Many people have commented on other sites what a challenge it is in obtaining credit facilities when you first arrive in the U.S. It seems that however good your U.K record it doesnt stand for much when you get to the U.S. Does anyone have any tips for someone new to U.S credit system.
It is difficult. Even if you have been paying a US mortgage and utility bills for years as some of us have, it is not much help. I heard that if you have a UK Amex card, it is of some help but really you are starting at square one. I know of someone who moved put six months ago who said he was only just starting to get somewhere with this and he was a villa owner before he re-located. What are you going to be doing over there??
Julie
Hi Julie,
My wife is in Business Travel and I am going to do the Realtor Exam with a view to having an initial role working with someone in that industry. I have been a financial adviser with my own business for the past 20 years here in London, advising people on things like Tax & Death etc, so the idea of helping people on something happy and exciting like living/buying property in the sunshine is much more interesting.
Did you get your visa yet. If not which one are you going for? I am going through the process at the moment, so know quite a bit about this if you want to pick my brains.
Julie
Some tips from when we moved stateside.
If you can, open up a US bank account at least 6 months to a year in advance. Try to keep adding funds to the account to show activity. Citibank is a good one because you can get a UK citibank account based in London
Order an Amex in the UK if you don't already have one. Hopefully plenty of time in advance and use it responsibly. When you get to the USA you can call up Amex in the USA and tell them you have moved and they transfer everything.
MBNA Credit Cards over in the USA were the most helpful to us with setting up a credit card from scratch. You will need to show a few months of back credit statements to prove that you are credit worthy.
You will need a social security number to do almost anything over in the USA including taking your driving test.
Car Insurance was another problem area as generally your no-claims from the UK doesn't exist here. We found that Allstate were willing to accept our no-claims from the UK. This was very useful as car insurance is so expensive.
Good luck
--Kay
I have filed U.S embassy here in London for a spousal Visa. If you have been through the same I am sure you will be familiar. I am awaiting an interview date at the London Embassy. Subject to us being able to to show that we can financially support ourselves and that I have no contagious diseases we hope to have an interview date for sometime next month.
E2 in my case, Steve and as far as I am aware, we dont get examined for contagion (!!!) at the embassy. How do they do that, one wonders???? I am not familiar with spousal visas but I presume that means you married an American??
Julie
We were over in the US on an L1/L2 visa combination. At Christmas time we went back to the US Embassy in London for a green card interview. As part of that they do a medical, including a chest xray.
If you are potentially moving out to the states full time on a spousal visa, they may be doing the medical as part of that visa process. It is not as bad as you think, but if you have a record of your immunizations it will save you some jabs (and some money too!)
Good luck with everything
--Kay
Yes, my wife was born in New York and although she came back to England when she was a few weeks old other than normal holidays and a years spell as a holiday rep in Miami in the eightys has never used her citizenship. She holds duel citizenship although the US do not recognise this and see her as a U.S citizen. Because of her status I go through something called a I-130 process that takes about two months at the end of which, all being well, am given a green card. Once in U.S for three years I am entitled to apply for citizenship. As I said in an earlier posting the process requires my wife to petition U.S consulate in London, me to make application also and after providing various paperwork, such as a police certificate, showing I have no convictions, I am then requested to attend an interview at the Embassy at which I have a medical, including a chest X Ray, at which if they are all happy I am given my Green Card. Subsequent entry to U.S , must be within six months of this process. From this point on I then have a U.S Social Security number which entitles me to work etc.
Lucky thing, Steve. I dont think E2 people have an XRay. Have a friend who just did the interview and she said they asked her two questions and stamped her passport after a four hour wait!! However E2 is a non immigrant visa. Perhaps they are fussier if they think you are staying for good!! Where are you settling? Did you buy a house??
Julie
Posting Permissions
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks