Got the Immigrant Visa. Moving to US in March. What? Where? How?

[LostInTheWorld 0]

Hello All

Me and my Wife got the Immigrant Visa and now we are getting ready to move to the US in March 2009. Currently we are in Pakistan.

I have only one problem. HOW? WHAT? WHERE? :):)

what do you guys suggest i should do?

Where should we go as i will be new in US and dont know many people over there. Which City as my parent company is in New York but i have the flexibility to stay anywhere and with New York so expensive i might think of Not going there atleast in the begenning.

Please tell me what to do here?

[tammy2688 1]

Chicago is one of the best cities in the US, has the benefits of available jobs (better than rural areas of the US I mean) and is much cheaper to live in than NY. I suggest you try New Jersey as well, but my vote is for Chicago. I have lived here for 14 years and have loved every minute of it.

I hope you have a wonderful journey here. Welcome to America, and I God bless.

Tam

[LostInTheWorld 0]

Hello All

Me and my Wife got the Immigrant Visa and now we are getting ready to move to the US in March 2009. Currently we are in Pakistan.

I have only one problem. HOW? WHAT? WHERE? :):)

what do you guys suggest i should do?

Where should we go as i will be new in US and dont know many people over there. Which City as my parent company is in New York but i have the flexibility to stay anywhere and with New York so expensive i might think of Not going there atleast in the begenning.

Please tell me what to do here?

Thank You Tammy....

One of my concern is also that as i will be new to US, once i come out of the Airport, what should i do and where should i go? How to look for a place to stay? Hiw to look for the Apt?

[R and F 34]

Hey try out San Antonio Texas, it is beautiful, scenic, not too big and not too small and full of wonderful, great people. Yes the situation in the US is not too good economic wise yet there are many construction jobs available in Texas. Both outside and inside the offices. Check out Roger's Obrien Construction, they always have jobs available for engineers, superintendants, project managers, office personnel as such. Also check out Zachary Construction as well.

[Tree 0]

Hello All

Me and my Wife got the Immigrant Visa and now we are getting ready to move to the US in March 2009. Currently we are in Pakistan.

I have only one problem. HOW? WHAT? WHERE? :):)

what do you guys suggest i should do?

Where should we go as i will be new in US and dont know many people over there. Which City as my parent company is in New York but i have the flexibility to stay anywhere and with New York so expensive i might think of Not going there atleast in the begenning.

Please tell me what to do here?

never pick new york,

its filthy and expensive and it smells and has trash all over the place.

pick suburbs in any state

[john & jean 37]

NO PLACE BUT T E X A S

[kaffy 2]

Where is your wife's family at? I'd start there... that way you have somewhere to stay, people to help you get established, etc

Edited January 2, 2009 by kaffy

[Nich-Nick 3,353]

Texas is cheap, but there's not the network of public transportation of northern areas of the US, especially if you get out in the suburbs. You would need a car pretty quickly, but you could rent one at the airport to get started.

Here's a great cost of living calculator you can play around with. I used $50,000 income just to try it out. http://cgi.money.cnn.com/tools/costoflivin...stofliving.html

You get information like:

If you move from New York (Queens), to Chicago

Groceries will cost: 11%less

Housing will cost: 43%less

Utilities will cost: 17%less

Transportation will cost: 0%more

Healthcare will cost: 2%more

If you move from New York (Queens) to Houston

Groceries will cost: 29%less

Housing will cost: 67%less

Utilities will cost: 24%less

Transportation will cost: 10%less

Healthcare will cost: 7%less

If you move from Chicago, to Houston

Groceries will cost: 20%less

Housing will cost: 42%less

Utilities will cost: 9%less

Transportation will cost: 11%less

Healthcare will cost: 9%less

Get on the internet and find a place that's for short term stays in the city you decide on. It's like a motel but it comes furnished and they give you weekly rates rather than per day. For example (since I'm only familiar with Houston) I googled Houston short term stay and came up with http://maps.google.com/maps?sourceid=navcl...esults&cd=1

You could do that for any city.

Edited January 2, 2009 by Nich-Nick

[ebad 0]

Sir g, Aoa

First of, Congratulations, secondly, a lot of people are going to tell you different cities to move into, which may make it confusing for you to decide and get sidetracked with a lot of ish.. My suggestion to you is, research about cheap appartments etc online on google search, ya phir try www.craigslist.com, if your parents company is in new york, i would suggest you move to a state that is't too far from new york so if you have to go back and forth to the state, you would'nt have to worry about it. Try searching apartments in New Jersey, Virginia etc. also dont just search for apartments, you'll be new here, apartments are expensive, you should search for house owners that want to rent their basements etc. baki any sawall feel free to ask yaro... allah hafiz

Ebad.

[trinket 30]

One thing is, you will have to decide of an address before you decide your POE. With the custom form you fill up, you will have to give an address where they will send you yours Welcome letter. So choose before you make your trip to US, rather than thinking about getting a hotel room for a few days.

Welcome letter can take any where from 1 week to 1 month's time.

[alienlovechild 75]

Google Sperling's Places Rated for some in depth profiles of all U.S. towns cities; as well as, comments from people.

[trailmix 77]

Hello All

Me and my Wife got the Immigrant Visa and now we are getting ready to move to the US in March 2009. Currently we are in Pakistan.

I have only one problem. HOW? WHAT? WHERE? :):)

what do you guys suggest i should do?

Where should we go as i will be new in US and dont know many people over there. Which City as my parent company is in New York but i have the flexibility to stay anywhere and with New York so expensive i might think of Not going there atleast in the begenning.

Please tell me what to do here?

What we did, as we both moved at the same time - was to pick a place, and in particular a place in Florida (nice weather).

We were in the same boat - we needed to find a place to stay, we didn't want to just stay in a hotel for instance - so I found a place online (through a rentals site) that rented out apartments in the area with everything included - right down to the knives and forks.

I note there are many rentals like this available on Craigs list - look in the short term - temporary area.

This way we could rent, without paying hotel prices and look around the area, at jobs etc.

One thing though - we specifically did not give them any money until we arrived. The agent (who is a licensed agent) also sent me a copy of his real estate license and his driver's license.

Edited January 5, 2009 by trailmix