From Asia to California: A Guide to a Smooth Relocation

Updated for 2026: This post was originally published in 2023. For the latest tips and a comprehensive guide, see Moving to the US as an Expat: The Complete Relocation Guide (2026).

When my family and I made the decision to move from Singapore to California, I thought I was prepared. I had done the research, read the forums, talked to friends who had relocated before us. And yet, nothing quite prepares you for the sheer volume of things you need to figure out once you actually land. It is a lot :P

I had lived in Singapore for over 15 years by that point. My daughter Sophie was used to her school, her friends, her routine. I was comfortable in my advertising career. But the opportunity came, and we decided to go for it. So here is what I learned from the experience — the stuff I wish someone had sat me down and told me before we packed our bags.

Visa and immigration requirements

First and foremost, you need to understand the visa and immigration requirements for moving to California. The United States has a genuinely complex immigration system, and I have to admit it took me a while to wrap my head around it. The most common visa types for those moving from Asia include student visas, work visas, and family-based visas.

If you work for a US employer in Asia and are transferring, look into the L visa — this was relevant to my situation. One thing people forget: different visa types determine whether your partner can or cannot work in the US. That is a big deal, especially if your spouse has their own career. Make sure to research that early.

Finding a place to live in California

Once you have the visa sorted (or at least in progress), the next challenge is housing. California is enormous and the cost of living varies wildly depending on where you end up. The popular cities are San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego — but from my experience, the "popular" option is not always the best one.

San Francisco has lost a lot of its appeal over the past several years, especially after the pandemic. Los Angeles is famous for its traffic — and I am not exaggerating when I say you can get stuck at any time of day. San Diego is lovely but was not practical for my work situation.

We ended up in Foster City, which is in the Bay Area but far more livable than San Francisco itself. I strongly recommend visiting different cities before deciding. If you can, do a reconnaissance trip first. It makes a huge difference.

Cost of living

This one caught me off guard, I have to admit. Singapore is not cheap, but California has its own brand of expensive. When looking for housing, you will want to factor in cost of living, access to transportation, and proximity to your work or school.

I would suggest starting with platforms like Zillow, Trulia, and Redfin to get a sense of pricing in different neighborhoods. Working with a real estate agent can also help, though from my experience, online research got us 80% of the way there.

Adjusting to the local culture

This was the part I underestimated the most. California is incredibly diverse — there are close to 6 million Asians in the state, so you will not feel completely out of place. But the day-to-day cultural differences still sneak up on you.

Communication here tends to be more direct and casual than what I was used to in Singapore or Vietnam. Punctuality is taken seriously (something I actually appreciated). And the food — honestly, the Mexican food alone made the move worth it :D I had never really experienced authentic Mexican cuisine before moving here, and it quickly became a family favorite.

One thing that really helped us was connecting with other Asian expats. The Lunar New Year Festival in San Francisco's Chinatown was one of the first cultural events we attended, and it made us feel a little closer to home. I would also recommend visiting museums and local cultural events to get a feel for the broader American experience. The California African American Museum in Los Angeles, for example, gave me a perspective on American history that I had never encountered growing up in Asia.

California is also home to nine national parks, and exploring them has been one of the best parts of living here. If you are the outdoors type, start with Yosemite — it will blow your mind.

Take care of your physical and mental health

I cannot stress this enough. Moving to a new country is stressful, and it is easy to push through without taking care of yourself. I went through a period where everything felt overwhelming — the paperwork, the new systems, missing friends back in Singapore. (Sophie adjusted faster than any of us, which is both reassuring and slightly humbling.)

Find something that helps you decompress. For me, it was exploring new food and driving out to nature on weekends. For others, it might be a gym, yoga class, or just taking walks in the neighborhood.

Resources for the next stage of planning

Once you have a move date, these posts cover the specific things that tripped me up:

• Top 8 Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease — The hidden fees, credit check requirements, and lease traps that catch most expats off guard.
• Consider the Cost of Living — A realistic breakdown of what things actually cost in different parts of the US, beyond just rent.
• Medical Insurance for Expats — The US healthcare system is genuinely confusing; this covers what I wish I had known before my first doctor visit.
• Finding the Right School for Your Child — What to look for beyond rankings, and the questions worth asking before you enroll.

And for the broader picture, check out my detailed guide for relocation from Asia to the US — it covers the nitty-gritty practical stuff.

Relocating from Asia to California is one of the bigger decisions you will make, but I think it is also one of the most rewarding. It was not easy, and there were moments where I questioned everything. But sitting here now, with Sophie thriving in school and our family settled into a life we genuinely enjoy, I would do it all over again.

What was the single biggest surprise in your first month after relocating?

Cheers,

Chandler

P.S. I recently created a group on Facebook called Asian Expats in the US so that we can share and discuss more tips directly. Feel free to join.