Relocation can be demanding for someone who is taking up a new job or planning to live closer to relatives, and when a whole family has to make a move it requires quite a bit of forward planning. There is plenty of guidance available for families moving to New York City (NYC) and it’s worth creating a short checklist so that nothing vital remains undone.
Overseas Travelers
Each member of a family moving to NYC from outside the US requires a G4 visa before entering the country. Online forms are available for this and a minimum two weeks should be allowed for the visa request to be processed via the nearest US embassy, which will communicate directly with the visa desk HQ.
Accommodation
Newcomers to New York may wish to rent a house or an apartment while they look for their ideal family home. Searching online on any of the reputable websites, and also visiting advertised properties, is the best way to accomplish this. Personal items and furniture can always be put into Bronx storage until the family is ready to move on to permanent accommodation.
When choosing an area in which to live, it’s best to take account of the family’s key requirements – does an apartment or building need to be near particular schools, for example, or within driving distance of a place of work? Friends and colleagues can probably offer sound advice on the features of various neighborhoods.
Financial Awareness
In certain areas rents are higher, however rental subsidies are available and children can attend good quality, free public schools. In areas where lower rents apply public education is not usually of as high a standard, although private schooling may be an option, and in some cases an education grant is payable.
As with rental rates, shopping is more expensive in certain parts of the city and, depending on whether or not a car is used, the option to shop online, at wholesale stores or in Chinatown for high quality, but cheaper, food can be explored.
Landlords will most likely run credit checks on potential tenants, using an individual’s credit history to determine their viability as reliable rent-paying occupiers of houses or apartments. For newcomers to the US who don’t have a credit history in the country, obtaining a Certificate of Employment is vital, as this will also indicate entitlement to a rental subsidy.
Settling In
When the official matters have been dealt with –storage, accommodation, driver’s license and social security number sorted – it’s time for the family to explore their new environment and enjoy being in a dynamic, exciting city. One way to do this is to take a guided tour by bus or helicopter, or a harbor cruise. There is so much to do in New York – parks and playgrounds, zoos, museums, theaters and concert halls – it’s impossible to be bored, and with landmark sights on their doorstep, such as Central Park, Times Square and the Empire State Building, resident families have the opportunity to do all the exciting tourist things for a long, long time without visiting the same attraction twice.
