New to the US Way of Living

[morganfaulkner]

Hi to everyone - I have just joined the forum to see if I can make sence of the visa system - getting a us credit card even though I have a TIN number etc. etc. I am new to the life here in Orlando - so should I give up now about wanting to live and buy a business here - I have owned a house for 4 years - I have read many of the stories and spoken to many people Do the US think Brits are so bad that we are not desirable to assit within the US economy - treated as illigals - I am sorry if you have seen these qusetions before - I am sure you have but even so it would be a great help for you to repeat information that could help me - be good to hear from you morganfaulkner

[Susie]

Hi to everyone - I have just joined the forum to see if I can make sence of the visa system - getting a us credit card even though I have a TIN number etc. etc. I am new to the life here in Orlando - so should I give up now about wanting to live and buy a business here - I have owned a house for 4 years - I have read many of the stories and spoken to many people Do the US think Brits are so bad that we are not desirable to assit within the US economy - treated as illigals - I am sorry if you have seen these qusetions before - I am sure you have but even so it would be a great help for you to repeat information that could help me - be good to hear from you morganfaulkner


Hello and Welcome


So glad you have found our site and hope you are able to contribute and also learn at the same time

Are you in the USA at present, and if so what visa do you have? Might be a good idea to go to the home page and put a posting in the introduce yourself section

Can you tell us a little bit about where your living now and what you hope to do

When people first move to the USA it is very difficult to get any sort of credit
Unless you have ever been credit before.

To start with, we went to see our bank manager. She suggested we put some cash into a CD (higher interest savings plan) The bank would lend you back the same amount as invested so you could say buy equipment for your business

So we bought our first truck on finance through our bank. In the USA they report payments you make every time you make a payment so your credit score will increase over the repayment time

We also gave bank manager an extre $1000.oo for a credit card. The credit limit was $ 1000.00 (the same as we gave her- and it was to pay off the credit card if we were in default)

With the credit card the manager said use it regulary, always make payments in a timely manor and do not keep paying the bill off in full -leave a balance owed.

After about 10 months of good standing account she said they refund our $1000 and increase our credit limit

It is difficult to tell you all I know about visa's without a bit more information on your situation

Please feel free to send me a pm with your contact number if you would like a chat

[Sharon]

Hi to everyone - I have just joined the forum to see if I can make sence of the visa system - getting a us credit card even though I have a TIN number etc. etc. I am new to the life here in Orlando - so should I give up now about wanting to live and buy a business here - I have owned a house for 4 years - I have read many of the stories and spoken to many people Do the US think Brits are so bad that we are not desirable to assit within the US economy - treated as illigals - I am sorry if you have seen these qusetions before - I am sure you have but even so it would be a great help for you to repeat information that could help me - be good to hear from you morganfaulkner


Hello

Welcome

I agree life in the USA at first can be very difficult.

You cannot get credit unless you have got a credit score and to get a credit score you have to have credit

Bit double dutch isn't it?

You say you have owned a home for 4 years so when you have a social security number you can write to your mortgage company and ask they back report your payments. They will do this for you so you will have some form of credit score

[JulieC]

Wanting to live and buy a business means havent yet?? If you are thinking of E2, be aware it is quite a problematic route at the moment.

[Emmalee25]

Hiya and welcome,
are you In orlando at the moment? me, my hubby and 2 year ols are currently going thru E2 at the moment, it is hard to settle here, very different from the UK but we have only had positive reactions from the average american, they love us being here (dont class us as illegals and much prefer us to some other type of immigrant). Buying a biz and moving over is covered in pit holes at the moment BUT im here, im battling thru and im sure it will all be worth it in the end.
Tell us more about you and im sure we can give you more info and try and steer you round those holes....the guys on here have given me a wealth of knowledge, but always remember every single experience is different.
good luck
Em x

[mandybenn]

Hi

We have a home on Rolling Hills (2651 Starlake). We have owned for 3 1/2 yrs and are currently collecting all our evidence for the L1 Visa. We won't be planning on living in Rolling Hills after about a month as I think we would be isolated (mainly Investment properties). Our children are teenagers and need to live in a residential area. Where are you planning to live?

Mandy

[Kitty]

Hello Morgan

Please do not give up if the US is where you want to be. I think we sometimes forget that we are immigrants so have to go with the flow and adapt to their ways and customs which can be frustrating at times

[floridarulz]

Don't give up, America is a cool place to live.

[Grumpy]

Hi Floridarulz

I agree, but its just so frustrating to have to jump through so many hoops to get to live without fear of a referral

[Ron]

Hi Morgan



There is a free immigration seminar coming up soon at Celebration Hotel towards the end of Oct.

A few of us are going, why not join us for a meet up ?

[JulieC]

Mandy, any child over 14 is in the catchment area for Celebration High on Rolling Hills so it would be feasable as they would meet people at school. I would say best places for the kids to live to meet other American teens would be Celebration, Hunters Creek, Windermere or Dr Philipps, all within the catchment area of good schools.

[mandybenn]

Hi Julie

Thanks, we are thinking of moving near Clermont as Rollng Hills is our rental property and we are hoping to keep it that way. Celebration is great but very expensive to buy. We also looked at the other areas you mentioned, but we were looking for somewhere which had a meeting area or town / village feel. I know it is not a Florida thing but Clermont did have a little town. We are coming out Dec 29th for 2 weeks and will have another look as we didn't get much time in Sept when we were looking for business'.

I have heard Celebration School is good and I wouldn't hesitate to send my daughter there but I'm not sure our budget will stretch to that standard of town.

Mandy

[Emmalee25]

Hi mandyBenn,
Celebration k-8 school is excellent but unfortunately Celebration High school is a 'C' school. to keep numbers up they have been shipping students in from Poinciana and this has caused the grades to drop considerably. Many Celebration residents are very concerned and hopefully things will change.
a good website to check out schools in the clermont area (or anywhere in the US for that matter) is www.greatschools.net its very informative.

Em x

[mandybenn]

Cheers Em

Thanks, I'll look at the website. We aren't even looking (literally) until we are accepted on a visa, It's unsettling for children as it is.

Mandy

[Bobby]

I have heard Celebration School is good and I wouldn't hesitate to send my daughter there but I'm not sure our budget will stretch to that standard of town.

Mandy


Over stretch yourself. Buy as big as they'll let you. Don't worry about the payments. That's the American way after all!!

While you're at it, you may as well get "his and hers" brand new cars that you can't afford either.

[Kriz1]

If you want to be happy in the USA ....first rule is don't try to keep up with the Jones...its a mugs game...buy what makes you happy and what you need...I know Julie is in Celebration...but I would not live there unless I had money to burn...you're coming to the USA to have a new life...not just to pay taxes and high HOA bills...try to find out about Tech High Schools in the area...most of the time there is no catchment....the kids just have to pass Exams to get in if there are any places free...its the best school system for Brit kids who get bored in High school...I know there are a few good ones in or near Orlando because I was looking for a transfer for my son 4 years ago...or lets say they were good then....schools in the US can go down hill very quickly...

[Bobby]

you're coming to the USA to have a new life...not just to pay taxes and high HOA bills...


.....and with those higher taxes and HOA bills comes a better standard of living. Better neighborhood in general. More affluent neighbors. Safer environment for your children.

If you can afford it, then go for it. Go to the best neighborhood you can squeeze yourself into. You'll meet more influential people and enjoy a better quality of life.

Is that not what we all sailed across the ocean for in the first place?

Bobby

[Emmalee25]

I agree with Bobby,
if i could afford to live in celebration i would, fab place, we visit all the time, infact we are going there tonight for the "leaves are falling" festival.
Em x

[Kriz1]

.....and with those higher taxes and HOA bills comes a better standard of living. Better neighborhood in general. More affluent neighbors. Safer environment for your children.

If you can afford it, then go for it. Go to the best neighborhood you can squeeze yourself into. You'll meet more influential people and enjoy a better quality of life.

Is that not what we all sailed across the ocean for in the first place?

Bobby

I live in two good neighbourhoods...with low taxes and HOA fees...have some of the riches families in the country as neighbours and in some cases friends...and its all done on a budget....:) :) :)
Influential people do not give you a better quality of life...you do that for yourself....

[Kriz1]

I agree with Bobby,
if i could afford to live in celebration i would, fab place, we visit all the time, infact we are going there tonight for the "leaves are falling" festival.
Em x

We looked at a home there years ago and we all liked it ...but after living in real small town USA Celebrations is like a movie set with very few actors....I like to visit and walk around...but its not real enough for me...so I'm glad we looked somewhere else....also not buying there gives me the chance of buying more homes in different States...next stop Dolly Parton country....:D :D

[Susie]

Hi

I do like Celebration and maybe like to live there one day. I miss not being able to walk to the local shops

Must admit, I do have a chuckle to myself when I see all these old men with zimmer frames and dolly birds together !

[Bobby]

Influential people do not give you a better quality of life...you do that for yourself....

Yep, I'm sure everyone will agree with that, though if you were replying to my previous post Kriz, I didn't actually say that influential people gave you a better life. I said that in a better neighborhood, you will MEET influential people.

Everyone knows that "you are what you are", .......and of course if you were an idiot in England, you'd still be an idiot even if you move to Celebration.

:D

Bobby

[Wendy]

looking for American life, good houses at great prices, lots of sub divisions with no HOA, A+ schools, International Baccurlaurate Program, affordable private Schools,Tech Scools, Colleges, Art School, community life, and still 20 mins form Disney and universal? Take a look at St Cloud, we love it here, access to all the great urban facilities we (and teenagers) are used to - OK it is America, you still have to drive - plus real American people and life, no tourists, no strict or strange Pleasantville style HOAs and house prices that make you feel like you have a deal.

[Wendy]

Hi to everyone - I have just joined the forum to see if I can make sence of the visa system - getting a us credit card even though I have a TIN number etc. etc. morganfaulkner

To get a credit score we choose not to get the brand new shiny car we had arranged on a GM exucutive expats scheme - it would have been our first, it was so pretty - ohh well! and chose to get two older cars with 50% down we went to a credit union, try McCoy and arranged two 7% car loans , high rate for here but still felt good compared to UK. We made faithfull - in advance - payments on both for one year then at 16 months paid off one completly. We arranged an American express cArd in Uk - used and paid it regularly, when we arrived here they transfeered our limit into dollars for a USA card after 6 months. We used and paid the every month, always pay more than the minumum, do not pay off the balance. Numbers of banks offering secured credit cards is reducing following the Patriat Act money rules but try a State bank, county bank (Polk County) or a spanish based bank. We arranged a mortgage, various banks are now doing 20% Forgein nat loans. We got a contract cell phone - T mobile are the only ones who will consider you for a contract without a Credit score - especially if you have a T mobile UK account, plus you can put you Sim card in your UK hand set and have something your not ashamed to carry! One year of this activily pushed our score into the dreaded 500s but two years has pushed it into the great 700s.
Good luck and keep trying

[Kriz1]

You live in a lovely area Sue...my daughter loves where you live...its so open and very FL... Celebrations has no shops you can walk to unless you're into buying countless teddybears...I would not swap your area for Celebrations or anywhere else....
I kind of agree with with Wendy...HOAs can be good...but places work well without them...I don't want people telling me what I can and can't do to my own home......I like my FL HOA...its mostly for get togethers and to help people out...and to keep common areas nice...and they do a great job there...we run our Cape HOA...again its for friendships...parties...and to give help...I like living in tourist areas because I've done so for so long...I like seeing people on holiday having a good time...

[Kriz1]

We used GMs smart buy the first week we got here...you only buy half the car...and after 3 years you get a new car or you can just buy the other half....its 6% interest for anyone...lower now I think...we still have the same car after 7 years...it still looks new...
We also got a second hand car the next day...and a new house the day after...MBNA give us US credit cards the same week...they did look into our credit with the English MBNA...it did take a few calls to get someone to do that.....we had no problems getting any credit...
We took all our English statements for a year into our new bank the first week...the lady put the info into the system...that got us a good rate for our home loan...

[Wendy]

great advice re MBNA Kris, very useful

[Kriz1]

I've heard of someone else phoning up a few times and getting a US MBNA card in the last few months on a different forum...so it can still be done...you learn after living here a while that one phone call is not enough...keep on phoning and you will get someone who knows their job or will take the time to get you an answer...

[ChrisG]

MBNA - Allthough I not in the US full time yet. I have an MBNA card in the UK and phoned them up in the UK to check if my 18 years credit rating with them can be used to my advantage in the US. They went away and checked and confirmed that when applying for an MBNA card in the US TELL them about my UK card and ask them to do an International Credit check on my UK account and in the managers word "it should not be a problem" mind you he did also say not to expect the same credit limit as I have in the UK (surprise surprise).
SO DEF.. WORTH A GO.

[Susie]

You live in a lovely area Sue...my daughter loves where you live...its so open and very FL... Celebrations has no shops you can walk to unless you're into buying countless teddybears...I would not swap your area for Celebrations or anywhere else....
I kind of agree with with Wendy...HOAs can be good...but places work well without them...I don't want people telling me what I can and can't do to my own home......I like my FL HOA...its mostly for get togethers and to help people out...and to keep common areas nice...and they do a great job there...we run our Cape HOA...again its for friendships...parties...and to give help...I like living in tourist areas because I've done so for so long...I like seeing people on holiday having a good time...

Hi Kris

Thank you, yes I do love my sub divin, so open, nice neighbours and only $120pa hoa.

I am thinking whether to sell and move into my rental home. If I sell the rental home I will have to pay a lot of CGT

[mandybenn]

Hi

As part of 'where to live?' links with 'which school?' can anyone confirm what age is High School? Having a daughter of 15yrs I have looked at all the links on School websites and although grade is mentioned I thought I best confirm the ages. I assume she is High School, however there are very poor grades showing for most of them in Orange County, none in Lake County and only St Cloud and Paths at TECO (whatever that is) are showing A grades. She is not very academic but I still want my children to have a chance to succeed. Currently she is at a Dance Academy including time for studies, so I have looked at the Osceola School of the Arts. Unfortunately they require an audition and I know she isn't confident enough to go through that at the moment. Is there anyone on this forum with teenagers? Have you any advice?

Thanks Emma for your School web link.

Mandy

[Karyn]

In defence of Celebration I did not want to move here but did so for the schools. However out of all the choices I made I think this has been the best one. It does matter who your neighbours are, you want your children to hang out with like minded children and our neighbours are very keen to see our business grow and go out of there way to help us.

[Kriz1]

I don't dislike Celebrations Karyn...don't get me wrong...its just not for me or my family...we would lower house prices in days if we moved in...gangs of bikes and goths would do nothing for the tone of the neighbourhood...LOL!
We live in small town USA..and wanted something different in FL...which we found where our FL home is...we wanted to have homes in different areas...and by buying where taxes are low and HOA fees are low we get to do that without needing to rent out....it gives us a chance to see a lot of the USA driving to our homes...and our kids get to travel and met a lot of different people...it just works for us...our next home is going to be in a small mountain town somewhere near Dollywood...where I'm sure my redneck kids will feel really at home....hehehehehe

[Jax]

We live on Lindfields No hoa and only 10 mins from Disney

[morganfaulkner]

Hi Ron - been having a problem with my new internet provider (Netzero.com) which is so much cheaper than AOL but have spent days trying to access expatsvoice site.
Is It to late for the meeting in Celebration if not could you let me know details etc as I would like to go and meet up with people
many thanks don

[Susie]

Hi Don

It is not too late for the meeting in Celebration

It is on 26th Oct 2006 and I will be going, think Em may come too. I have reserved 4 spaces so if you would like to go with me just send me a pm

[Emmalee25]

Oh netzero is pants!!!! you need something else, we have Opera if thats any help and Firefox, all seem to be ok at the mo,
Em x

[reecey]

Hi

As part of 'where to live?' links with 'which school?' can anyone confirm what age is High School? Having a daughter of 15yrs I have looked at all the links on School websites and although grade is mentioned I thought I best confirm the ages. I assume she is High School, however there are very poor grades showing for most of them in Orange County, none in Lake County and only St Cloud and Paths at TECO (whatever that is) are showing A grades. She is not very academic but I still want my children to have a chance to succeed. Currently she is at a Dance Academy including time for studies, so I have looked at the Osceola School of the Arts. Unfortunately they require an audition and I know she isn't confident enough to go through that at the moment. Is there anyone on this forum with teenagers? Have you any advice?

Thanks Emma for your School web link.


Hi Mandy

There is East Ridge High school in Clermont not sure of ratings but my friends daughter goes there shes just turned 17 and loves it !!!
julie

Mandy

[mandybenn]

Thanks Reecey

Nice to speak to someone from Clermont (we have looked at many homes around that area).

As the nightlife is so different to that of the UK (pubs!!) what do expats do of an evening? How do you socialise? I'm sure this is the biggest difference for most people, who could just strole to their 'local pub' for last orders!!:p

Mandy

[Emmalee25]

Thats something thats missed alot i think, we went to our local 'pub' just the other day and it cost over $10.00 for a pint and a half of fosters.....gulp!!!
The Americans seem much more family oriented than us brits, quite happy to stay in etc, hopefully, if my party goes well on 4th November we will have more social events within expats voice and that should start the ball rolling for some fun.
Em x

[reecey]

hi clermont is a really lovely place to live
we tend to go to each others house and get an Indian or BBQ, its really different than UK,but we are finding our way around now kids have joined cubs and school activities:)
the school the children go to is fantastic its a very big school but the teachers are great and mine have really come on in all their studies, they have alot of family days and i never went to after school activities in UK but they are quite fun here.:)

[paulbweb]

When I first got my social security number, I was frustrated by the fact that I needed credit just to get a place to live. I thought having no credit was a good thing, because that meant you lived within your means. I managed to establish credit by getting a student credit card, almost anybody can get one. The limit was $500 and to build credit I used the CC to pay my bills and then used that money to pay off the credit card. My limit was raised pretty quickly and now I have good credit. The thing that does hurts me is that my credit history doesn't go back far enough, only 6 years. This means that even though I have a higher credit score than my wife, she's considered less of a risk because she has more history than I do.