contract with Google or similar, so if permanent then I can work too, but I work in theatre so it would be a case of wait and see for me. We alo have 2yr old DS to consider when weighing up costs

We're british

[expatinscotland]

You need a very generous relocation package if you are moving to either of those cities.

NYC and SanFran are always in the top 50 most expensive cities in the world to live in and NYC even outranks London, depending on the year.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

what about when people move without lot of years to save then? or does that jut not happen? I know it would prob take a good 6 months between job offer and visa but no way could we ave over 5K in 6 month!

[MmeOrangeBlackandBlueberry]

He's highly unlikely to get a permanent job offer. Without knowing any more details that you have posted here, it looks like he would be on a H1B visa, which is temporary.

It would take quite a few years before he would have a green card, and you to be able to work as his dependent.

Your best bet for working is to get a H1B in your own right. This is what most working couples do.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Thanks Mme to be honest we're literally only jut looking into it now before he starts the application process so very green about it all. Highly unlikely I'd be able to apply for a H1B in my own right, being a theatre director, am assuming I'd have to be there and create work before making contacts who'd then offer me contracted work.

Have a friend who's just moved with her husband getting a contract job with Pixar to SanFran which apparently is similar to what we'd expect from Google so great to have lots of sources of information