Moving to California
California is one of the more popular areas of America and one which continues to attract the attention of expats around the world looking to relocate to the US. There is a very interesting post on the expat forum about a couple who are looking to move to America, with California in mind, and looking for some advice regarding entry to the country, operating their own business and ultimately any timescale for acceptance by the US and Californian authorities.
To say this post has opened up something of a can of worms is an understatement as it has attracted very different opinions on very different areas of Californian life, green cards and entry to America. There are some very interesting points which have been addressed in the thread which we will cover below.
Facts and figures about California
Situated on the west coast, California is one of America’s most recognised and most talked about states and with a population in excess of 36 million people it is one of America’s more densely populated states. The state itself covers a total area of 163,000 mi.² with a whole range of different climates and environments from Death Valley which is 282 feet below sea level to Mount Whitney which is over 14,000 feet above sea level. It really does offer something for everybody no matter what climate or environment you’re looking for.
Over the last few years the profile of California has improved dramatically after film star Arnold Schwarzenegger took on the role as governor. There have been many controversial moments in his time in office and while there is no doubt that California is one of the most productive states in America there have been many potential economic disasters and budget issues over the years.
The climate in California
While the vast majority of people will associate California with sun, sea and sand many will be surprised to learn that the climate in the area can vary from Mediterranean to subarctic. While the vast majority of state of California falls under the Mediterranean climate with cool, rainy winters and very dry summers, the mountainous areas have substantial snowfall and very little in the way of heat even in the summertime. When you consider the highest mountains of California to the deserts of California this really does put into stark contrast the very varied climate in the region.
Population breakdown of California
A recent survey of the California population has highlighted how the illegal entry of immigrants into the state has affected the breakdown of the population which now reads as follows 59.7% white American, 36.6% Hispanic, 12.5% Asian-American, 6.7% African American, 2.6% multiracial American and 1.2% American Indian. The fact that California has eight cities in the US top 50 cities according to population, highlights the growing population of the state with Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Long Beach, Sacramento and Oakland the eight cities in question.
The Californian economy
The fact that California contributes 13% of gross domestic product to the US would indicate a prosperous and growing state although the picture underneath the surface is very different. To put the situation into perspective, state spending in California has increased from $56 billion in 1998 to an incredible $131 billion in 2008 (which resulted in a deficit of $40 billion for 2008). Recent comments attributed to the governor Arnold Schwarzenegger were as follows “Our wallet is empty, our bank is closed and our credit is dried up”. So is California really on the verge of bankruptcy?
The governor has called for budget cuts of $24 billion a year in order to try and rebalance the books because the state is literally staring insolvency in the face even though it has one of the highest tax burdens in the US. However, when you consider that California has such prominent economic regions such as Hollywood, the home of entertainment, South California, the home of aerospace, Central Valley, a significant area for agriculture, Silicon Valley, the computer and technology centre of the world and a number of prominent wine regions, how can the state be on the verge of collapse?
Politics in California
California itself is governed as a republic with three prominent branches of government which are dominated by the governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. There have been growing accusations that the state is moving more towards a socialist political environment with the state government paying for an array of services which have attracted hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to the region and seen the state budget balloon over the last few years, as we demonstrated above.
Despite the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger, the governor of California, is a Republican, the state has tended to side with the Democratic Party. California itself is considered to be one of the more liberal states in America although while legalised abortion and legalised marriage for gay couples are now on the statute books the state still has the death penalty and Death Row. There is no doubt that come US election time California is one of the more prominent and more important states of America.
The original thread in the US section of the expat forum was posted by a Scottish couple who are looking to move to California, with the husband operating a property maintenance business and his wife heavily involved in the care worker industry for adults with special needs and she also has experience as a teacher’s assistant. They also have a five-year-old son and are looking to move to California as soon as possible although very sensibly they are looking for feedback and advice about taking this particular path.
Gaining entry to the US, gaining entry to California
Since 9/11 there is no doubt that the green card system in America has been tightened somewhat and permanent residency in the country for so many people is now but a dream. While there are ways and means of circumnavigating the system and cutting corners, it would appear that the two professions highlighted by the Scottish couple would not immediately qualify them for a “fast-track green card”, unless they had “big money” to invest in America.
This is a problem which many people are experiencing and one which is unlikely to become easier in the short to medium term, especially when taking into consideration the current economic climate. It seems that if you have big money to invest in America you will be welcomed with open arms but if you are simply looking to relocate and start a new life from scratch then it could be very difficult to obtain residency in the country.
Is California as attractive an option as people would have you believe?
There are many differing opinions on the thread regarding life in California and in particular the political system and political strategies which have been introduced by the governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. As we touched on above, there is a general feeling that the state is moving towards a socialist policy which has seen free healthcare and an array of other free services introduced to a state which is literally on the verge of collapse. The state budget has ballooned over the last 10 years and at this moment in time is on the verge of collapse unless significant budget reductions in the region of $24 billion a year can be agreed.
It seems as though the economic outlook for California can rise as high as the temperatures of the Mediterranean climate and as lower as the subarctic climate seen in some areas of the state – you have been warned!
As you would expect, the economic situation in America has impacted significantly on states such as California where unemployment continues to grow and job prospects are very downbeat to say the least. The state’s dependence upon industries such as entertainment and technology has left it exposed to the economic situation to a higher degree than many other states in America because while the boom times have been great for California, the recessionary periods have wreaked havoc.
Obtain a green card for America
The main ways to obtain a green card for America are immigration via a family member, through employment and through significant investment in the US economy. Since 9/11 green cards have become literally worth their weight in gold and a quick glimpse at the thread on the expat forum will show that one particular member has been waiting to 9 years for acceptance into the US and the issue of the formal United States Permanent Resident Card (otherwise known as a “green card”).
Even when you obtain the aforementioned green card there are significant conditions attached and ultimately the government can rescind the card any time if those conditions are broken. While this is a similar system to that used in many other countries around the world there is a feeling that the US government is becoming more proactive than reactive with regards to unemployment in the country and looking to protect employment for natural US citizens.
Illegal immigrants in California
When you consider that the application procedure for a green card can in some circumstances take up to a decade to push through it will be no surprise to learn that there is a massive problem with illegal immigrants in California. Many can literally not afford to wait 10 years to have a green card issued to them and as such even though the US government has invested substantially in borderline patrols the problem is getting worse as the economic environment becomes tougher.
This has also introduced a new problem for those looking to move to America, and Californian comes into this category, with the intention of gaining employment in areas such as care for the elderly or care for those with special needs. These are just two areas of the working environment in California which attract illegal workers that are literally prepared to work for “buttons” because ultimately anything is better than the background many have come from. As a consequence this has pulled down income expectations in various areas of the Californian economy and could impact significantly on hopes for the future of those moving to America.
Even though it is widely known that the illegal workforce in California has grown dramatically over the last few years, and continues to grow, many of California’s largest companies have been caught up in this particular problem. The need to keep their cost bases as low as possible has increased the number of illegal workers in the system, and ultimately driven down income expectations for those working in various areas of the Californian economy.
The future of California
Despite the fact that California is one of the more popular US states both for Americans and expats, there is no doubt that the state budget is in disarray and spending on public sector services has ballooned. Even though the profile of the state has increased dramatically under the stewardship of the headline grabbing governor, the situation at this point in time is precarious. While there is still a basis for a very prominent and very prosperous economy in the state of California there are a number of serious short-term issues to address which could see short-term pain give way to long-term gain.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that California is seen by many expats as the ideal area of America to consider for relocation. However, the issue of green cards, the local economy and the ever-growing number of illegal immigrants flocking to the region are just some of the considerations which need to be taken into account when looking to move to California. Unfortunately, it looks as though for many people the opportunity to move and relocate to California, for the time being at least, may never happen unless there are changes to the green card system in the future, or they have significant influence in the area or substantial money to invest.
It is also worthwhile remembering that the local economy in California could take many years to recover from the ongoing economic downturn and the out-of-control state budget. Economic prospects in the region are very difficult to forecast to say the least in the short term and while there are many long-term attractions for those looking to move to the US, and in particular California, the short-term situation has seen many posts in the thread highlight potential problems for the future.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
california is a very nice place, and i will like to be there but, idon’t know how to go about it.
I have read that with a large sum of money, almost anyone can move to the USA. Given that it is so popular because of its ethics, surely this will import people from the far east, Arab states etc. who may be wealthy, but are of such different moral backgrounds (often how they got their wealth) that they will undermine all that is good about the USA. Fake degrees, money from exploitation, crooked politicians etc. are all finding their way to the USA. No longer the huddled masses, who are prepared to work hard and start a new life, but the crooks of the world. I do believe that people who are prepared to work hard, are honest and dont bring any religious or racial baggage would be desirable over the Mulahs, fake Phds, and politicians with awful reputations in the ir own countries. Pity really the way the USA is evaluating migrants.