This is a long one. There are so many aspects to moving to a new country. With so much to do it can feel overwhelming. I felt the pressure to make sure I had every loose end tied up because when you’re moving over 9000 miles away and it takes over 20 hours to travel between Sydney and Tampa, you really don’t want to forget anything.
In 2023, my husband, three sons, and I moved from Sydney, Australia, to Tampa, USA. From opening bank accounts to securing housing and enrolling in school, we navigated the complexities of setting up our new life in the United States. I’m writing about my experience in the hopes that this might be helpful for other families moving to the USA. There is so much to cover on these topics so I’ll try to summarize.
1. Navigating U.S. Visas and Entry Requirements
An immigration lawyer arranged our visas on our behalf. They were able to file paperwork and arrange an interview with the US Consulate in Sydney. We required Australian passports, letters from my husband’s employer and other documents that supported our visa application. The interview itself did not take very long and our children did not need to attend but it was still important to be prepared to answer any number of questions about our plans in the USA, as well as personal questions about our relationship.
Tip: If your passport is nearing expiration, renew it before initiating the visa process. An expired passport requires you to carry both the old (with the visa) and new passports when traveling.
The most common pathways include employer-sponsored visas (such as the E-3 visa for Australians), family-based visas, or investor visas. If you are planning on moving to the USA from Australia for a limited time (i.e. you don’t not intend to live there indefinitely), the E3 might be your best option.
For me, as the trailing spouse, the E3s visa allows me to live and work anywhere in the USA with any employer (or start my own business!). The drawback to this visa though is that dependent children are not able to work in the USA. This becomes a challenge when the kids are in their teens and are wanting to start working and earning their own money.
Occasionally, upon re-entry to the U.S., my I-94 form incorrectly listed me as a dependent rather than a spouse, affecting my work authorization. Always check your I-94 status online after entry. Corrections can typically be made by submitting a form via email to the I-94 office and are usually resolved within a couple of days.
2. Packing Up and Shipping
We hired a removal company to pack and ship our belongings over two days. Since our move wasn’t permanent, we rented out our Australian home and stored some items on-site with tenant agreement, saving on storage fees.
Shipping, including insurance, was expensive and slow. In hindsight, selling our furniture and purchasing new items in the U.S. might have been more cost-effective. Unless you have irreplaceable items, consider researching costs before deciding to ship. Research the cost of replacing furniture versus the cost of shipping.
Tip: Clean all items thoroughly before shipping to prevent mold growth during transit. Avoid packing food or liquids, and pack lithium batteries separately. To maximize space, ask movers if you can fill drawers and cupboards with linens or clothing, ensuring the weight remains manageable.
Our shipment took six months to arrive in Florida. During that time, we furnished our home, resulting in duplicate items. For bulky items like children’s bikes, consider purchasing locally through platforms like Facebook Marketplace or Walmart.
We categorized our belongings into three groups:
- Sell or dispose
- Ship to the USA
- Store in Australia
Paying for extra baggage on your flight is often cheaper than international postage. Stock up on favorite Australian products like Vegemite and Weet-Bix before departure, as they’re pricier in the U.S., though available on Amazon.
Our pre-move checklist included:
- Redirecting mail
- Canceling utilities and insurance
- Terminating unnecessary subscriptions
- Closing or consolidating bank and credit accounts
- Hiring a property manager
- Downloading health and vaccination records
- Notifying banks and tax agents of our move
- Informing our children’s schools
My husband relocated first, and the children and I followed weeks later. He worked with a relocation expert to assist with settling in. If you’re unfamiliar with your new area, such experts can be invaluable.
3. Setting Up Banking and Credit
Ok, so now we’re in our new country and we have to set up our lives here, including bank accounts. One of the biggest hurdles once arriving in the USA is establishing financial credibility. Here’s how we navigated it:
- Opening a Bank Account: We chose a major national bank (Bank of America, and Advantial are good options). Requirements included passports, proof of address in the USA, and visa details. It can take several phone calls and a number of forms to make this happen. Finding a bank that is willing to give a credit card to a foreigner took a little longer. I find transferring funds between banks cumbersome. Other payment options such as Venmo and Zelle which allow for the immediate transfer of funds are more efficient. PayPal is also used here but you will need to close your existing PayPal account and open a US account.
- Building a Credit Score: Without a USA credit score, it can be difficult to get approved for credit cards, loans, or rental applications. We secured a credit card and used it strategically to establish our creditworthiness. Putting utilities in both mine and my husband’s names was a way for both of us to establish credit. We took out small loans for cars and made sure to make the payments on time to further improve our credit rating. It took a few months for my husband and almost twelve months for me to obtain a credit score. You may set up an account on Experian to view your credit score.
Given the time it can take to set up a bank account in the USA, it is worth bringing a credit card or direct debit card that is accepted internationally with you. My favorite at the moment is WISE (not sponsored, obviously) because you can hold money in multiple currencies on one card.
4. Obtaining a Social Security Number (SSN)
A Social Security Number (SSN) is essential for employment, banking, and credit applications. After arriving, we visited the local Social Security Administration (SSA) office with our passports, I94, and completed SSN applications. Basically, you take a number and wait your turn. Make sure your phone is charged and take snacks.
I had my application denied the first time because I didn’t have a certificate stating that I wouldn’t claim social security benefits. I was told to go to another office to obtain the certificate and come back. When I did, I was informed that no such certificate existed. I returned to the SSA and, eventually, I got my SSN. I share this to highlight that sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as they should. Be patient, stay calm, and don’t give up. Be polite but assertive. Not every office will be familiar with your visa type or your circumstances, so you may need to gently advocate for yourself along the way.
It took about two weeks for my SSN card to arrive. Just make sure again that your printed I94 indicates that you have approval to work because your SSN card will state whether you have permission to work.
Tip: Call your local SSA office in advance to confirm what documents you need for your visa type.
5. Finding a Home to Rent
There are a few real estate websites (like Zillow and Realtor). My husband and I went through some listings before we left Australia to get an idea of prices. We determined our area based on school zones and then worked with our budget to see the types of property we could afford. Since he went over before me, he went to open homes of the properties that we both liked on Zillow and secured a property shortly before the kids and I arrived.
Finding a rental home in the USA without a credit history or rental history can be challenging. Here’s how we tackled it:
- Choosing a Neighborhood: Before we moved we researched Tampa neighborhoods based on school scores, amenities, and commute times.
- Providing Alternative Proof of Income: Since we lacked a U.S. credit score, we provided proof of Australian income, job contracts, and an upfront deposit (be prepared to pay up to four months rent in advance as a deposit if you’re a foreigner).
- Using Rental Agents: Real estate agents helped us navigate the rental market and negotiate lease terms. We used an excellent realtor who had knowledge of which property management companies would lease to foreigners/people without credit and who would not. We were fortunate to find a house on Zillow that was managed by the owner who was willing to lease to us.
- Compromise: If you don’t have the luxury of time to wait for the ideal property to come on the market, consider a short term lease on a property in the area you want to live in. This is particularly important if you have school aged children that you need to enrol into public schools.
7. Getting a U.S. Driver’s License
Having access to a car and being able to drive is almost a necessity in most rural or suburban areas. There is no public transport in the area where we live and it would take about an hour to walk to the nearest shop. A driver’s license is also a useful form of identification.
When we first arrived I drove using my Australian issued driver’s license. You can only use your foreign driver’s license or international drivers license for 30 days after establishing residency in Florida. This means that from the time you start working in Florida or enrol your kids in school you have 30 days to obtain a Florida drivers license. There may be exceptions to this so it’s worth checking with your local county.
Driving in the U.S. requires a state-issued driver’s license. Each state has different requirements but to obtain a driver’s license in Florida I needed to:
- Pass a vision test and road rules knowledge test
- Pass a driving skills test.
- Provide proof of residential address (e.g. rental agreement), SSN, and immigration documents.
It’s worth noting that the expiry on your driver’s license will likely match the expiry date on your visa. I have spoken to other expats and their experiences vary but my driver’s license expires around the time my visa does.
8. Enrolling Children in School
Enrolling our kids in school was a priority. The U.S. school year differs from Australia’s, so planning ahead is key. In Florida the school year runs from early August until the end of May.
I won’t sugarcoat it, schooling is serious business and there are a lot of different options for schooling and you need to work out which option will suit your situation and your child. There are books on this topic, and even professionals who provide an advisory service to help you navigate the school system. I might do a separate blog post on this because if you have school aged children it is worth understanding your options and the process before you move to make the transition easier once you arrive.
- We researched local public schools based on zoning and performance rankings. Florida has public, magnet, charter and private school options. Our county has a virtual school program too if you want to homeschool your child (this can be done part or full time). It’s worth reaching out to your preferred school before you move. If you don’t know which school you are zoned for you can contact the county that you’re moving to. The admissions department should be able to explain the enrolment process, including forms and required information.
- Public schools are free (even for foreigners like us). We have been happy with our A rated public school. If you are an international family that moves frequently it may be worth finding schools that offer an international baccalaureate program (IB). In Florida there are several public and private schools that offer this program. The public schools accept enrolments for IB at certain times of the year and sometimes it’s a lottery system so there’s no guarantee of acceptance.
- Schools require proof of residency, immunization records (converted to U.S. standards), birth certificates, and previous school reports for enrollment.
- In Florida we needed to provide a physical examination certificate along with immunization records. To obtain this we attended a local walk in clinic (like a medical centre) for the physical. We attended the health department in our local county to get our Australian immunization records recognized in Florida.
9. Health Insurance and Medical Setup
I’m sure we have all heard stories about how expensive healthcare in the USA is, especially compared to countries with universal healthcare. Private healthcare is a necessity for a family moving to the USA. Some employers may offer full or discounted healthcare insurance as part of an employment package.
Some (ok a lot) thoughts on health insurance:
- We chose the employer-sponsored health plan offered by my husband’s employer because this was the best option for us. You can of course research other health insurance providers. Note that certain providers only operate in some states so you’ll need to find the insurers in the state you are moving to. Insurers will have an online survey that you can fill out to determine what coverage is best for your family.
- Much like Australia, you will find your private health insurer will cover some of your medical bill and you will be expected to pay ‘the gap’. I have found it surprisingly difficult to get a quote for medical costs before treatment. It’s frustrating to say the least. Some places will tell you what your out of pocket costs will be but others will be vague on costs (avoid these places if you can).
- Our health insurance and our dental and eye insurance are separate insurances. To make sure we had medical coverage as soon as possible, we set this up before we moved and I think it commenced within the first month. Since my husband went over first we arranged travel insurance for him for the first month that he was in the USA until it was clear that our health insurance had commenced. Once the kids and I arrived we had full medical and dental in place.
- Finding a Family Doctor: download the insurers app once you’ve signed up. Use this app to find healthcare professionals in your area that accept your insurance. Find the hospital and the paediatric hospital (if you have children) in your area that is covered by your insurance. Not all hospitals will accept your insurance and it can make for a very costly mistake if you go to the wrong hospital.
- I would say, generally speaking, my experience so far has been that the cost for doctor visits and specialist visits has been comparable to Australian doctors that do not bulk bill.
- Always ask for an itemized bill from the hospital you attend to check that you are only paying for the services that you received. You will likely discover that you will receive multiple bills for medical treatment. I found this confusing at first because I thought I had paid the bill only to then receive another one.
10. Final Thoughts
Moving from Australia to the U.S. was a massive transition for our family, but it’s been an incredible adventure. The key to a smoother move is planning ahead, staying flexible, and embracing the journey—even when things don’t go to plan.
Whether you’re relocating for work, family, or a fresh start, I hope this guide helps you feel more confident and prepared.
If you’ve made the move (or are planning to), I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment below or connect with me on Instagram at @bright_sky_vacations. And if you need help planning your move or future travels, I’d be happy to help.
From Sydney to Somewhere 