Introduction

About Me

Stephen Baxter, founder River City LabsFounded a couple of Australian companies 1994-2010Regular visitor to Silicon Valley since 1998Worked in Mountain View, CA for 12 months

Helpful stuff

Consumer protection in the US are weak – be prepared to get ripped off

The US is cheap

Very helpful website - http://blog.andrew.net.au/2005/11/24

RCL – a great place to work – grab a desk – only $350 per month (ex)

Issues

• Employment Process• VISA• Actually getting there• Social Security Number• Credit Rating• Money, Banking and Tax• Stuff to do

RCL - casual space – all the benefits of a desk without a desk - $100 per month (ex)

Issues

• Employment Process

Hire slow fire fast – not always true – they tend to fire slow in my experience

Interviews – painful – they are indicative of companies that have capital to burn

Employment law – very different to Australia

RiverPitch – www.riverpitch.com – Pitch to a room full of investors

Issues• VISA

E3 visa of choice

2 years – must be renewed every 2 years

Dependant rights to work – E3D

Education requirement – equivalency test possible

10 day get out of town condition

Get your employer or a law firm to do it for you

Embassy interview

RCL – a great place to work – grab a desk – only $350 per month (ex)

Issues

• Getting there

How much of your stuff do you take

Use a freight company – restrictions are few until you come home

RiverPitch – www.riverpitch.com – Pitch to a room full of investors

Issues

• Social Security Number

You ain’t free until you can be tracked by a social security number

Easy to get for the E3 holder – harder for the E3D

Bureaucracy issues it – be prepared to wait

You need it for every thing, don’t lose it – ID theft is very prevalent

RCL - casual space – all the benefits of a desk without a desk - $100 per month (ex)

Issues

• Credit Rating

Needed for almost everything

Even was used in our rental application

Take steps before you leave to work with your bank/credit providers

Credit score builds over time

RCL – a great place to work – grab a desk – only $350 per month (ex)

Issues

• Money, Banking and Tax

US banks suck

US deposit interest is very low

You need a cheque (check) account

Credit Score

There are 1700 tax jurisdictions in the US

Double taxation treaty

RiverPitch – www.riverpitch.com – Pitch to a room full of investors

GET YOUR OWN TAX ADVICE – DO NOT RELY ON ANYTHING I SAY HERE

Issues

• Health care

The one truly disappointing aspect of the USA

Make sure you understand your healthcare plan

Visits to hospitals are expensive (this is one part of the US that is not cheap)

RCL - casual space – all the benefits of a desk without a desk - $100 per month (ex)

Issues

• Stuff to do

Travel – National Parks – America’s Best Idea

Work – work place inefficiency means long hours, expected of staff

Eat – Yelp.com – great food - very cheap. Beer very good.

Local Travel – Redwoods, Winchester House, cycling, snow, wineries

Getting out– music, sport

RCL – a great place to work – grab a desk – only $350 per month (ex)

Issues

• Other stuff

Craigslist rocks – use it for almost everything

Advance.org is a great group helping expats overseas especially in the Bay Area

Get a US driver license, you will need this for car insurance

Sausages are too fancy, bacon is wrong.

RCL – a great place to work – grab a desk – only $350 per month (ex)