So I will (hopefully) be immigrating to the United States in 2021, and wanted the hive mind's advice on ways to optimize the move.
I'd love to hear from other Mustachians who have also relocated to the US. Anything you wish you'd known before you permanently moved? Anything that falls under the category "nice-to-have/do-before-I-leave"? Pitfalls to avoid?
Some relevant background: I'm a Filipino citizen with a US citizen fiancé, and we are both Mustachians (
our story here for anyone interested). I have always lived in Manila, Philippines. This will be my first ever international move, so I want to get things right and be prepared as much as I can before I leave my home country.
Here are the list of things I've identified so far:
Visa:- Researched costs, timelines and documentary requirements for the visa application from start to finish, including filing fees, travel costs, and applicable US/PH laws.
Investments:- Reread the MMM and Bogleheads resources on investing. The
savings advice has always been valuable, but much of the
investing advice was never applicable to my situation, so I never needed to pay much attention. Now, though, I definitely need to review.
- Decide how to efficiently move my PH-domiciled investments to the US. This requires careful timing, both when the market is high AND when the exchange rate is favorable.
Career:- I continue to work and save at my current job until the visa is granted.
- The conditions of my K1 fiancé visa will prevent me from working or travelling outside the United States until I obtain the work and travel permits (EAD-Employment Authorization Document and AP-Advance Parole).
- With all the COVID delays, people have reported significant delays obtaining their EAD and AP. That means I am facing a long period of not working for many months after my arrival in the States. It actually works in my favor because I could really use the time to decompress from my current stressful job. I want the time to do some self-reflection and decide what I want to do next.
Climate:- I am not used to cold weather and I've never seen snow in person! I'm used to wearing tank tops, shorts and flip flops all year round because the temperature in Manila always hovers around 23°C - 33°C (74°F - 93°F). Moving to my partner's hometown Memphis, TN will require a significant adjustment.
Relationships:- I have of course had extensive talks with my partner about all of this. We are jointly planning and saving for these goals.
- I think the hardest part of the move will be saying goodbye to the family and friends here in Manila. Although I have both family and friends in the States, my strongest relationships are all here. After the pandemic is over, I plan to visit regularly, but of course it will not be the same.
So, Mustachians, any other important things that I need to consider, before immigrating to the US?