Residents » Overview » Before You Arrive

If you’re coming to work in the city, you should have any qualification certificates and important documents (such as marriage certificates and children’s birth certificates) attested in your home country. This can be a lengthy process and may involve solicitors and the US foreign embassy, so try to get the jump on this as early as possible.

If you are moving to New York from outside the US, the usual expatriate considerations should be made. If you own property in your home country, selling up before you move may not be the best option - consider renting it out for a year or so until you’ve found your feet in the US. You also need to get your financial affairs in order before you leave home, and that means informing your bank, your mortgage provider and the tax office. Speak to your pension company too – moving abroad could have implications on your contributions. If you’ve got kids you should start researching schools as soon as possible (see Education, p 163). Finding a place to live is one of the most stressful and still most important tasks when moving to a new city, so if you can, you should take your time and explore the neighbourhoods you’d consider moving to. A good idea is to arrange temporary accommodation while you look for your perfect home - you can find a listing of apartment sublets on www.craigslist.org. If you have been employed from your home country some companies will even pay for this initial accommodation as well as cover relocation fees. When you do move it’s likely you’ll want to bring more than just your suitcase with you, so speak to shipping or relocation companies ahead of time and be sure to book well in advance.

If you’re coming to look for employment, do your homework before you arrive. Contact recruitment agencies and sign up with online job sites as far in advance as possible. There may also be agencies in your home country that specialise in overseas recruitment. The Work section should provide some handy info.