The Land of The Statue of Liberty,

The Rocky Mountains & Disney World

Information on Relocating to the United States of America

• The capital city of  United States of America is Washington D.C. with about 600.000 people. The political centre is also in Washington D.C. where the President resides.

• Languages: English is the official language in the United States. However, the States is very multi-cultural and one can find practically any language spoken in the more populated cities such as Washington D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston. The TV programs are in English but you can find television and radio programs in many different languages, depending on the city.

• Population: The population is about 308 million people - 64.7% are white, 16% Hispanic, 12.2% black, 4.5% Asian, 0.8% Amerindian and Alaska native, 0.1% native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander, 1.7% other.

• Expat areas: The most popular are the major metropolitan areas - New York, California (San Francisco, Los Angeles), Florida (Miami), Washington D.C., Chicago, Boston, Texas (Houston, Dallas), etc.

• Housing: Styles and prices vary dramatically across the United States. One can buy/rent apartment homes, condominium homes, townhouse, single family houses, patio or garden homes, to name a few, depending on the city where you are being assigned. In the United States, a real estate agent is the best resource for assistance in finding the most suitable style of home, the most suitable community within a metropolitan area within the lifestyle and budget criteria of an assignee.

• Cost of housing: Just as the styles vary from city to city, so does the price of homes. One can normally find a suitable home, whether it be a single family house or apartment home, within any given budget. In most US cities, the further from the center of the city one chooses to live, the lower the real estate prices. In most of the larger metropolitan cities, one can find many cultures represented and one can find expatriate families living almost anywhere. The local currency is American Dollar US$.

• Schools: Most metropolitan areas offer several different public school systems and they will vary within the region of the city. In order to attend the public school and in order to enroll a child in the public school system, one must show proof of residence within the geographic boundaries of the school such as a long term lease or a contract of sale for the purchase of a home. You must also show school records from the previous school as well as all inoculation records for the child. In some cases, a child may require additional inoculations prior to being admitted to the school. Another choice of schools is an international school but one may not find an international school in all cities.  Generally speaking, the larger metropolitan areas such as Washington DC, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston will offer international schools as well as specialized schools such as British and French schools.

• Transportation: Most American cities offer several types of public transportation ranging in selection from city bus systems, trains, subways or underground train systems, above ground rail systems, etc. Many Americans still depend on the automobile as the primary mode of transportation but one will also find that most large cities offer HOV lanes (High Occupancy Vehicles) on the major freeways that allow cars with more than one passenger to use these lanes during peak travel times. Another alternative in most large cities are shuttle systems that allow the commuter to park the automobile in a central parking area and take a shuttle bus to and from the work location.

• Bank: The banks are open Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm. However, most banks offer limited banking services via their “drive-thru windows” during their off hours – prior to 9:00 am and from 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm on weekdays. On Saturdays most banks are open from 8:00 am – 12:00 pm and may also offer limited services via their drive-thru windows from 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm. Some banks may even offer limited drive-thru services on Sundays. All banks offer 24 hour/7 day banking thru the use of the ATM machines (Automated Teller Machines).

• Shopping: Is general most stores are open from Monday-Saturday from 9:00 am and remain open until 9:00 pm and from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm on Sundays.In most of the larger metropolitan areas, it is normal to find large discount stores and supermarkets that stay open 24 hours.

• Climate: Because of its great extend and varied topography, climatic conditions in the USA vary enormously. In general, the climate ranges from humid continental in the north to humid subtropical in the south. The southern tip of Florida is tropical. The Great Plains are semi-arid. Much of the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, and the Cascade Range are alpine. The climate is arid in the desert in the Southwest, Mediterranean in coastal California, and oceanic in coastal Oregon and Washington. The state of Alaska is largely subarctic, with an oceanic climate in its southern edge and a polar climate in the north. The state of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is tropical.

• Culture:  It is difficult to describe the culture of the United States in a few words. As this country has adapted to practically every culture in the world due to the thousands of non US citizens who have made the States their home, either temporarily or permanently. The thousands of immigrants who legally move to the United States each year bring their cultures with them. Therefore, one can find practically every culture represented if living in a major metropolitan area. Americans are proud of their heritage and stand up for what they believe to be right. Our country was developed by the pioneer who moved from the East to the West. One can still find the “Pioneer Spirit” prevalent in our culture.

• Public holidays:  January 1st-New Year’s Day; Second Monday in January-Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; February 14th-Valentine Day; Third Monday in February-President’s Day; March 17th-St. Patrick’s Day; March or April-Easter; Second Sunday in May-Mother’s Day; Last Monday in May-Memorial Day; Third Sunday in June-Father’s Day; July 4th-Independence Day; First Monday in September-Labor Day; Second Monday in October-Columbus Day; October 31st-Halloween; November 11th-Veteran’s Day; Third Thursday in November-Thanksgiving; December 25th-Christmas Day.