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?

Satin lined woolly hats are totally a thing now for the curly/wavy haired.

Your daughter won't benefit from it at all. She'll freeze, miss loads of school, and not remember much of it. Source: my dad frequently worked in New York State and I spent several extended periods of time there as a child.

Your child will possibly need a booster on some vaccinations as i remember that my kids needed an additional Hep B (?) or maybe another in order to attend school. School will likely be ok with you joining while you organise but the pediatrician will help you through this. Kids need a chicken pox vaccine too (unless they have exemptions), both of my kids had already had chicken pox so i got a letter from my UK GP that they had evidence that they had had chicken pox - a pox scar. This was accepted by school and camps.

Would you be able to not work and self educated him? You could really make the most of 6 months in NY and the experience you could both share would be second to none.

At his age he will learn like a sponge if you build it into your day.

Or, maybe you have to work?

I relocated from London to NYC last December. Living in Manhattan. We are renting a similar sized property but with no garden and it’s over double what we are renting out our London place for.

It’s amazing but a A LOT of hassle. Rental places come unfurnished and takes ages to get furniture ordered. I’d say it took us 6 months to settle in and enjoy it and we have no kids, although we are expecting and the healthcare although expensive has been wonderful.

Its so easy for us to get and forth and for people to visit - for 6 months I’d say behind and let DH go.

My best friend re located there for two years for her husband's job. Her two children were pre school age. It does get very cold in the winter and she also moved in January so just be prepared clothes wise.
She spent a lot of time in the museums (these are free for residents so show them your proof of address in NY etc) the libraries werealso really big and another good place to hang out with children.
She was very central and there were no child friendly soft play groups etc so the museums and libraries really helped her to fill the days.
Good luck and enjoy the experience!

Recently moved back to the U.K. from US west coast

considering age of DD and the fact your company are happy for you to go PT I agree you should go and ignore those saying not to - clearly you’ve done the whole move abroad thing before! I would leave the dog though if it’s only 6months - we recently shipped our cat back and doing it DIY still cost $1400 and a lot of navigating various paperwork and vets visits etc, it’s such a short time that taking away that mega piece of admin would be worth it I think.

What about an Au Pair or Nanny fluent in your DD’s second language? One who can take her where there are other children and nannies (NYC is crawling with them) while you do your PT hours. Again for such a short amount of time I would just reduce the amount of admin you have to do and then you don’t need to worry about vax and catchments etc etc. see if work will cover the cost of keeping her place at her U.K. school

Def be prepared for the cost of groceries, it’s always been crazy expensive but even more now. Shouldn’t put you off but just in terms of expectations,

I love NYC, have been lucky enough to work and stay a few times and would LOVE 6 months in the city. Sounds like you have most of it figured out already

I'm a New Yorker. It'll be fine, really. New Yorkers are generally very welcoming, and we love the Brits.

If you can find out where the company apartments are, I can offer advice on what locations are preferable. The company's relocation firm should be able to offer advice on school options. I'm also happy to answer any specific questions you might have about the city.

I am confused re your job

Would you hand in notice and oook fora new job (knowing you’ll be off after 6 months) or would you try to negotiate part time with current employer?

Look up luxury car storage in the UK, likely less money and certainly less hassle than shipping and garaging it there.

And yes, satin-lined woolly hats are now available for CGM followers, or I wear a cotton buff under my old favourite (although a sewing service will line them too).

OP get DH’s company to confirm you’ll be in furnished accommodation, when we first moved to LA we were put up in essentially corporate apartments for the first 3 months so I would assume for only 6 months they’d do the same for you but get them to confirm

So you have already got the thumbs up that they will give you part time in NY.

no British passport. The key is what passport you do have. Needless to say.. some trickier than others!

Oh and I'd think a half-day childcare setting plus some language tutoring might work?

Such a shame 6 months. Just as your finding your groove… you’ll be up and off

Won’t your LTIP be impacted by going part time?

You’re not relocating. 6 months is a long holiday. I wouldn’t put myself and a child through all that disruption to be honest!

“A long holiday” but very very far from a “holiday”!

A friend recently emigrated to Australia with her dog. She used a company called PetAir who handled everything and kept her on course with jabs and worming etc. It cost about £5k.

There are absolutely toddler groups and soft plays in Manhattan. I can name three near me without googling. They're not exactly cheap, but then, nothing around these parts is cheap. Living in Manhattan is a bonkers luxury like living in Zone 1 in London 😂.

I love it though, even though it's expensive and impractical.

What's an LTIP? I am just being nosey :)

Not the point of the thread I know, but what kind of work does your husband do to get a 6 month work coverage? In most finance I know of it needs to be around 2 years to make it worth it and they don’t tend to move people anymore as don’t have to. I’m just being nosy!

Working in New York is not a holiday. In fact, working in London is a holiday compared to how New Yorkers work most of the time.

@Oddieconvert unfortunately it’s a tricky passport.

I would also think twice about putting a 5 year old through all that upheaval twice in 6 months. If you didn't have children, then it would be a no brainer for me, but I know from experience that changing schools, areas, routines is really hard for small children. (I've moved cities twice with my children).

@Stomacharmeleon its a long term incentive plan. And yes, there is a chance they’ll expect it to be altered based on 6 months PT, but I wouldn’t accept that.