US Relocation Tips / Gill Bejerano, UCSC

Version 1.02 (Dec 2004)
Version 1.01 (Jul 2003)
Version 1.00 (Jun 2003)
 

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Aim

Advice for those moving to the US for a significant amount of time.
Written from the perspective of a J-1 visa postdoc moving from Jerusalem to CA in April 2003.
Mostly focused on the related red tape, or SIDURIM.

Disclaimer

The comments here are mostly based on my family's personal experiences.
Some procedures (e.g., dealing with the U.S. embassy) change quite rapidly.
No guarantee whatsoever is made or implied. Use at your own risk.

Sections

In Israel
Pre Departure
USA Arrival
Later Issues
US Exit and Re-Entry
Home Bound
Other Resources

In Israel

Rented Apartment

Notify landlord in time, clear out, arrange bills, etc.

Car Selling

Canceling your car insurance, as opposed to transferring it to another car or to first order relatives, can be subject to high cancellation fees.
Try to get the insurance company to write you a formal letter stating how good a customer you are, your good driving record, and how long you've had the license. May help lower US insurance rate (you will be a new driver there..).
If somebody wants to buy your care with a suitcase full of notes, note that some banks charge 15% commission on cash deposits over 10,000 NIS.

Bituach Leumi

Call BTL ahead of time and let them know you're leaving. You can then choose to either pay OR not pay while abroad.
BUT if you do not notify them, and just fly away, if you ever return,  you will need to pay an arm and a leg for every single year unaccounted for.
Advantage of paying: medical insurance when visiting Israel.

Kitzbat Yeladim

Part of the above system. 3/2003 I just read in Haaretz that children who stay abroad for more than six consecutive months are not eligible to the kitzba. Worse, they revoke it retroactively, and demand the money back, starting from the day the child left Israel.

Kupat Holim

Choose to dis/continue paying bituach mashlim (the basic is covered by BTL if you pay it).
It's not clear whether it's actually worth it. We are looking into it now.
Note that if you quit now (no freeze option) and resume when you return to Israel, you'll be like anyone off the street enrolling for the first time (no rights for the first so and so months, etc.)
Consider: People actually fly over to Israel for certain US non-insured procedures (e.g., pregnancy check ups).
But is the mashlim necessary for these?

University Funds

During your Ph.D. you have probably gained some money in obscure places like a pension fund, and Keren Kishrei Mada. Enquire at your uni about these funds and how/when you will be able to access them.

Tzava

Best notify your Ktzinat Kishur ahead of time and not when your alarmed parents get mailed a tzav, or worse.
(some units will still send tzavim, despite being notified, hoping for the best..)
Apparently, after two years abroad your unit has to transfer you to "Ram Chul".
Advantages: no tsavim for sure, a way out of a bad unit, and hopefully a breather when you return to Israel.

US Visa application

Start the procedure as early as possible. Application review time can and does take up to three months, if they decide to send your application to Washington D.C. for inspection.
2004 update: All visa applications are now subject to an interview.

US Daycare/Kindergarten

Best arranged as far in advance as possible.
Universities often offer childcare services, which tend to be cheaper but in high demand.
Try to get on their lists as early as possible, well before you arrive.
E.g., we have been waiting for two years now for a space at the UCSC daycare facilities.

Post from a reader: Always go for public, unless you are very well off. If your kids are below public school age, try getting tips from your neighbours. It may save you a ton of money, because private daycares are very expensive, and the price differences between them are huge (and do not imply the quality). Check http://www.greatschools.net, too.

Discuss with Future Boss

Ideally, before you commit to the postdoc:

Shipping

Haven't researched this bit very well. Also see ISO link at bottom.
Many options:
Where to ship before you arrive? Most convenient to your new lab. Ask them.

Miscellaneous

Pre-Departure

Farewell parties

Are, sadly, also a good place to catch last minute colds, or worse.
Consider having these at least one week before departure, especially if traveling with young children.

Route

You pass through immigration and customs at first entry point to US or Canada, with all your luggage, regardless of final destination within the US.
For this reason we flew Israel - Europe, Europe - San-Francisco which was our final destination.

Airline

Experience probably varies, but as a general rule I would guess based on previous experience that flights between Israel and Europe are much less convenient (i.e., when traveling with babies), and inter-continental ones are typically served by larger, less packed airplanes. As in - the longer the flight, the better the facilities & services.

Ticket

Even if you plan on never returning, you may find that one-way tickets cost almost the same, if not more than two-way ones.
Small kids are eligible to discounts.
Note: infant tickets (to seat on parents' lap, at large discount) must be used in their entirety before your kid turns two.

Seats

With infants - tell your travel agent, and then remind the airline itself 4-5 days before departure.
A useful trick  - try asking for non consecutive seats (e.g., D and F, but not aisle-separated), for better chances of middle seat being left vacant. If not, they'd most probably agree to switch with one of you.

Luggage

Best to phone the airline itself. Our travel agent was sure there was no piece limit. She was wrong...
(overweight/extra suitcases can cost dearly!)

Arrival Date

Beware of hidden bureaucratic obstacles!
E.g., HHMI hires only on the 1st or 15th, and then demands a meeting with HR personnel within 3 days of hire date.
(i.e., arrive on the 16th and they can't hire you for two weeks..)

Medical Insurance

Make sure all your family is covered from the moment you leave Israel.
Israeli "travel" medical insurance is typically much more expensive than local US insurance.
Several providers exist. System differs from Israel. One good thing to know is that there are two major health care schemes with the different providers (but also many, many hybrid plans):
Some people claim HMO is in rapid continual decline, others that the two are less and less distinguishable. I guess it differs according to where you live. You may also want to shop around to see if you can get a better deal (even on the exact same coverage) than your uni/employer offers.

Early Necessities

USA Arrival

Axiom

"Thou shalt not get much research done the first three months."
Good luck breaking it.

Catch 22

Decent folk in America have
As you will next read there is no way for you to get any of these before some time passes.
Learn to anticipate and circumvent the (not so horrible) difficulties these issues will cause you.
Realize that anything that may take the locals a day / a phone call to set up, may take you a week / a special trip to the office.

Getting By

Ask. America has a strong sense of service. Ask, and all your questions will be answered, often efficiently and patiently. Don't expect them to volunteer all the information you need (they're human, too). Just ask.
(And if the lady/gent on the other end of an 800 helpline is not being helpful, part with them politely, hang up, and dial right back again. Chances are you'll do better with the next rep).

Social Security Number

Requires a trip to the Soc. Sec. office (SSA) in town.
J-1 required documents are the passport, I-94 departure form, DS-2019 pink form and university acceptance letter. The SSN should arrive in the mail within two weeks.
(You can ask for a phone number to call and obtain the SSN earlier than the mailed card). J-2 is not eligible for SSN, but needs to take out a soc. sec. ineligibility letter (form SSA-L676). The DMV requires this form in order to issue a driver's license (but you can take the DMV written exam before you arrange it). Make sure the SSA enter the J-2 into the computer and not just sign the form, or you will need to visit again.
Correction: J-2 is eligible to SSN. But apparently only after some time has passed. They certainly must take out one when they are granted permission to work (see below).

Credit History

A very important thing, whose full meaning I have yet to grasp. As you will next see, filling your credit history with reassuring events is not as simple as it sounds.
(The fastest - and somewhat drastic - way to accumulate it, seems to be taking out a short-term loan, even if you don't need one, and then repaying it instantly).

Bank Account

ATM (Debit) Card

This  card is like having an "electronic purse".
It looks like our credit cards, BUT transactions are charged immediately upon processing (and not, e.g., at beginning of months). An ATM transaction may not come through if you do not have enough money in your account to cover it at that moment (no minus/overdraft).

(Real, Non-Secured) Credit Card

 The American definition for a credit card means that you are billed every month for what you need to pay.
You then send them a check, use web-based billpay, or choose to defer the bill (in which case it starts accumulating interest). It does not get automatically deducted from your account (e.g., because your credit card may be from a completely different financial institution than your bank).
Most (all?) banks won't issue one as you arrive (E.g., BoA will only consider it after a year).
Advantages over ATM card? Still, most people get by with their Israeli CC for several months (for lack of other options..).
Later you get bombarded with CC offers everywhere... (cancel your Israeli CCs that charge membership fees once you feel comfortable with these).
I've read that if you have an American Express CC at home, you may be able to transfer it as you arrive to a US credit card, but I never heard of anyone actually doing it.

Another alternative would be to find out if your uni/employer is affiliated with a trade union.
These offer similar services to banks (inc. checking and savings accounts). Plus: easier access to a credit card without a credit record, just based on the employment with the affiliated work-place. Minus: less flexible than banks (e.g. less ATM machines, no return of canceled checks).

Secured (Credit) Card

A credit card with no real credit..
Some banks will let you put down $1000, or whatever, in a frozen savings account. You then get a credit card limited to
that $1000. You still get billed at the end of the month, etc., but you cannot charge+defer bills over your frozen sum. You get your money back, with (a minute) savings interest when you get rid of the card.
This is pretty much the only way to build credit history until you get a real credit card.
In BoA, you can, and probably should, ask for it the first day you enter the bank (5/03 $30 annual fee). But then they may (and often do) reject your request and tell you to re-apply at a later date (yes, even on this seemingly "risk-free" card).
If you do get rejected, don't reapply too often as these decisions are recorded in your credit history.
But if you do get it, consider putting enough money there to making all your initial and daily purchases through it.
(remember, just putting money there does not help, you need to show that you pay your credit bills on time!)

Checks

In Israel you can give someone "postponed" check (check dachui) by writing a future date on the check.
Not so here.
In the US, the only legal binding information on the check is the amount in WORDS (not the digits) and the TO section.
The date is only used for expiration (normally checks expire after a year, unless a specific amount of time is specified on the check). Bottom line - no check dachui. Write next week/month's date, and they can, and often will, cash it tomorrow.

Money Transfers

Once you have a US bank account this is easily done using wire transfers (SWIFT).
All you need is the bank swift code + your account number in the bank.
There seems to be a per transaction fixed charge on both sides, and no limit. So try to transfer large sums at once.
(You can also use your Israeli CC extensively in the US, which may work out cheaper).

University Registration

To each his own. Do that soon upon arrival.
They will probably have useful info and advice on applying for J-2 work permit.
May need to sign your DS-2019 each time you leave for abroad, etc.

J-2 Work Permit (EAD)

Request can be filed only upon arrival of J-2 to US.
You do it by submitting an I-765 form + additional documents requested there, by mail to BCIS (formerly called INS).
<I hear that these days you can also do it on-line>
Get the form (10 p. of instructions + 1 p. to fill) from http://www.immigration.gov.
Your university Int'l office will probably have a simplified set of instructions and sample request letters.
Request letters can also be found on the web by searching for "J-2 work authorization".
The Stanford Int'l center has been recommended as a good source for info.
Keep copies of all the material you submit. You will resubmit the whole thing every year (see below).

The procedure can, and often does take around 90 days.
The form states that after 90 days from acknowledging acceptance of your material, you can walk into your local BCIS office and obtain a temporary permit on the spot. Haven't tried it.

Housing

Look for rentals in the local newspaper (web site search engine?), ask for university/other local based bulletin boards.
When filling CA rental applications - add formal uni letter stating your expected length of stay, and yearly income, tell them you've a Ph.D., maybe add your homepage URL. Build non-credit-history-related credibility...
Then, look for furniture in used furniture stores, yard/garage/moving sales, with lab mates. Ikea, if you can afford it.
If this seems tedious (and it very much is) opt for a uni with dormitories! (and get on their list ASAP, best well before you physically arrive)

Local Driver's License

California:
(Apparently some other states, e.g. NJ, require only the written exam, but not CA)
Once you get it, your DL is your ID card. Until then - use your passport.

Buying a Car

Cost of Living

In CA everything costs more (inc. housing, food, same US brand diapers - everything). Gas and electronics are your only consolation... Be prepared. Enquire for cheap local options (like Costco, CA). Ship over what you can...

Typos

Seems that eventually someplace important will have your name/address/other data mistyped.
It can be the bank, the soc. sec., the immigration, etc.
Beware, these things can take a lot of hassle to correct!
Use capital letters and clear hand-writing, get used to the US month/day format, see how they write 1,4,7.
Enquire for items that do not arrive via mail on time and other anomalies.

Taxes

Address Change

Keep track of the numerous agencies you will need to notify when you change your address.
Including: employer (uni/other), BCIS, DMV, bank, library/ies, health care, etc.
The USPS offers free follow-me service for mail, that takes about ten days to kick in. Arrange in advance.

BTW, the post carrier in the US also collects outbound mail from your own (or a communal) mailbox!
A service that makes DVD rentals (with netflix or its like) real fun.
(for xbiff users, the actual - opposite - use of the little plastic flag is quite confusing at first)

Phone

Four(!) different billing categories:
Supposedly, each of these can be with a different provider. Most people choose a local provider (usually very few options), and then possibly another provider for the other three options (or some combination of). Of course, you can also mix with pre-paid / calling cards.
See ISO link at bottom for cheap phoning options to Israel (a moving target, in general).
When moving to a new place, schedule line installation / relocation well ahead of time.

Internet

The internet is a great tool for keeping in touch with home (and the broader your connection, the better).
Options include web-based voice and video chats at surprising quality, and internet radio (inc. most israeli stations).

Psychology Begrush

Make sure your family is happy. Or more realistically, gets happier as time progresses. Invest deliberate thought and effort.

Miscellaneous

Useful Figures

Temperature conversion.
Hebrew keyboard layout.

Later Issues

Postulate

"After one year, thou shalt be working far too many hours a day"
Good(?) luck breaking that...

Phone & Mail Hassles

Pretty soon, even after establishing a brand new phone line, you'll start getting bombarded by telemarketers.
Here is the combination of actions that will make them leave you in peace:
a. Register at http://www.donotcall.gov/. Takes a while to kick in, but makes away with 90% of the calls.
b. With those who still call (charities, your phone company telemarketing unit etc.), ask politely about their "do not call me list". They must have one. Ask to be added to it. You won't hear from them again. Note: no other excuse works (I'm busy, we don't read/speak English). They'll just call again tomorrow/next week.

Later on, you'll start getting lots of credit card offers in the mail. Most are shabby, low end cards (hey, with your credit history, what did you expect?).  To stop these you can simply call +1-888-5-OPTOUT, and ask to "opt out".
BTW, do remember in due time, to advance from secured credit card, to a real credit card.

J-2 Work Permit (EAD) Recipient

Got it? congrats.
Two important things to remember:
1. J-2 is now eligible for soc. sec. number (SSN). Get it. Your future employer will need it by end of year to pay you. Once you get the SSN, update your bank/credit card company about it so J-2 can join in accumulating credit history.
2. Permit renewal takes as long as the initial process - up to 90 days. When you first get it, I strongly suggest that you mark you calender to a date 90+ days before it expires. You will receive no reminder, and your employer will have to let you go if you remain without one (e.g., as you wait the 90 days for its renewal).
Rumour has it that the EAD can only be extended four times makes sense, see visa renewal below).

Salary Plunge

Remember that after two years, your J-1 endowed federal tax exemption expires.
Prepare for what will probably be a pretty hefty plunge in net income.

US Exit and Re-entry

Before you exit and re-enter the US make sure you have all the documents that prove your legal status.
Even if you have a Visa stamp in your passport the BCIS will want to make sure that the conditions, on which the visa was issued are still valid (e.g., your university postdoc program). Best phone/visit your uni's int'l scholars office before you depart.

Visa Renewal

Apparently it's easy to extend J-1 up to 3 years total.
Possible but harder to extend by an extra 0.5 year, and not entirely impossible to extend up to a total of 5 years.
Start working on renewal 3-6 months before your current permit expires.

Note: there are two separate things to extend every time. One is your DS-2019, or postdoc program,. which entitles you the right to legally reside in the U.S. for the stated period. A separate thing is your passport J-1 visa. That sticker allows you to exit and return to the US while your DS-2019 is still valid. But you can have only the DS-2019, with an expired J-1, and continue to work happily on your postdoc. However, if you have to then leave the US - you can't get back until you've been issued a new J-1 passport visa. At least, that is my understanding. Bottom line: renew the DS-2019 with your university, and then head for the J-1 passport visa.

Used to be you could renew the J-1 passport visa without leaving the states. Not anymore - but apparently you don't have to go back to Israel to have it renewed. You can walk into an embassy/consulate in Mexico/Canada - I think.
One other thing I've noticed - the day you apply for J-1 renewal, they immediately revoke your current J-1 passport visa, even if it's still valid for a while. So - if they, heavens forbid, decide, to give you trouble, you can't just go back (at least not on the J-1, maybe on a valid B-1?). You're kinda stuck. I think.

Oh, and in Israel renewals are done these days only via a travel agent. A good agent can be faxed copies of your passport, with which they can set up an appointment for an interview - before you arrive in Israel.
E.g., we had the interview the day after we landed in Israel.

Home Bound

Haven't gotten there yet, but still...

Toshav Hozer

<Update: rumour has it that that these benefits will cease to exist sometime this year!
 but then customs have just updated the toshav hozer booklet, with no mention of this rumor>

Q:How many years does one have to stay away to get Toshav Hozer rights, and what do they entail?
A: See SF consulate link at bottom. They also hand out the toshav hozer booklet per request.
The Israeli customs site has good info (in Hebrew): http://www.mof.gov.il/customs/

Electronic Equipment

Q: Will US electronic equipment really work properly in Israel?
Note that the electricity network differs by both voltage AND frequency.
(e.g., I burned a 110V MP3 player in Israel, running on a simple trasformator - the expensive ones cost hundreds of NIS).

VCR/TV/DVD: the US uses the NTSC system, as opposed to Israel which uses PAL.
Unless you buy a multi-system appliance, your stuff won't work.

DVD: there are geographical zones set up, to discourage piracy.
Generally, a European/Israeli DVD disk is unviewable using an appliance purchased in the US, and vice-versa.

Multi-system units are supposed to be cheaper in Israel. Other electronics seem way cheaper in the US.
Most computer equipment in the US should work with 110/220v.

What to take back?

Apparently a lot of things don't qualify for tax-free import (get the booklet..). Still, I'm told in some cases paying tax for them is still worthwhile. Seems like customs is payed against actual store receipts.
One tip I'm offered: always buy & take back a refrigerator They are so much cheaper here ($1500 here vs. 20,000nis), and you can always sell it if doesn't fit your new home.

Other Resources (CA)

ISO Stanford Israeli student org. Useful mailing lists, and practical info.
SF consulate More official info, another mailing list.
Craigslist Bay area bulletin board for everything - housing, cars, moving sales, etc.
SF-Israel.com New, modeled after a similar LA site.

Similar Pages

Israeli Guide to the South Bay
Dan Pelleg's Going to study in the US

Thanks to all those who have contributed to this FAQ, and good luck to the newcomers!
Gill Bejerano