Moving to California for work..need some help!

So I accepted a job offer in California and I was doing some research online and came across this forum. I think it's a great place for information and you guys are doing a fantastic job! I hope I can get some help here!

Basically, it's a year-long contract and they're giving me a TN visa. The job's in the L.A. area. I have a few questions:

1) I can trade in my Ontario driver's license for a California DL, right? No need to take any tests?

2) I have a car that I use here in Canada but don't own it. Can I take it with me (with the owner's permission, of course) and drive there for a year? I won't be able to register it there in C.A. since I don't own it, would I?

3) What sort of paperwork do I need to get an apartment in L.A.? Can I get one with my passport/TN-visa alone or do I need an SSN?

4) How long does it take to get the SSN?

5) My employer is not paying for any re-location expenses! What would you guys recommend for accommodation and transportation when I get there? Are extended-stay apartments any good? Any cheap car rental places?

Any help and advice would be very much appreciated! Thanks a ton guys!

Hey Engineer,

This is my SECOND post but I wanted to toss you my 2 cents as my family and I arrived in southern Cal on Feb 1-

1- Good luck- you'll get 1000 opinions on this but I would say if it's only for 1 year, just keep your ON license. You're on a TN- you're just a visitor- a long-term visitor, but only a visitor. You'll have no problem renting cars or using it as ID. I have seen no definitive rule on these boards regarding DL's so don't look for one! 200 different users will have about 140 different opinions. Funny thing about TN's- you're just a visitor but you're sometimes expected to behave like a resident.... except when you shouldn't. There are stories on these boards of people turned away at the border when trying to re-enter the US because the TN holder had an American drivers license- A HA they said- trying to emigrate eh? Intent to stay! Ha ha- back to Canada you go! This is usually followed up by 3 people saying "huh? we had no problem whatsoever and besides, California will throw you in prison if you don't have a Cali drivers license".

2- Can't answer the first part but I will add that we chose NOT to import our Honda minivan. Our Canadian insurance (TD Meloche Monnex) covers us for up to 6 months out of Canada. Farmers and State Farm will insure your out-of-state/country vehicle no problem. They were happy to do it!

3- Landlords will look for a credit report. God Bless America, but there is little to no trust of anyone down here. Everyone assumes everybody is out to cheat them somehow. Before you leave, get a credit report from Equifax or whomever and print out 5-6 copies of it. Make copies of your employment offer that includes salary and an HR contact number. Be prepared to be thought of as a non-trustworthy foreigner- it will be a bit of culture shock, but you get used to it.

4- Go to the SSN office as soon as you can and apply. You'll fill out a form, the worker will take a copy of your TN, and you'll receive your SSN in a matter of a few weeks. The SSN office will also supply you with a letter saying you've applied- that letter will be sufficient for your employer to get you started on payroll.

5- I have no insight to offer you on this one. Sorry.

Enjoy the experience. Believe it or not, there will be culture shock, but boy o boy the weather is nice.

Hey thanks a bunch man for sharing your experience! Is that temporary letter form the SSN folks enough to get an apartment? With passport, offer letter etc.?

As a Canadian who lives in the California let me add a couple of things.

First California does not have reciprocity with Ontario so you will need to redo both the written and road tests to get a California DL.

Second, if you keep your Ontario registered car, you can get insurance in the U.S. (even with an Ontario DL). Mercury Insurance offers insurance like that, but it is expensive.

Third, it has been so long since I got my SSN that I can't remember how long it too. Every place, and I do mean every place runs a credit check before they will rent to you. Bringing your Canadian report is good, but in reality doesn't mean squat. First thing to do is get a U.S. mobile phone so you can establish credit (AT&T did it for me). Second is get a U.S. credit card - Wells Fargo will do so with a copy of your Canadian credit report. Once you have those, then you are on your way to establishing U.S. credit.

Finally short-term rentals I am not very familiar with; sorry. Where in LA are you planning on moving? It is a very diverse city and very spread out.

No reciprocity from Ontario, and I think you need to apply for a license within a week of arriving. SSN takes about 2 weeks after arriving and applying in person.

Thanks for your input guys. It turns out that I won't be taking my car there. It's like $1550 to ship it one way so that's $3100 to and from. I think I'll buy a used one there and sell it before I leave. Even if I lose $3k on it, it would be the same thing. Plus, I won't have to get registration/emissions tests etc. in this case. What do you guys think? Is this a better idea? Of course, I'll be renting a car in the first week or so, so it'll be a challenge getting a used car this fast!

Another question I have is about the TN visa. Since I'll be taking a flight from Pearson Airport, should I still drive to a border POE and get the TN visa or should I just do it at the airport? I don't want to miss the flight or find out at the last minute that I'm missing some paperwork which will cause me to miss the flight.

Oh lord get the TN first. The border guards are fine if you go less than 10-14 days in advance. No, you don't want to miss the flight- your logic is sound.

Regarding renting, everybody and their mother asks for your SSN to run the credit check. I was lucky as my wife came down a couple weeks before the move to find a place to live. She 'bonded' with our landlord and so he accepted the Canadian credit check and employment letters which showed that the rent he was asking was easily handled by our combined incomes. I'm 99% sure he phoned both our employers too- we provided all the correct contact names and numbers. Heck, my new boss even vouched for me personally- although we had known each other for years.

One quick note to anyone reading these comments looking for info. About getting a place ahead of time- the officer at the Peace Bridge was NOT impressed by the fact we had rented a place before we were granted our visa. I got a good solid finger-wag over that one. I explained we were not keen to have our family of 5 living in a hotel while starting work at the same time. He understood completely and even made light of the fact that the rules are somewhat arbitrary for TN visas (yes, my interview had a moment- just a passing glimpse really- of levity). Clearly it was more complicated for us as a family. I envy you single folks!

the officer at the Peace Bridge was NOT impressed by the fact we had rented a place before we were granted our visa

.

Why? People who live in Canada rent places in the states all the time. Many even own palces. They are called snowbirds.

Yes, my friend, but they are entering the US on a plain Jane B-1 no? Never exceeding 6 months in duration. In my position of applying for a TN, at the Peace Bridge, having waited several hours, and read all the horror stories on this forum, I was not in much of a position to argue with the chap, nice as he was.

TN allows for residence in US, while B2 (B1 is for business entry, pal) does not, and yet renting a place in US is fine even for B2's. Renting a place doesn't give you any more or less rights to enter US on TN.

CBP was wrong, as they often are, sadly. You were absolutely correct to rent a place when it suited you, not CBP.