Practicalities of moving to US - car, renting house etc

[Providore]

We're moving to San Francisco next month courtesy of DH's work. I have questions about some of the practical stuff involved in setting up home over there. We'll be in provided accommodation for a couple of months before looking for a house to rent. I've been reading a lot about the insanity of the rental market in the Bay Area. Any tips on how we make ourselves attractive prospects as tenants? Obviously we won't have any credit history in the US. What can we do/provide to make up for this? We rent here in the UK so I could ask for a reference from our current managing agent. Would this be useful? Cashflow won't be an issue so we could afford to pay several months rent up front. Is that something we should consider offering?
My next question is about cars. We only plan on staying for a couple of years rather than making it a permanent move, so I'm loath to buy a car which I'd then have to sell. I know nothing about cars and won't have anyone to help me. It would be so much easier if we could access a car leasing scheme, but I haven't been able to find out anything about this from a few google searches. Once again, I'm worried that our lack of credit history could be problematic here. Anyone been through similar or have any advice?
Any other tips on making the move greatly appreciated.

The first time i rented the agent yold me that No credit is better than bad credit. They will definitely want to contact your previous landlord/agent and see payslips or job offer.
I dont know about leasing cars but take into account that the insurance will be expensive as you are new drivers.

THanks Nolim. Good point about the insurance cost.. I'm half expecting we might be able to get by without a car if we end up somewhere quite central, and could then use something like Zipcar for trips further afield.

we did the reverse. the other way, a foreign licence is only valid in the UK for a year. If I had to guess, you may not be able to get insurance with a foreign licence. and you can't change a UK licence for an american one.

We moved to the east coast last year. We were able to lease a car no problem with Subaru. It isn't the cheapest lease out there but its not bad. Our car insurance is not overly expensive either. We rented a house easily too just had to provide proof of salary. Not sure if we were just lucky but it was easier them we feared it would be.

However you organise yourselves in regard to cars, make sure you have thorough insurance cover. We have family friends who moved to NY last year and bought only fairly basic insurance, had a car crash, and are now being sued by the three occupants of the other car. Our friends are looking at having to sell their house back in Europe and could lose everything.

we took a printout of our UK credit score to viewings along with a letter from DH's work stating his salary and length of contract. It worked well.

Check with your state for driving licenses. We are in Texas so have to sit a Texas test (theory and practical) within 90 days of arriving. We bought cars when we arrived and had geico insure us on UK licenses first, then Texas licenses when we passed.

We had no credit rating here but managed to get a mortgage before we even got our visas, thanks to contacts between dh's work and Wells Fargo bank. If you are relocating at an employers request, don't be shy about them asking for contacts or tips. We also got a few credit cards (visa, Amex) and paid for everything (even cups of coffee) on credit cards for the first year or so, paying off each month very promptly. Soon increased our credit rating nicely!

You can get a prepaid credit card too which will improve your credit rating. We started off with about 400 dollars on ours, I buy my petrol with it every month, then make sure to top it back up to 400 when the bill comes in. If you do it through your bank it will count as a credit card.

Will healthcare cover be provided for all of you? That seems an essential to have sorted.

It doesn't sound as if your DH's employer has provided much by way of practical support for you. Ideally there should be someone able to walk you through what you need to do.

You will need a social security number or a taxpayer identification number to establish a bank account or credit union account, and some sort of ID too. Will your DH have a SSN or a TIN as soon as you get to the US? You will need a bank account in order to get a credit card. A secured CC is the best way to go, with your credit limit equal to the amount in your account. Do not apply for any other credit for six months (store cards like Target cards, Sears, etc. or CCs that solicit you in the mail) -- you will be refused and this will impact your credit score. Pay your utility bills on time and in full every month. Being late will have a bad effect on your credit score.

Get yourselves a UK credit report from an agency that also operates in the US if possible.

If you don't get a car you limit yourself as far as accommodation goes -- you would need to be within walking or easy public transport distance to shops (grocery delivery isn't really a thing in the US and would require a credit card). Apartments that are within walking distance of amenities tend to be expensive compared to those that require a car. A car will also allow you to get away sightseeing and on weekends. It would be a shame to miss beautiful northern California for want of a car. Zip cars or Go cars are fine but have to be prebooked and don't allow flexibility.

You would need to pass the CA driving test. You can get a 90 day learner's permit, pass the written test and eye exam at the DMV, and perhaps get lessons at a driving school. However, you need a car to practice in and take the driving test. You can lease a car from International Autosource -- specialising in leasing/sales to foreign nationals without US credit.

Most states have mandatory minimum car insurance levels for personal and third party coverage. Don't buy less.

Best thing as a renter without credit history is to offer double the deposit, which is what we had to do. We also got a lease from VW fairly easily with proof of work, payslips, visas, SSN and CA driving license

It actually might be well worth trying to squeeze a rental car out of the company for a month or so. That way you could practice driving and pass the test. You could also do the necessary shopping to set yourselves up -- home appliances, bedding, groceries, etc.

Are you both getting SSNs or just your DH?

Our SSNs came through in less than two weeks! I'm a SAHM and got one, is that not usual?

DH used his UK license and rented a car through that for 3 months then took the test for our state. We bought a used car instead of leasing one.

Capital One gave us a credit card when nobody else would. For banking we used a bank with a strong international arm (Chase in our case, lots of our friends use Citibank).

Health insurance will be part of your DH's contract but it's worth finding out how it works here, what is covered etc.

Oh! I mention banking because landlords will often want a cheque and it will need to be from a US bank. It's worth getting bank accounts set up absolutely ASAP. DH opened one using his work address initially (different situation to you as we didn't have temp accommodation, you can use that address).

Palooza regarding ssn depends on the type of visa i think. If you have an L2 visa then you are elligible to work and get a ssn. If you a H4 visa then you are not elligible to work. Not sure if you woul get a ssn in that case.

Agree with you regarding banking. It should be a priority.

Thanks all; some very helpful posts.
We are being issued with a relocation consultant on arrival, who will arrange SSNs, bank account, phone contracts. I'm just wondering what I could be sorting out here in the UK (letters from current estate agents etc.) which could be useful. It's also very helpful to hear others' experiences, and I'll be adding secured credit cards on to my list of things to discuss with our relocation helper.
Yes, I'll have an L2 visa so will be able (and wanting) to work.
Thanks again.

I would try to get in contact with the relocation person long before you arrive. Poke the company and get the name and contact details of this individual and see how much you can get done well ahead of arrival, especially in the banking area.

Agree with mathanxiety, make sure you and your relo agent hit the ground running. You will have a limited amount of time together, make sure it isn't wasted answering questions that could have been done by email or visiting unsuitable housing. You can also do research on areas / housing / cars online and have an idea of what's available within your taste, location and budget before you arrive.

My employer wrote a letter confirming contract, salary etc and that seemed to satisfy landlords for apartment rental.

UK credit ratings seemed to mean nothing in my experience. Capital One were happy to give me a credit card when I arrived in the US, and I just spent on it a lot so the limit was gradually pushed up. I took out a couple of store cards too and it all helped the credit rating. Wells Fargo worked out well as a bank in CA, as did Citibank.

Getting a US licence was easier in the long run - need it for ID (bars, booze stores, air travel etc). The test was not complicated - just have a read of the Highway Code (turning right on red lights etc). Plus a CA licence gets discounted entry to Disney

Zipcar was brilliant. I used them for 3 years when I lived on the East Coast, and only bought a car when I moved to LA.

Couple of things. If you have an Amex card in the UK check to see if they can transfer the account over. It will give you an instant credit score.

For banking look at getting a hsbc premier account until you are set up.

Thanks again. I've got the email address of our relocation agent now, so will composing a list of questions to her later today. I'm going to focus on banking stuff and what documents I can gather here to assist us in renting. Thanks for the tips on getting an Amex; I'll talk to DH about applying for one ASAP. We currently bank with HSBC so I wonder if that will be helpful.
One more question that occurs to me (I can start a new thread to ask about this but some of you super knowledgeable people may know): our shippers have said they can't take anything food related. Heartbreaking, as I have quite the collection of herbs/spices etc. Can I take some of my special things in my checked luggage? No booze and nothing questionable, just things like my beloved and particular peppercorn mix. Terribly uninteresting but I hate the thought of throwing it out :(

My mother always crams her checked luggage with Barry's tea and Mixed Spice (can't get that here) and a few other things too -- plum puddings even though they have suet in them, and Kerrygold butter, which are technically animal products. I think you could get away with your herbs and spices as long as they are in their own containers and not suspicious looking plastic bags.

I have seen women from Poland having pickled pigs' feet confiscated, so no homemade pickled animal parts please..

If you're already with HSBC, upgrade to a Premier account and they will also transfer your credit rating.

I wouldn't worry too much about what the shippers are saying now. When they moved ours they literally packed everything, whether we wanted them to or not. We even had a bin filled with used nappies in nappy sacs shipped!!

DH is always down the docks and sells imported food. Basically usda are going to open the container and look inside. If you are unlucky they will open a box. If you are really unlucky that box has food in it!

It can take 6-8weeks for your stuff to arrive and your container isn't climate controlled. I would bring that stuff in your suitcase.