Moving from London to New York- HELP PLEASE

[Newjobformoremoney]

Hi all,
In a bit of a whirlwind week it seems highly likely that we are relocating to New York for 6 months. Its all a bit overwhelming.
We have a dog that we'd take with us, has anyone done that and can recommend a service? Schooling? How do we manage that? We have a 5 year old and ideally I would cut my hours to PT (visa depending).
Apartment would be sorted by the company I think, but they have a few so does anyone recommend a good family friendly area?
What else should I be thinking about? What should I be thinking about? Any advice? Any good links?
They'd like us to move in January.... which feels very soon!
Any words of wisdom?

www.newyorkfamily.com/the-best-bilingual-education-for-new-york-city-kids/

Take a look at this OP. It seems to be a good review of public and private school options. Where I live in the US you simply rock up to your local public school once you live in the district- even mid year and will be awarded a place. I suspect the system in NYC will be more complicated with ranked choices etc.

If I were you I'd have your dh reach out to anyone in his company who has children and ask them where they live/where they go to school etc. You will be constrained in where you live if you are taking a company apartment but they should still be able to give you some advice or at least tell you what to avoid. I've done it for colleagues planning on moving here. Some relocation packages will include a private school counsellor to help find the right fit. I doubt a 6 month secondment will include that but they may be willing to give you 6 months private school fees.

School will also give you a good community - public or private, elementary schools really try to include the whole family.

Unless very well established company and very high safety

No bloody way would I consider this

Actually I realise that you are only obliged to have your child in school at age 6 so it is possible that the school district you are in isn't obliged to take your child age 5.

Go ! Enjoy.! Legally your child doesn't even have to go to school . Maybe just morning classes and perhaps a bilingual part time childminder?

Can you still do that? I know it was possible prior to leaving the EU, but I don't know of anyone who's done it since then.

Thanks for the link @Pallisers. Yes she won't need to be at school. I was thinking maybe finding a morning thing nursery for her in her other language. I will take a look. To clarify, the company is very well established, and revenue is over 10billion. This pace isn't unheard of in our industry. I set up a NYC city office in 6 weeks so this isn't as fast as that...

Is it possible to leave the dog at home? Going in cargo is a stressful experience for most dogs and I certainly wouldn't was t to do it twice in 6 months.

A family member moved to the US in January and it took their dog a good 3-4 weeks to settle down after the flight, they are already dreading bringing him back and they are there on a 3 year contract!

What’s your notice period op?

@gwenneh the dog is considered French not English. So his passport is still valid (we didn't get him when we lived in the UK). We might need to spend sometime in France but I can't quite make that out just yet (which we're planning on doing on our way back already)

@PanicAtTheBigTesco that's a really good question! Its an element we're weighing up as it might not be best for him. Its one to discuss (and the vintage car which is also like another child)
Maybe they go together to relatives...

@Oddieconvert 3 months so I might need to stay on for a bit or just take a sabbatical (though that will depend on if my LTIP and if that impacts that)

Agreed with a lot of what people are saying, relocating for 6 months is nuts.

There are lots of dog walking services there.

Don't expect the Subway to be the same as the underground, it's not! I think it's fine but my native New Yorker best friend commuted from Forest Hills to Manhattan for all of her high school years and detests the Subway, thinks it's nasty and dirty!

It is very very cold in New York - even in central Manhattan in winter. Snow is often piled high. You will need good boots, very warm clothes etc.

Not sure I'd take a dog to New York for 6 months but yes they would need a rabies vaccination.

Manhattan is where most of the decent apartments are yes.

Yes staying with relatives would be a better option if at all possible, it's also very expensive, it cost them £3k to get him out there!

Any education setting will require a health exam and vaccination records. I’d suggest getting your doctor to fill out this form before you go so that you’re not scrambling to grt a doctor’s check up for your dc. If they haven’t had chickenpox they will need that vaccine.

www.schools.nyc.gov/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ch205-child-adolescent-health-examination-form-english

Wht can’t he go for six months and you have a couple of trips out to visit him and the dog is cared for at home?

It looks like the rules are still the same as before, so as long as the passport is valid and the vaccines are kept up to date you shouldn't have an issue.

Oh yes - and flu as well.

I know this sounds terrible, but honestly we're not worried too much about the costs (other than school fees!) but I worry about him the impact of the flight would have on him yes!

Thanks for the link @fairlygoodmother and @gwenneh (and confirmation of the dog situation!)

Doing this the other way round about a year ago (USA to UK via France):

I knew a NDN couple (French DH but lived and worked in USA) where the wife was US and they came to UK to live/work for up to a year or more.

The stress involved in that was unreal (even though other way round) and they ended up leaving after 6 months and heading back to USA. However, this involved the DH going back to France to see his inlaws and also the DW was trying to study in UK and he was working in UK.

It is an unbelievable amount of stress to put yourself through for 6 months. They had a 5 year old and a 1 year old baby and surprisingly, switching schools twice for the 5 year old wasn't hard here.

The DW found it very hard to make friends though - even mom ones and she was very sociable. The DH found it easier as he socialised with work friends. They had a cat which they brought with them from USA.

It sounds amazing! I believe there's a massive wait for visa appointments at the moment so would be worth checking they really can get this sorted in time. Very exciting though, good luck.

The other thing you need to factor in is medical insurance. This is expensive generally or so my US friend tells me - she has medical problems though as do her two DC (girls). Do not skimp on that whatever you do.

that's a really good point about the vaccinations. Required for nearly everything.

If you usually live in a house with a garden, consider the impact of having the dog in an apartment as well, especially when the weather is cold. A lot of dogs don’t like the snow and many of them have to wear little stretchy plastic boots because the salt they put down on the roads is bad for their feet.

In summary, I am more gung ho than most posters on you doing this with your child, but I wouldn’t take the dog.

…..And definitely don’t bring the vintage car!

visas can be SO fast. We were told to expect weeks and weeks for a US work visa just last month. It arrived the next day!!!