Two guys needing advice about moving to California from the UK. (San Diego: attorney, home)

[krusoandtod]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Coming from England, you'll probably consider anything inland in SoCal to be HOT. During the summer, it might be 80F on the coast, 90F 10 miles inland, and 100F or more 20+ miles inland. It all depends on the exact topography of the area but the temperature gradient as you leave the coast can be quite steep.

Thank you for the time to post this comment, Every little helps

[irvm]

Originally Posted by silliemillie

Ok let's see if I can help you out a little.
,,,
Good luck!

Despite the name, silliemillie makes some very good points.

Check out craigslist so you'll be prepared for the expenses.
While employers may 'forget' to check for proper visa and work permits for low-wage, temporary fruit pickers, IT jobs will be another story.

"Persons entering the U.S. on a visitor visa, for business or tourism (B-1/B-2), or without a visa on the Visa Waiver Program are not permitted to work. If you are planning to work, or to attend certain training in the U.S., you cannot enter the U.S. with a visitor visa. Instead, you will need a visa in one of the employment categories for temporary workers."

See the gov't web site: UnitedStatesVisas.gov Homepage (http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/business_text.html - broken link)

Basically, you don't come here looking for a job. You must have an employer who has agreed to hire you before you leave the UK, and then apply for permission. It's the same going from the US to work in Canada, for example.

[Woof]

You can get in through a student visa more easily I suppose, I think you wouldn't even need to go full time. You could take a few classes at a cheap community college perhaps.

Here's a craigslist search in San Diego where I placed a $1000 limit on the apt: san diego craigslist > > apts/housing for rent: search=

There are subforums here specifically concerning life in Los Angeles and San Diego.

[Redhannah]

Come to San Diego - it's a great place to live, especially if you have free time but don't work on your visa waiver or visitor visa. If immigration finds out you go into the tank then you get deported, which would ruin the whole thing for you.

You should just hang out, enjoy the sun, sea, and perfect weather in a beautiful town until your money runs out. Otherwise get the student visa - you will have to pay the tuition and attend the classes then maybe you could get a work permit, or you could get sponsored by en employer but the visa you would probably want won't be available until April 1st for filing and Oct 1st for the work start date, next year.

If it's any consolation we Yanks face similar work restrictions in Europe.

[krusoandtod]

We are planning on finding the best areas to live which would be most appropriate for us and then apply for some jobs in that area. Once we have a placement we will then apply for a working visa and hopefully we will be successful.

We both have a lot of valuable skills to offer, not to mention large amounts of personality and humour and really want to make our dreams a reality.

Thanks everyone for your support.

[irvm]

Originally Posted by krusoandtod

We are planning on finding the best areas to live which would be most appropriate for us and then apply for some jobs in that area. Once we have a placement we will then apply for a working visa and hopefully we will be successful.

You can only stay 90 days without a visa.
The only visas which allow you to work require pre-arranged employment and a (usually long) wait. See here: Embassy of the U.S. London: H - Temporary Work Visa (http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/work.html - broken link)

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by irvm

You can only stay 90 days without a visa.
The only visas which allow you to work require pre-arranged employment and a (usually long) wait. See here: Embassy of the U.S. London: H - Temporary Work Visa (http://london.usembassy.gov/cons_new/visa/niv/work.html - broken link)

How much is that really enforced? After all, 20,000,000 illegals are working here and aren't exactly living in fear of being found and thrown out. They even have protest marches in our streets in plain view.

[krusoandtod]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

How much is that really enforced? After all, 20,000,000 illegals are working here and aren't exactly living in fear of being found and thrown out. They even have protest marches in our streets in plain view.

Thats what I was thinking but we definitely want to do it the right way even if it is going to be difficult. It is so easy for people to come to the UK and work and its a shame that we dont have the same opportunities with the US.
We are both wanting to come over and work our ass's off and we certainly dont want an easy ride while we are here. We just wish there was an easier way for someone to see us as two young guys who are willing to graft and give us that chance and make it easy for us.

Thanks for everyones support

[Woof]

Oh, and be aware that we have trouble understanding a Northern English accent, better make it closer to the BBC accent if possible.

[krusoandtod]

Originally Posted by Woof

Oh, and be aware that we have trouble understanding a Northern English accent, better make it closer to the BBC accent if possible.

Okay we jolly well will

Haha, I know what you are suggesting but we aren't that broad or hard to understand