Any trip abroad, even just a week’s holiday, involves a certain amount of preparation. If you are planning to be away for an extended period – whether months, years or forever – preparing for the move needs to be done thoroughly and systematically.

 

Checklist

This chapter is a checklist of things that you need to think about. Not all the items will be of concern to you – particularly if your stay will be a short one or you are single and unencumbered – but the longer you are planning to stay in the United States the more matters there will be to attend to. I therefore suggest you look through the list and note down what is of importance to you.

The topics covered in this chapter in alphabetical order are:

• arrival arrangements
• banking
• car

• credit and charge cards
• customs and prohibited articles
• doctor and dentist
• driving licence
• educational arrangements (for your children)
• financial advice
• your flat or house
• health
• insurance
• investments
• journals
• kin, next of
• library
• luggage and personal effects
• moving
• National Insurance
• orientation
• passports
• pension
• pets
• professional advisers
• qualification certificates

• redirection of mail
• rental agreements
• subscriptions
• tax
• travel
• utilities – electricity, gas, telephone, water
• visas
• voting rights.

Arrival Arrangements

It is sensible to inform your prospective employer when you plan to arrive. The chances are you will be travelling to the United States by air, in which case you should state the flight number in addition to the estimated arrival time. Long haul flights are sometimes delayed.

Find out what arrangements have been made for meeting you and accommodating you on arrival; and make sure you have one or two contact telephone numbers in case arrangements go awry.

Banking

You need to inform your UK bank of your imminent change of address and discuss arrangements for the administration of your account during your absence (eg how you plan to top up your account to service regular payments). Since the bank may not have a branch at your destination (some British and Irish banks have affiliates or representatives in the United States), you could also ask if it can recommend a bank in the locality and provide a letter of introduction. This will facilitate opening a bank account in the United States in case your employer has no procedures to help you in this respect.

Even if you arc planning to leave the UK for good, it is sensible to keep your account open and topped up – for the time being at least – as there may be occasions in the future when it is more convenient to make or receive payments in sterling.

You will also need to arrange for money to tide you over the first month or so in the United States. This involves purchasing foreign exchange in the form of dollars and dollar travellers cheques (other denominations are not readily accepted) and perhaps arranging for a bank transfer. Note that you will also be able to withdraw cash with a credit or charge card.

Car

In many parts of the United States public transport is fairly rudimentary, and you will find that some means of private transport is essential. There is. however, little point in shipping your car to the country – unless it happens to be a very distinguished one – since automobiles are much cheaper over there. In any case, it will probably not meet US safety, bumper and emission standards, which arc very tough: modification can work out prohibitively expensive.

For more information on emission standards contact:

The US Environmental Protection Agency
Manufacturer Operations Division (EN-340F)
Investigation/Imports Section

401 M Street SW
Washington DC 20460
USA
Website: www.epa.gov

Note that in order to import a car you will need prior written approval from the EPA or a manufacturer’s label affixed to the vehicle stating it meets all US emission requirements.

For information on bumper and safety requirements you should get in touch with:

The US Department of Transportation
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Director of the Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance
(NEF-32)
400 Seventh Street SW
Washington DC 20590
USA
Website: www.nhtsa.dot.gov

As a non-resident you may import a vehicle duty-free into the United States, but duty is payable if the car is sold within a year of importation. Employees of foreign governments and international organisations on assignment in the United States may be exempt from the compliance regulations; and the same is true for non-residents who import the car for one year and then export it.

If you are going to America for a number of years it will make sense to sell your vehicle and rely on car hire for visits to the UK. Do not forget to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency and your insurance company when the car is sold and claim a refund on your insurance if appropriate.

If your stay in the United States is for a shortish period, you could put your vehicle in storage or entrust it to a friend or relation. Whatever you do, make sure you inform your insurance company of your plans.

The US Customs Service publishes a useful leaflet entitled Importing A Car which is obtainable either from:

The US Customs and Border Protection
Department of the Treasury
Washington DC 20229
USA
Website: www.customs.ustreas.gov

or the Customs Attaché of the US Embassy.