What do I need before relocating to another state?

20 comments

1. There are no prerequisites or requirements before moving. You’re a citizen, go where you want.

2. There are no prerequisites as far as government/ID/etc go, there is complete freedom of movement between states (unless you’re like, a convicted felon or something…) You do not have to be a Washington resident to apply for jobs in Washington. There may be a few types of jobs that require residency due to the nature of the job, but those things will be made obvious on the job postings.

   Apply for your jobs, get your job, get your new place to live, move to your new place, sometime soon get your new ID (most states require you to get ID/become resident within 30 days of starting residency there). Don’t forget to update your insurance and your bills with your new address.

3. Most states will have a requirement to switch over your vehicle registration and license within so many days, usually 30. Some states have exceptions, such as students attending college, military, and government workers on longer assignments due to their jobs.

   Besides that its just a $$. But if you can afford the Bay Area you can probably afford Seattle.

   EDIT: Some government jobs particularly for state/local will give preferences to local residents or may even require being a resident before being hired.

4. you need a job and a place to live. Not legally or anything but it’s a good idea.

5. There are no prerequisites for citizens to move from state to state, but you will want to look up what window of time Washington expects you to get a new driver’s license, license plate, and voter registration. There should be a grace period but it’s a little different from state to state.

   But you should have no trouble applying for jobs with a California ID, especially as it’s a relatively “nearby state” (in that it’s also on the west coast so you’re staying in the same general region).

   Also if you get hired in Washington, check if the company that hires you offers assistance moving. I don’t know if they all do, but we had a moving bonus and the company helped arrange it. It was a bigger company, though.

6. You can apply to any state you want without any prerequisites

7. Thank you for your help! That explains it!

8. No papers, The great [American Dream ](https://youtu.be/P8JW75Lv25k?si=fQh-Iob0OvsxQHF5)

9. Seattle won’t take you if you use “y’all” though. Purge that from your vocabulary and you’ll be just fine.

10. When my wife and I relocated to North Carolina, we literally had to do nothing, except find a place here to live. Then we had to update our mailing address, voting registration, driver’s license, and vehicle registration forms.

11. There are no prerequisite, but once you get a place to live, you need to get a new driver’s license with your new address within 30 days.

12. Update your ID and car registration within 30 days. Be sure to update your bank info as well.

    You are a US citizen so you have the same rights as any of us.

13. You can start applying for jobs while still living in California, but be sure to tell whatever future employer you apply to (via a cover letter, usually) that you’re in the process of relocating or that you’re open to relocating. Some jobs will pay to relocate you if they want you badly enough/it’s a higher level job. Others will just give you time to move before your start date. This will usually be clear from their job posting; often employers will state if relocation benefits are part of the hiring process.

    Landlords will likely want an offer letter from your new job or proof of some kind that you have a job in that city before approving your application. If you’re buying a house, your mortgage broker will want the offer letter with the expected salary.

    Others have mentioned that you’ll have around a month (usually) to update your drivers license and license plate after moving, which you’ll be able to do once you have your new address (the DMV will want proof of residency in that state, usually in the form of a utility bill in your name, your rental agreement, or the deed to your house if you own it).

    Insurance coverage for your car will be different in your new state (different states have different regulations), so if you have a car be sure to notify your insurance so they can update your policy. Your price may even go down coming from California (mine went down significantly when I moved away from Arizona).

    Other than the annoying paperwork, you’re free to live wherever you want. 🙂 Seattle is a cool city- I hope you enjoy it!

14. It’s questions like these that remind me how awesome we are, and how weird so much of the rest of the world is.

15. You just need a job. CA ID works fine just as any other place. They just want to make sure you are allowed to work in the US. You’ll need a valid passport serving as proof of citizenship and photo id. OR you will need a driver’s license / state issued non driver’s id card plus a social Security card.

    Your state id works anywhere; you don’t need to replace it until you move and become a resident.

16. Congrats on becoming a citizen. People who actually do this should be admired! It shows determination, fortitude and hope!! Good for you!! And those who have done this will surely appreciate this wonderful country and all it can offer much more…no, waaaaay more than a lot of our sorry-ass, lazy, entitled, selfish, freeloading native-born citizens!!! THIS is why no one should look down on a person who has gone through the process of becoming a US citizen. Ask them WHY they did it! Listen to their story. There is usually a real good reason why they want to live here!

17. You need health coverage that doesn’t stop processing payments for necessary health care at the CA border and starts processing payments for necessary health care over the border to wherever you’re moving.

18. Nothing you do *before*, but after, you will need to update your state ID/car registration and plates.

19. Did you get your interstate travel permit and distemper shot?

20. Californians aren’t usually welcomed in New states, so good luck with that. I recommend assimilating to your new state’s culture immediately