Moving to US

jetta SG

Re: Money

Even though your plans are to pay in cash for major purchases and not take out loans, you still have to prove your creditworthiness. You need to leave a "trail" so to speak. Of how responsible you are with money, paying bills on time, that sort of thing. This determines your APR for credit cards, interest rates, etc. In addition, if you rent, your potential landlord will run your credit to determine if he wants to rent it to you.

Re: Cars

This is the land of the free - free to rip anyone off. So be prepared to haggle over the price, warranties, etc. There are tricks you should learn before you even step onto the car lot. I sooooo enjoy playing their game, I relish this. :P You may want to join the AAA (American Automobile Association). They are wonderful especially if you're new. You won't have to endure the DMV (Dept of Motor Vehicles) because AAA has their own department that handles registration, etc. Check out www.AAA.com

Re: Road skills

I would say, skip getting road experience in Sg. It's a whole different ball game here. I was one confused person because after moving from Sg, I lived in Japan and had to get "unused" to Sg driving habits. Then we moved to Hawaii and I had to get used to driving on the other side of the road. Then we moved back to Japan and now we're here. No doubt you get to experience time behind the wheel but if it were me, I'd save the time and money and just start fresh here.

Re: Insurance

I would get life insurance here, on top of the ones you have in Sg. Insurance plans here are US specific and coverage conditions are different.

As for homeowners and/or renters insurance, yes coverage depends on where you live. I live in earthquake country and pay a premium for that. Again, I recommend the AAA for life and homeowners and/or renters insurance.

Re: Cost of living

I can't answer that question since I'm not in MA. The cost of living varies within each town in every state. This is one thing you'll have to find out once you get there.

A better life?

Well, contrary to popular opinion, it all depends on your situation. I live in a high cost area so I'm not too sure that it's a better life. Having said that, since I've lived in a few countries, I'm forever comparing everything here with places I've lived in. If this is your first time leaving the comforts of Sg, then I would advise you to include items that will provide you some comfort here. Could be a favourite local CD, local movie, sentimental items, etc. I'm a trailing military spouse and have had to relocate every 3 years. After the initial excitement of a new locale wears off, the frustration and sometimes depression will set in. While I can sense your excitement with your impending move and the tendency to overthink, take it slow.

I'm an avid baker and a cook so I understand your urge to buy the entire spice store. Bring whatever you can to tide you over. Many of us exiles have friends and family who mail us spices or have people bringing stuff over when they visit. There are also Asian brick and mortar stores as well as online resources. Littlestream and I have learnt to cope, as I'm sure you will. To be sure, if you know the zip code you're going to live at in MA, try googling: Asian stores in for example, 12345?

Re: Electronics

Do not, I repeat, do not bring over anything from Sg. My Sg appliances and electronics needed a transformer to operate. IAn example is, since you're stepping down power, your microwave won't be operating on full power, the time window will be off, etc. Believe me, it's happened to me so I know. Also, in the event of the need for repair, you're screwed. So, other than your lappy or PC, do not bring Sg electronics over. Besides, the price of electronics and appliances here aren't that bad and you'll enjoy the shopping experience. . I used to sell appliances at Sears so you may ask me any question on those. There are installation codes here that have to be met so please, leave the washer and dryer in Sg.

HTHs. More later.

Meia Gisborn SG

"I've heard alot about car purchase/repair scams....what would the salesmen do actually? sell us lemons? such scams pertain to resale or new cars?"

I don't think you have to worry about being scammed on the purchase of a vehicle if you do you homework first. There are websites like Edmunds that provide information on dealer costs and markups for almost all new vehicles sold in the US, and "blue book" values on used vehicles. Knowing exactly what kind of vehicle you want and what the dealer paid for it puts you in better position when you negotiate the final selling price of the vehicle.

As for car repair scams, you can hedge your bets by getting a reliable vehicle, i.e., one that has been accorded a "Good" or "Very Good" reliability rating by Consumer Reports.

"my spouse drives...but i don't, which is a big problem now that we are moving to US. i'm thinking of learning in SG and then do some refresher course in MA and to take my driving test in MA. not sure if that's a good idea?"

Don't waste you time learning to drive in Singapore. Those loonies drive on the wrong side of the road anyway...

It's a lot easier and much less expensive to learn to drive in the US.

"is dental really very expensive in US? i've also been informed that property insurance can be very high if our property is near the sea or within the flood zones."

Your best bet would be to obtain dental insurance through either your or your spouse's employer; as it is less expensive that way. Otherwise, it can be rather costly if taken out privately. Like most health insurance plans, dental plans usually have different tiers of service that are priced according to the procedures covered, the number of dental providers in the network and the amount of the deductible that you have to pay with each office visit.

You'll likely be working with a realtor when shopping for a house. Your realtor can give you an idea of what it would cost to insure a property that you are interested in.

"i'm curious too about the cost of living in US. say if we cook most of our meals and only eat out 1-2/week...roughly on average how much a month will we be looking at for food/utilities? would you say that the cost of living is lower or higher than in SG?"

You will definitely save money by cooking your own meals as opposed to eating out. The cost of living varies by region in the US and is generally more expensive along the coasts. Taken as a whole, the cost of living in the US is much more reasonable than Singapore's, although there are some places like Manhattan and the San Francisco bay area where it is actually more expensive.

"also, for you folks who've made the big move...what did you guys packed (or would have packed on the hindsight) to bring over? i love to cook/bake and i'd like to bring an entire store worth of asian spices/condiments/dried produces over if i could....but is there a need to go to such extremes? will i be able to find affordable asian food supplies in MA? also, any website that provides a list of what kinda food stuffs i can send over? how about electrical appliances e.g. washing machine/dryer/microwave etc. do you folks just buy them over there?"

I came over as a student back in the late 80s, so I didn't bring much with me. Besides, I like to travel light.

Do not succumb to the temptation to bring every little thing over. This is the US--you can buy anything here. If you can't find a particular item at the retail level, you can almost certainly acquire it over the internet. I've purchased major electrical and electronic appliances, firearms, household furniture and even a car through the internet.

Any city with a significant Asian population will likely have enclaves with dedicated Asian food supply stores. In MA, Boston has a fairly sizeable Chinatown district with several Asian grocery stores. Heck, I live in an extremely "white" part of the country (Minnesota), and even I can find several pretty decently-stocked Asian food supply stores here!

It's good that you're asking these questions, but try not to sweat the little stuff. It'll all work out when you get here.

Arapahoe SG

Arapahoe mentioned buying travel insurance for the first couple of months?? but for travel insurance...you'll need to inform of the start and return date from/to Singapore

Normal AIA travel insurance cover for a max of 3 months and expired. So u buy the travel insurance and let it expired at the end of 3 months. As for start date and return date just indicate the day it expired.

This is just to let you thru the first few months before you conclude what health insurance u need to buy . no harm taking precaution if you encounter initial accident or hospitalization.

yt123 SG

Hi there,

I'm current in Massachusetts (MA) for about two years. My hubby is also on H1B. It wil be easier for you to look for a job if you do a Master degree program here. Coz they have 20, 000 H1B visas for those who did their Masters program in US. However, you may have to go through lottery as this year's application for that is over 20k.

By the way, which city would you be staying? The cost of living in MA is pretty high, even higher than national average. And you will have to keep using your heater during autumn and winter. It can be freezy cold during winter. -23 degree C was the lowest I have experiencedso far. Hence, when looking for rental apt, try to make sure they include the heat and gas.

As for driving, they do have driving schools here. If not, you can learn driving from your hubby once he got his MA driving license. But prior to that, you will have to pass your theory. Go to the nearest Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) office and take your test. It's a computer test and it takes about 20 mins. The theory manual can be printed from the RMV website. Once u passed this, u get a learning permit and you can start to learn driving from your hubby. i think the permit lasts for 2 yrs.

Hope this info helps.

Jeanwoo SG

Hi there,

Hope this info helps.

Hi YT,

How's the public transport in MA ?

Will Lostintransition be able to get around easily before she gets her driving license ?

yt123 SG

Hi Jeanwoo,

It depends on where she stays. If she's staying in Boston. She does not need to worry since there is subway there. As for other cities and towns, she can travel via public buses or trains. The schedule of the pubic bus of my city, Haverhill, is about 30 mins apart during weekdays. Some times i will take the bus to take my daughter for her gym lessons. We've also taken the train from haverhill to Boston. The journey is about 1.5 hr. Oh yeah, it takes about 30 mins if we drive to Boston.

Oh yeah, here's two links hopefully can help lostintransition.

MA public transportations

http://www.apta.com/links/state_local/ma.cfm

MA RMV

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/index.htm

And I would advise Lostintransition to take her time. Wait till she's here before doing anything esp like buying a house.

yt123 SG

Oops...it should be 1 hour for the bus and not 1/2 hr....:)

lostintransition SG

YOU FOLKS ARE THE BEST!! please keep your comments coming...

we'll be staying in buzzards bay (near cape cod) initially...which is slightly over an hour's drive away to boston. we might consider to move to plymouth or new bedford subsequently if we can find a nice home in those areas. plymouth is nearer to boston than buzzards bay and by train will only take less than an hour.

creditworthiness/housing:

do the landlords in US ask for reference letters? we'll most likely take up my spouse' offer of subsidised housing but in case we aren't satisfied with the apartment, we might find one to rent temporarily till we eventually buy one. 'cos we've never rented any apartments in SG...we have absolutely no history of rental records.

credit trial will also take awhile to form...do we still have a good chance to find decent rental but perhaps to pay a higher rental deposit? what's the typical rent payment arrangement like? do we pay for the entire year/half year upfront or just pay a deposit (how many months typically?) and the remaining through monthly payments?

learning to drive:

i actually heard it's more costly to learn driving in US hence the reason why i was thinking of learning most part of it here in SG first and then go over for a short refresher (since we are driving on different sides) & to take the test.

yt123 was suggesting that i can learn driving from my hubby? that's allowed in US!? that'd cost next to nothing to learn then =)

the cold:

ya..i heard about the cold in the east coast. where we are going to stay - buzzards bay/cape cod...i heard most people will leave in winter and only to return in summer. it's an area where people come for their summer vacation...hence i can imagine the area to be very dead in winter. it's very likely that we'll also return to SG during winter. but i note your advice regarding heating for the apartment. thanks!

electrical appliances:

hahah....ok, I WILL NOT bring any over. so PC/laptops from SG should work ok in US?

asian food supplies:

i feel much relieved now that you folks mentioned that they should be readily available in stores & online. i believe i should be able to find the asian stores in the bigger towns in my vicinity...if not i can make regular trips to boston/NYC i suppose.

a better life?:

yup..depression/homesickness is what i fear most. 'cos i'm going over without a job...i've to think of ways to keep myself occupied so that i don't start having resentments of being made to leave the comfort of my home in SG, my job, my family...

taxes:

do you folks engage tax specialist to assist with filing or it's quite doable on your own even if you are new to the system? how much does it cost to engage a specialist?

just to double-check...tax on capital gains (local/overseas) as well as estate duty (yes, i mean inheritance/death tax) only apply when you are a PR and not when you are on work permit right?

named representatives in SG:

before you folks left SG...did you do up a power of attorney to name a representative who can handle your matters in SG?

assimilation:

what are the best ways to assimilate into the local community when you are new?

viciouskitty74 SG

Hi lost,

I can only offer non legal, techical comments.

1. laptop should work if you have the power cables that is suited to the US electrical outlet & voltage. Its also cheaper to purchase them at USA.

2. Communication devices like handphones, please buy them in USA, though they are more expensive and not as advanced as the models we have in sg. Otherwise, a quad band phone with the power cable for US electrics will do.

3. Do shop and buy a chinese wok to bring to USA. Also those sieve like thngy that you can boil pasta or noodles in. Or those flat girdles for indian cooking. Not to mention those cooking books.

4. and if you have small feet like mine...size 35. Do get your heels in sg and fly them over. Also get about 3 or 4 pairs of those really cheapo fake crocs for you and hub. Just dump them at the front entrance, your backyard, your garage and even your toliet bathroom. they are great for shuffling around with socks during cold weather.

5. Buy those pashmina shawls too and bring them over. they are good to use as well as gifts. And jeans, especially if you get them cheap in sg at those Ck dept stores for S$10/- a pair. Those jeans are really thin and wont be too warm to wear even in summer time.

6.those L'oreal face products are good too. Avoid any cleansing products that will be too dry for your face because the weather there will require more moisturising ingredients.

lostintransition SG

I can only offer non legal, techical comments.

thanks viciouskitty!! such practical, down-to-earth advice are exactly what i need.

as i tend to overthink, over-analyze things....those kicks-in-the-butts comments to keep me in place will also be deeply appreciated!! =))

viciouskitty74 SG

I forgot to mention bras. Especially those push ups.

Caucasian women tend to have their boobies further away and the bras in USA tends to be wider in front. Theirs pants & tops are longer so you may find their clothing a bit too big, including underwears has more materials and look like grannies undies.

And do bring along those cheap to buy netted bags to easier do your laundry.

And static is common in USA so you might want to buy those anti static wristband or net with a ball to bounce off static from your body.

You really just need to go to USA with your cash, online banking & documents.

Oh, and do drop by the Central Police Station for a CNCC when you have your visa documents. The CNCC can come in useful some way.

Jeanwoo SG

creditworthiness/housing:

The landlords will usually run your credit ratings to make sure.. you're not a lousy tenant. But it's still up to the discretion of the home owner.

Since you have no credit ratings.. just let them know your background.. like where you work and how much is your pay .. ... you just need to convince the owner you won't lapse on your rental or thrash their home. And if you have no pets.. it's even better.

Every home owner has their fair share of nightmare renters.. so they want to make sure you're not one of them.

When you rent.. you will likely be dealing directly with the home owner who lives nearby.. or a property management company.

For your own protection.. it's best to put your deposit into ESCROW. Typically one month deposit... you need to decide or negotiate the length of the lease/rent with the owner.

Most landlords prefer longer lease term as it saves them advertising fees and the hassle of dealing with short term renters.

learning to drive:

yt123 was suggesting that i can learn driving from my hubby? that's allowed in US!? that'd cost next to nothing to learn then =)

I wouldn't suggest you let your hubby teach you.. since he is also new to the place.. and may not be as well versed with some driving rules and regulations as a local driving instructor...

Driving cultures and certain practices are different from SG.

But for a reference on driving lesson cost.. check out this website ...to SIM driving school in MA.

"V-AFFORDABLE FEE:

* $550 for a Complete Driver's Ed. Program to get a Driver's Education Certificate.

* $700 for a Massachusetts Driver Program.

* $550 for a Private On-Road-Driving Project till obtaining a Driver’s License.

* $39 for an hourly On-Road-Driving Lesson or Evaluation for a Road Test.

* $99 for a Road Test Sponsorship.

* $79 for Knowledge a Written Test to get a Learner's Permit. "

Some community college also offers driving lessons.

the cold:

electrical appliances:

hahah....ok, I WILL NOT bring any over. so PC/laptops from SG should work ok in US?

If I am not wrong. .you just need to change to a suitable power converter.. these you can purchase in USA stores. Like bestbuys or circuit city.. etc

asian food supplies:

a better life?:

Yes.. you will be homesick for sure.. it's going to be a big adjustments... took me about 3 years .. to settle in... and occasionally. I'm still homesick!

Just go easy with your spouse.. don't take it out on him/her.

taxes:

do you folks engage tax specialist to assist with filing or it's quite doable on your own even if you are new to the system? how much does it cost to engage a specialist?

just to double-check...tax on capital gains (local/overseas) as well as estate duty (yes, i mean inheritance/death tax) only apply when you are a PR and not when you are on work permit right?

If I am not wrong.. you get capital gain exclusion as a resident.. and I don't think you qualify for NRA ( Non-resident Alien) status.

Also.. check out this link for NRA withholding.

Please confirm this with IRS.

named representatives in SG:

before you folks left SG...did you do up a power of attorney to name a representative who can handle your matters in SG?

assimilation:

what are the best ways to assimilate into the local community when you are new?

Not much. you already know English.. just don't bring bad Singaporean habits to the USA... LOL....

When in USA.. do what the North Americans do..

ceecookie SG

assimilation:

what are the best ways to assimilate into the local community when you are new?

I suggest you pick up a copy of Culture Shock USA. They do have a section on the local cultures and etiquettes(complete with helpful quizzes at the end of the book) and this may help you integrate into the American society

yt123 SG

Currently, my rental apt is from the property management company and not private landlord. One thing great is that they take care of the maintenance. I'm staying in North of Boston whereas you will be staying in South of Boston.

I looked at New Bedford..there's no listing from property management company. But saw one there's at Dartmouth, near to New bedford. 2 bedroom and 2 bath plus washer and dryer is only $1200 per month. Not sure if heat and gas is included. But this rental price is definitely considered as cheap.

But the min lease period is 1 year for property management company apts.

www.apartmentguide.com

www.forrent.com

www.condo.com

I seldom go down to Boston. But my eld sis and my mom-in-law will send parcels to us from time to time. :)

I also ordered online. So far only from myAsianStore.

==============================================================

And Jeanwoo is true...do what the Americans do......like when my hubby has company family function. We'll always go and stay as long as we can....though personally I dislike these types of functions. So far, I have attend summer party at boss's house; company dinner followed by watching ice hockey match. Just last Sat, they booked a campground and we spent the entire afternoon talking and playing.

As for driving, your hubby can teach you. But like what Jeanwoo mentions, he himself is new to this place. You may want to consider going to a driving school.

=================================================================

Power of attorney

Well, I did get my sis to be the the one in charge of our property. She's in charge of everything including selling of it.

jetta SG

taxes:

do you folks engage tax specialist to assist with filing or it's quite doable on your own even if you are new to the system? how much does it cost to engage a specialist?

just to double-check...tax on capital gains (local/overseas) as well as estate duty (yes, i mean inheritance/death tax) only apply when you are a PR and not when you are on work permit right?

Since you'll be new to the US tax system, for the first couple of years, you might want to engage the services of a CPA. Even though we've been doing our own taxes for years, every time we relocate, there are many issues that crop up which we can't handle. We have a CPA whom we use and he charges us $180. His fees are tax deductible too. Just remember to save all your paperwork? I'm very anal when it comes to filing our taxes, saving every piece of paperwork that may reduce our taxes. Also remember, it's not good to get a large amount back from the tax guy every year. Your goal is to be as near zero as possible. Too much money back = you're overpaying and the govt is holding on to your money, interest-free.

learning to drive:

yt123 was suggesting that i can learn driving from my hubby? that's allowed in US!? that'd cost next to nothing to learn then =)

Just remember, you may be a careful driver but others aren't. Again, the AAA holds driving courses for newbies, so check into that. I didn't take such a course. Every time we relocate, I familiarise myself by driving during off-peak hours running short errands. You sound like money isn't a problem for you so I would invest in a driving course, if I were in your shoes. Especially since your hubby's new to the States too. No offence but it sounds like the blind leading the blind.

Oh and when you buy a car, get one with heated seats. You'll love it as much as I do.

the cold:

We call those people snowbirds. We get plenty of them here.

I enjoy dressing for winter. There are tricks to dressing for winter to keep warm without the bulk. Layering is key. Don't buy your winter clothes in Singapore. They styles are sooooo old. Invest in a good winter coat, knee high socks and maybe thermal undies. Some good sites to check out are www.eddiebauer.com, www.jcrew.com, www.landsend.com, www.llbean.com and www.garnethill.com

As for assimilation, that comes slowly. Your hubby's co-workers and their spouses may be your first avenue. If you're a natually gregarious person, you'll be set in no time. For those of use with kids, it's a little easier.

Arapahoe SG

Jetta

TB which involves getting a chest x-ray and a PPD test . If you pop positive, you'll have to undergo 6 months of INH treatment. (I had to endure that.)

what did they gave you? did you have to quarantine?

Arapahoe SG

learning to drive:

yt123 was suggesting that i can learn driving from my hubby? that's allowed in US!? that'd cost next to nothing to learn then =)

suggest you might look at a economical and practical way to learn.

1) take your written test (u can go to DMV get a booklet and learn) than go and registered it is the same day test as you registered.

2) Check with DMV to see if you can learn to drive so long there is a valid designated driver with a local driver licence beside you. YOU got 1 year to learn after the test. Since yt123 mention i think you should be able to drive with your husband beside you.

3) after you are confident with the driving you want to take the driving test. Check out which DMV u want to take the test, usually different people will have different say....find a driver instructor at that DMV. Find out their teaching rate. And signed up for 4/5 hour lesson

He/She will teach you the technique to take the test and teach you the local traffic regulation.

4) go take the test and IF you PASS GO Take your honey to the car dealership.....ha ha ha......

If you fail registered again lor....I think in this case you save quite a bit at least you don't have to spend $$ on lengthy learning your spouse can help u on basic driving skill. but only spend on getting testing technique and tips from instructors.

maurizio13 SG

When you sell, could mean the difference between these two tax rates schedules in Singapore. One being a tax resident rate, the other a non tax resident rate. It's best to consult a tax accountant for tax planning advice, not those accountants that just do tax filing. Most folks don't know anything about taxes to do any appropriate planning to minimise it. I had a friend who does accounts (non-graduate), he once told me, "what's the point of learning taxation? You just submit your returns to IRAS and let them compute the tax for you." But after doing a tax planning module, I realised that you could make substantial tax savings by knowing how to manage your affairs. The tax tables abit messed up, but I think you should be able to make out the difference.

RATES OF TAX ON CHARGEABLE INCOME OF
AN INDIVIDUAL OR A HINDU JOINT FAMILY

Chargeable Income Rate of Tax For every dollar of the first $ 20,000 Nil For every dollar of the next $ 10,000 3.5% For every dollar of the next $ 10,000 5.5% For every dollar of the next $ 40,000 8.5% For every dollar of the next $ 80,000 14.0% For every dollar of the next $160,000 17.0% For every dollar exceeding $320,000 20.0%.

Relief for non-resident citizens and certain other non-residents
40. —(1) Any individual who in any year of assessment is not resident in, but is a citizen of, Singapore shall be allowed such relief, if any, as will reduce the amount of tax payable by him in respect of that year to an amount which bears the same proportion to the amount of tax which would be so payable if he were resident in Singapore in that year, and if the tax were charged on his aggregate income, reduced by any deductions which would be allowable under section 39 (except subsections (2) (k) and (12) thereof), as the amount of his assessable income (other than specified income) bears to his aggregate income.

RATES OF TAX FOR THE COMPUTATION OF RELIEF
UNDER SECTION 40

Chargeable Income Rate of Tax For every dollar of the first $ 2,500 4% For every dollar of the next $ 2,500 6% For every dollar of the next $ 2,500 8% For every dollar of the next $ 2,500 10% For every dollar of the next $ 5,000 14% For every dollar of the next $ 5,000 16% For every dollar of the next $ 5,000 17% For every dollar of the next $ 10,000 20% For every dollar of the next $ 15,000 27% For every dollar of the next $ 50,000 34% For every dollar exceeding $100,000 37%.

lostintransition SG

hey folks, wow, so many replies since i last logged in =)

regarding taxes...so much info to digest..i don't even know where to start. i'm used to filing my own (as self-employed) and my spouse's (employee) taxes in SG but the US tax system seems much more complicated. really need to spend some time to figure it out.

as for driving...i was suggesting to my spouse that he could possibly teach me to drive and he rolled his eyes. he said he can guide me but i shld still go to the driving instructor for the basics. he had stayed and driven in US for awhile...so altho his familiar, he's still not confident to teach me. so yes, i'll probably find a qualified instructor for that.

as for stuffs to bring...bras!! haha...will definitely stock up on some. good thing is i ain't exactly small size (size 14)...i've problems finding clothes of my size in singapore unless i go to places like M&S, dorothy perkins etc. (but they are freaking ex) so US sizes should suit me fine...i love shopping at the megamarts like target and the clothings are pretty affordable.

as for housing, what my spouse's employer is providing for a subsidised apartment will cost $1000+ (inc utilities) which we thought is pretty decent as we ourselves haven't been able to find anything cheaper around that area. we might consider dartmouth too...'cos i'm thinking of going to school there.

can i check if you folks save/invest in US? what kind of options are available? my friends are all so envious that i can start an account with vanguard soon. is the propensity to save high when you work/live in the US considering the net income after taxes & cost of living?

jetta SG

Jetta

TB which involves getting a chest x-ray and a PPD test . If you pop positive, you'll have to undergo 6 months of INH treatment. (I had to endure that.)

what did they gave you? did you have to quarantine?

No, no quarantine. Remember the BCG shot we all had to endure in primary 1? I didn't have to have to get one during the primary six exercise because I popped positive for my PPD reading. Anyhoos, the INH treatment consists of popping two pills. The pill that treats the condition affects the liver so the second pill prevents the liver from overreacting. I had to pop those pills for one year. Nowadays it's a 6 month treatment.

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