Moving To New York – A Brief Guide

It’s no secret how much I love the Big Apple, and I know I’m not alone in this feeling, so I thought it only fitting to provide an in-depth guide to all you need to know about moving there.

Here’s everything you need to know about moving to one of the most exciting places on Earth – New York City, baby!

Moving To New York – What Visa Do I Need?

We’ve all heard stories or seen a movie about US immigration, but how tough is it really? Well, you’ll be happy to know that there are actually a lot of options for people wanting to relocate there, and the process is relatively straight-forward. The visa options you are eligible for will be dependent on your country of birth (or the passport/s you hold) and also the reasons why you want to enter the US – e.g. to work, to study or for other reasons (and no, this doesn’t include partying/drug smuggling or hijacking the Bellagio).

Many of the visas are categorized by occupation and country, so if you are in a skilled job with good experience then it is very likely you will have your application granted. There are also visas for intra-company transfers, so if this is an option to you, then definitely look into it. On the flip side, if you are looking for temp work nannying or similar it is also possible to get your foot in the door. CCUSA or NYNanny are great companies to use if you’re looking for this kind of work.

As there are so many different visas and rules, I would recommend checking your eligibility against the criteria listed on this website to find the best visa for you.

Finding a Job In New York

New York is one of the most popular destinations in the world for people looking to expand their experience and climb the career ladder. It’s also a city famous for waiting tables, so whatever your experience level or need, there is a job in NYC for you! That’s not to say there isn’t a huge amount of competition because there absolutely is (its New York, after all!) but provided you are enthusiastic and willing to do whatever you need to do to get the job you want, then you’ll be fine.

Generally speaking, for corporate jobs, the more experience the better when it comes to working in NYC, and if you have any languages up your sleeve then be sure to highlight that in your application – they love bilinguals in the Big Apple!

The main websites for jobs include the New York Times, Craig’s List, Monster and Village Voice. Use these as a starting point and try to network if you can on linked in and facebook to give yourself an advantage.  You can also register with recruitment agencies as in other cities, so be sure to brush up your CV and have some ID and your visa ready if needed. These things will also be needed once you start working, so keep them handy at all times!

Finding An Apartment In New York

Do you want the good news or the bad news? OK… bad first – accommodation in New York is ridiculously expensive, but the good news is that you have five huge boroughs in which to find your dream apartment, so all is not lost!  Many people come to the city wanting to live in the middle of Manhattan, but prices start from $2,000/month for a small studio flat in this area, so it can take a small expectation adjustment period when you first start looking.

Much cheaper accommodation is available in Brooklyn, Harlem and Queens, so do your research and identify the areas that are close to the subway and easy enough to get to from where you’ll be working.  You could also look to sublet a cheap room for short term periods while you are looking for work or before moving into a more long term place – this can help you save your dollars provided you don’t mind the hassle.

Keep in mind that most of the time, you will need to enlist the help of a broker when looking to rent on a yearly or two-yearly basis, and you will need to cough up a security deposit and some upfront rent before you move in. You will also most likely need a US credit card as ID (and to be credit checked)  when finding an apartment too, so get this sorted asap and try to buy a few things on your card – it helps build your all-important US credit rating which is needed for many things when living there!

Meeting New Friends In New York

As with living in any city, expect to meet other expats via Meetup, Twitter and blogs. There are loads of New York based bloggers so make sure you connect with them and go to any arranged meetups.

As for meeting locals, the easiest way is through other friends, at work or at the gym as well as at blogger meetups. New Yorkers may have a certain reputation, but in my experience they are warm, funny and willing to chat – especially if they hear a foreign accent! So go on – get out there!

Moving To New York And Money

As I said above, New York is not cheap. But it’s NEW YORK, so you smile and just be thankful you are there, OK! On a serious note, the city is expensive, but that doesn’t mean you have to be earning the big bucks to live there – flat shares, shopping wisely and walking can help you to save a lot of money, so you just need to be creative if living there is your dream.

In terms of banking, you will need to get an account sorted as soon as you arrive – you’ll need a passport, but most banks will allow foreign citizens to open an account when they first arrive without a social security number. Bank of America is one of the biggest banks, so you may want to try there first. I have heard it can be an administrative nightmare trying to get accounts and credit cards organised, so do your research and plan ahead!

The great thing about America though, is most things like food, mobile phone use and beer is cheap, so provided you are thrifty, you can keep your day to day expenses quite low.

One thing to keep in mind that you may not have had to worry about in the past is Health Insurance. The US provides only emergency care to those in need for free, but all other illnesses or appointments are not covered. You may want to look into either cheap US insurance when you get there, so see if you can be covered by a travel insurance policy – just make sure you have a plan as this can be a costly mistake to make!

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