considering a move to USA

Originally Posted by MagicFan

I'm not a "hater" of CA, I offered a suggestion based on the fact that the cost of living is cheaper, which is good in this economy. Just because he can buy a 3-5 million dollar house doesn't mean he has to buy a 3-5 million dollar house.

Yea let's listen to what the 18 year old has to say about buying a house, where to live, and "the economy".

If you are coming from London I would recommend NYC or Chicago for something a little similar to home. If you are looking for nicer weather but with a lower cost of living I'd recommend Denver or Austin. If you do not mind the higher cost of living and less of a real "downtown" then definitely check out California.

San Diego and San Francisco would be my recommendations. Both wonderful.

Have you figured out how you are going to get permanent residency in California? The immigration system here is a cluster fuk.

Originally Posted by E36Eric

Have you figured out how you are going to get permanent residency in California? The immigration system here is a cluster fuk.

The trick is finding a job where an employer will sponsor your H-1B. Or marry an American. That's what my mother did

Originally Posted by v8 5

Yea let's listen to what the 18 year old has to say about buying a house, where to live, and "the economy".

I'm 21.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

The trick is finding a job where an employer will sponsor your H-1B. Or marry an American. That's what my mother did

Yes. That is a couple of ways but I don't think this guy will do that. He thinks just by having money the govt will give him permanent residency. Maybe in Canada but not here.

I used to live in Miami and im from Denmark which is pretty much the same living wise and cost wise as England. Anyway, take my advice, move within the EU. Everything just works better here. Trust me.

Originally Posted by E36Eric

Yes. That is a couple of ways but I don't think this guy will do that. He thinks just by having money the govt will give him permanent residency. Maybe in Canada but not here.

Money doesn't mean shit. It took my uncle 10 years before he was offered the chance to come over legally, even though his sister was now a citizen. He completed all the paperwork, took all the necessary tests, paid the fees, etc. 10 years...

It's a lottery system unless you have sponsorship or are a refugee of sorts. I feel like it's easier to come over illegally and be granted amnesty eventually.

Born and raised here in Cali, but I've spent a decent amount of time on the east coast and norcal, even some time in middle America. I have never wanted to kill myself as much I did when I spent a week in Indiana. I hope to never have to return to that state. That said, I love SoCal and doubt I'll ever move from here given the option, but people are geninely nicer when you leave the LA reigon. I'm not sure where the OP visited while he was here, but I love everything California has to offer except their gun laws and their labels that say everything in California will give me cancer.

Originally Posted by 5ynd1cat3

I lived in Florida too, Pensacola to be exact. Beautiful place, nice people, no state income taxes, great place to be. Only reason why we moved back up north is because when Ivan hit we lost everything and my wife didn't want to go through that anymore.

Funny, I didn't knock Florida in my post though so I'm not quite sure what has your panties in a bunch.

Our tourism is booming quite nicely.

Don't take it personally. Just bustin' your chops a bit. I've heard nothing but good things of Ohio. But come on, when's the last time you heard some one say, "Let's get away for a while. How about Columbus? Or Cleveland?" Sure, people visit there but it's not a NYC or LA or San Fran.

San Diego sucks azz. Don't come here..lol

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

San Diego and San Francisco would be my recommendations. Both wonderful.

Originally Posted by Laylow

San Diego sucks azz. Don't come here..lol

south san diego sucks azz.

Check out Texas. Housing is half as much as it is in California and there is no state income tax.

Dallas is bustling and Houston is near the beach.

Texas = hot as hell. literally. Housing is incredibly cheap.

Originally Posted by casino is no lie

The trick is finding a job where an employer will sponsor your H-1B. Or marry an American. That's what my mother did

hasnt stopped 1 MM+ illegals

BTW, where the fuk did OP go?

OP, if you are going to do this, make the decision while your kids are young. It would be a shame to have them grow up in England, then move after they have lived a little and made good friends. Either do it now, or after your kids are out of University.

lmao at you guys talking about people hating on CA the way you all talk about the midwest.

The weather in cali is unbeatable but there is more to living in a place than the weather. I could even get over the politics, but to live a similar lifestyle out there as I do here - I'd need to be making at least 50% more.....

The midwest is not that bad. I went to school in Indiana (Purdue). I grew up in northeast ohio, I lived in Albany, NY for 6 months and was not a fan at all of the northeast. I now live in the Chicago suburbs. I like Chicago a lot, but a lake house in the carolinas is where I wish I was.

Where were you guys in Indiana that you hated it so much? A lot of cali people come out here for Purdue and love it...Indianapolis has also become pretty nice.

Don't hate on the rest of the country so much.

skimmed the thread, but op, sounds like socal is a great fit. first, your kids are young and you speak the language, you'd drop right in. plus, based on your london lifestyle, you have the money. i just got back from europe, living expenses in southern cal are not too different from paris or nice (didn't spend much time in london). but southern cal is a city of freeways... you have to drive, the metro isn't enough.

as far as visas, there are plenty of illegals (canadians who live here but aren't supposed to) who work and go to school here no problem. bet you anything some people itt aren't even here legally . if you don't want to do the green card process, just fly back to england once a year to visit the grandparents and you're kosher.

socal is the best. i love europe, but everything's here and the weather wins it. in 2 hours driving, you can go from surfing to snowboarding. t-shirt and jeans (plus a thin jacket in the deep winter) and you're good wardrobe-wise all year.

if i had it my way, i'd find a friend in nice and we'd share our properties. nice > hawaii

Originally Posted by ThumperNC24

Where were you guys in Indiana that you hated it so much? A lot of cali people come out here for Purdue and love it...Indianapolis has also become pretty nice.

I went to Muncie in the middle of August for work. The day I got there had to be the absolute hottest day I ever had to live through when suddenly out of nowhere rain clouds came out (i'm from socal, i don't appreciate rain when i want to be outside). I thought the rain would cool things off, but it only made it 10x worse. Maybe I exagerated, because I have to say, the people were among the friendliest I've met, but it seemed like there wasnt much to do. There were just lots of spread out towns spread out with small polulations with people working go nowhere jobs with no ambition. I'm sure other parts of the state are different, but I just couldn't see myself doing it.

Originally Posted by 5ynd1cat3

This. Stay the hell away from California unless you like being butt raped by the cost of living. Indiana is a nice choice, Ohio too (biased, I know). Do your research and choose wisely.

You could always move to Cali, get butt raped, then wake up one morning and say, "Hey, those guys on e46f were right! I have 49 other states to choose from that are way less oppressive than the land of movie stars and broken dreams!" at which point you shall whisk away your bleach blonde plasticized chick to, say, Texas where you would then begin to enjoy what 'Murica is all about!

I spent a week in Ohio last month. 105 degrees/70% humidity, then it rained buckets for about an hour. Next day they were forcasting possible tornadoes. When I left I was thinking "I'll have to keep this place in mind when I decide to retire".