What's it really like to live in the US?

[Mollythulu]

Have scanned a few pages of threads, but couldn't seem to find anything. Perhaps this is all pie in the sky, but DH and I are considering emigrating to the US. As he has cousins and an aunt in North Carolina, we were thinking (after an initial look into it yesterday,) maybe Wilmington, as it has a film industry that DH could possibly get a job in. (He's a video editor and I'm a self-employed 'cello teacher.) We'd probably have to go for employment based, third preference application, (if that's right?), and are aware it would be a great culture shock for us all. But with DD wanting to get into comic art, and DS wanting to get into the gaming industry, we think it would be preferable for them to start off where they'd have a better chance of getting into those 'scenes', iyswim.
So, what's it like, roughly? The immigration process, the actual move - it all seems very complicated, but then, not having moved house for ten years, I'm figuring it probably would be for me!

i was given that figure by an immigration solicitor when looking at ways for me to get a green card/work visa. however, there were certain other requirements, one being that i already worked for the company, which as i couldn't work, wasn't so good for me. dh was already here & working, so may have been a different scenario, rather than trying to start from scratch? it's so very complex that you only need to change one tiny detail to affect which visas/applications you're eligible for. the level & type of degree you have make a difference, how far up you are in your company, etc etc.

which is why i say, get a good solicitor - we spoke to 3 specialists, before one said 'ah, if you phrase your job description like that, we may be able to apply via x route, which is only 6 months, not 3 years'. (cost more though)