New gig and big move

shape

We're finally making the big move overseas! After considering it for a while and looking for good gigs in all corners of the world my girl and I are moving to the US. We're flying in to SF on Sunday, with a week and a bit to freak out, find a place to stay, and see the sights before I start work at Crystal.

Normally I'm just lurking around checking out the cool work and banter on pc, but these boards have served as a good source of inspiration and techniques. So thanks.

Any bay area people recommend things to do in our first week? I just know I want to have dungeness crab and a good local microbrew. Once we're settled we want to do a bunch of stuff out of the area like snowboarding, check out the redwood forests, and head down to the newport beach area to catch up with an old mate.

Lee3dee

congrats on the new job Thats really awesome that they hired you, even though you were outside of the US

Emil Mujanovic

That's awesome man. That's something I plan to do in a year or two after I've gained some more experience and have a few titles under my belt.
How'd you find getting a working visa and all that? I've only done some minor research on how to get one but will get more into it before I decide to move.

-caseyjones

shape

The visa (the newish E3 visa for Australians) is easier to get than most of the other types (H1B etc, which say the Brits need to apply for.) Not only are there 10,500 available every year, which is quite a few for our population, but the process on the US employer's end is a lot simpler. I think it's the same requirements on the employees part though, you need a four year degree or equivalent, which I was just able to get equivalency for. They take 3 years industry experience as 1 year of tertiary experience, a 2 year diploma, and over a year of university (comp science, not quite the right course for me ) to add up to the 4 yrs equivalence. Being in Adelaide meant that I had to travel to Melbourne to the US consulate to apply in person for the visa, but you won't have that problem. It was actually a really simple process, at least on my end, especially as the HR person looking after it all was awesome.

flaagan

Congrats!.. and an early 'Welcome!' to the bay area!

I can recommend Monterey Bay Aquarium, Santa Cruz Boardwalk area, the Redwood Forests (Big Basin), etc etc etc . The bay area's got a lot of awesome places to visit, and you're off to a good start coming over here right towards the start of spring.

Sounds like there should be a Bay Area Polycount get-together sometime soon!

shape

cheers! Will check out those places. I just hope it's not too long before I can get a car. Still not sure about where we're going to live.. commute.. do anything really Yeah it's gonna be awesome going from good weather to good weather. I'm hoping to squeeze in some snow times before the season's over.

Bay Area Polycount get-together for sure

Daz

Welcome to the land of lifetime renting ;-)

Grab a bike from blazing saddles, cycle across the golden gate to Sausalito and get drunk on the ferry back. That's a fun start.

Bronco

Excellent news man,hope it all works out for you.

John

shape

cheers fellas, Daz yeah that sounds cool. Will check that out once the jetlag is gone.. yay for lifetime rent, we'll be paying about the same as we do here, but for 1/3 of the rooms!

JO420

Congrats,hope the Americans dont frighten you too much.