One step closer to moving to the states

[colettemum3]

Hubby is in NY office this week, his VP has got the managing director of HR looking in to moving us all out there as it has never been done before.

Soooooooooo what do i have to start looking in to my end?????? Got 3 children 9,8 and nearly 4.
In regards to schools, jabs etc. Which web sites should i be looking at?

Sooooo jealous, have just moved back here from US and having major regrets!

Not sure about web sites, we just went without much prep. Your kids will not have had enough jabs but that will get put right before they get into state school. They inject against everything!

Good luck, don't think twice about it.

There's a thread in this topic for all those living in the US. A lot of people on that have experienced moving here, and are very helpful.

Oops. I'm not trying to not be helpful, I'm American and have not experienced trying to move here, so I can't be of any help myself.

Tinpot- What are you missing the most?
And could you tell me your experience? Like what sort of paperwork did you have to fill in.

What visa would your hubby be going there on, colette?

no idea so had a look and i hope it would be indefinate. But still have to wait and see wherever or not HR will give the ok.

You wouldn't be able to start out as a permanent resident. The best scenario if you want to stay is to go on a L1 - intercompany transfer visa. This is a non-immigrant visa extendable up to 7 years, but also one that you apply for a green card from. You can apply for a an Employment Authorization Document (aka work permit) as an L2.

The visa requirements for a L1 visa (L2 for family members) is less than that for immigrants. You can read all about it on the London Embassy website. As for jabs, you pretty much need the usual British ones plus a course of Hep B and the Varicella jab. Unless you absolutely need them for your visa, you can get them there if that is more convenient. It's likely that the schools will insist on a TB check as well - this may be a problem if your kids have had a BCG.

As for preparing to live there, it's a good idea to check out school districts as a first move. You'll want to live in a good school district. It's not particularly easy to find out on the web, and local knowledge is important. It's good to take advice from colleagues - where do they tend to live? The company should really pay for your housing there (you will be non-immigrants so not expected to buy a house), and you should endeavour to get a house similar to colleagues (don't look for the equivalent of a 3-bed British semi, if that's what you are in here - you go for what you would have, had were you to have your whole career there).

Once you have selected where to live, you can contact the schools about enrollment. There's a good chance their website will have all the info you need. Prepare for it being quite bureaucratic - grin and bear it.

Colette, here's the US thread. I'm actually an American living in the US, so no help whatsoever! But I'm sure you can get lots of good advice from the others on our thread.