Is the USA right for you?
The USA shares a language and a lot of culture with the UK, and New York is a shorter flight than many people expect. But it is a huge country with fifty sets of state laws, a very different health system, and a visa system that is the hardest part for most people.
In 30 seconds
- It suits people with skills US employers want, or a business to invest in, and who are comfortable relying on a job for health insurance
- The UK is 5 hours ahead of New York and 8 hours ahead of California for most of the year, and London to New York takes about 7 to 8 hours
- Most people need a work, investor or family visa. There is no retirement visa, so retiring there is hard without family ties
Who it tends to suit
| Often works well for | Often finds it harder |
|---|---|
| People with an employer willing to sponsor or transfer them, or with a business to invest in | People without a clear visa route: there is no general points-based route |
| Professionals in fields with high US pay, such as technology, finance, medicine and engineering | People who would rely on the state for healthcare: in the US, insurance usually comes through your job |
| Families who want space, big outdoor landscapes and lots of organised sport and activities | People who want long paid holidays: there is no legal minimum, and many jobs start at around two weeks |
| Couples where the partner’s visa allows them to work too | Couples where the partner’s visa does not allow work. See The partner at home |
The visa is the first thing to check. Read Visa routes to the USA before you do anything else. If you are thinking of retiring, note that the US has no visa just for retirees. A visitor visa allows temporary stays, not living there. Retirees who move usually need another route, such as a family visa or investing in a business. Get advice from an immigration attorney.
A normal week
- Weekends often revolve around children’s sport, outdoor trips, shopping and eating out
- Shops are familiar, but prices on the shelf usually don’t include sales tax, and restaurant bills expect a tip on top. See Food, shopping and tipping
- Thanksgiving (26 November in 2026) is a major family holiday, alongside Independence Day on 4 July and Christmas
- Public transport is strongest in the biggest, older cities. Elsewhere, many families need a car. See Getting around without a car
Climate by city
The seasons are the same as the UK’s, but most places are much hotter in summer, and many are much colder in winter. Average daytime highs:
| City | January high | July high | Feels like |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York | 4°C (39°F) | 29°C (85°F) | Cold winters with snow, hot and humid summers |
| Boston | 2°C (36°F) | 27°C (81°F) | Long, snowy winters and warm summers |
| Washington DC | 6°C (42°F) | 31°C (87°F) | Mild winters, very humid summers |
| Chicago | 0°C (32°F) | 27°C (81°F) | Freezing, windy winters and warm summers |
| Austin | 17°C (62°F) | 36°C (96°F) | Mild winters, long and very hot summers |
| Miami | 24°C (76°F) | 33°C (91°F) | Warm all year, with a wet, humid summer |
| Los Angeles | 19°C (67°F) | 25°C (77°F) | Dry and sunny, warmer inland than on the coast |
| San Francisco | 14°C (58°F) | 20°C (68°F) | Mild all year, with cool summers in the city |
US weather forecasts use Fahrenheit. A quick guide: 32°F is freezing, 68°F is a pleasant 20°C and 90°F is a hot 32°C. These are averages from weather station records; San Francisco’s are National Weather Service normals for downtown. Heatwaves and cold snaps go well beyond them.
Hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires and snow
The UK government’s travel advice lists several natural hazards. Each needs a different kind of planning:
- Hurricanes: the Atlantic season runs from 1 June to 30 November, peaking in late August and September. It affects the East Coast and the Gulf, including Miami and Texas. The eastern Pacific season runs from 15 May
- Tornadoes: they can happen on any day of the year. The peak moves north through the year. In the southern Plains it is May into early June; on the Gulf Coast it is earlier in spring
- Wildfires: a danger in many dry areas, especially canyons, hills and forests, and high winds spread them fast. California has its own fire agency, CAL FIRE
- Earthquakes: higher risk in California, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington and the Mississippi River Valley
- Snowstorms can close roads and airports, and cause power cuts
- Before you choose a home, check flood, fire and storm risk, and what insurance costs. See Summer in the USA and Winter in the USA
Distance and time difference
A non-stop flight from London to New York takes about 7½ hours, and to Los Angeles about 11 hours. That makes the East Coast much easier for a long weekend home than the West Coast.
| Time zone | Cities | Behind the UK (most of the year) |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern | New York, Boston, Washington DC, Miami | 5 hours |
| Central | Chicago, Austin | 6 hours |
| Mountain | Denver; most of Arizona stays on standard time all year | 7 hours |
| Pacific | Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle | 8 hours |
US and UK clocks change on different dates. In 2026, US clocks went forward on 8 March and go back on 1 November; UK clocks went forward on 29 March and go back on 25 October. For those few weeks, the gap is an hour smaller: New York is 4 hours behind. Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t change their clocks at all. In practice, calls home work best in your morning, which is the UK afternoon or evening.
Safety
The UK government’s travel advice says violent crime and gun crime rarely affect tourists, but to take care in unfamiliar areas and to avoid walking through quieter areas alone at night. It notes that mass shootings can happen but are a very small percentage of murders. Read the latest advice on GOV.UK, and look at local crime information when you choose a neighbourhood. See Choosing a city.
Questions to ask yourselves
- Do we have a realistic visa route, and does it let both of us work?
- Will our health insurance through work cover what our family needs, and what will we pay on top? See Healthcare and insurance
- Can we afford to live near the job? See Cost of living
- How much holiday will we get, and how often do we want to fly home?
- Are we ready for hurricanes, extreme heat or a snowy winter, depending on the city?
- If it doesn’t work out, what is our plan to come back?
What to do next
- Check your visa options first
- Compare cities on climate, cost and natural hazards
- Talk honestly as a family about distance, holidays and healthcare
Keep going
- FCDO: USA travel advice, safety and security
- KFF: 2025 Employer Health Benefits Survey (Oct 2025)
- Prokerala: Flight time from London to New York
- Prokerala: Flight time from London to Los Angeles
- NIST: Local time FAQs (US time zones)
- NIST: Daylight saving time rules
- GOV.UK: When do the clocks change?
- US Office of Personnel Management: Federal holidays 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center: Tropical cyclone climatology
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center: Tornado FAQ
- US Climate Data: New York climate averages
- US Climate Data: Boston climate averages
- US Climate Data: Washington DC climate averages
- US Climate Data: Chicago climate averages
- US Climate Data: Austin climate averages
- US Climate Data: Miami climate averages
- US Climate Data: Los Angeles climate averages
- National Weather Service: Downtown San Francisco monthly climate report and normals (July)
- VisaPlace: Is there a retirement visa for the United States?
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Paid leave, average sick and vacation days by length of service (March 2025)