Is it really good to immigrate to Los Angeles?

Many people will choose to immigrate to the United States, so how about emigrating to Los Angeles? This is a question that many people who go abroad are interested in. Let's take a look at it with the overseas immigration network! The following is the relevant information I have compiled. Welcome to reading.

Is it really good to immigrate to Los Angeles?

I. Huge urban areas

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, and the southern California urban agglomeration with Los Angeles as the core is also the second largest metropolitan area in the United States, which is a veritable giant city.

The population of metropolitan area is 13,13, 43 1.

Compared with 7092596 people in the San Francisco Bay Area of Northern California, the population of the Los Angeles metropolitan area has almost doubled. At the same time, the population of Greater London exceeds 84 16535, and that of ile-de-france exceeds 12005077.

Metropolitan area 12562 square kilometers.

In contrast, the island area of Taiwan Province Province is 36 193 square kilometers, and that of Shanghai municipality is 6340.5 square kilometers. The L.A. metropolitan area is about one-third that of Taiwan Province Island, or twice that of Shanghai.

The total output value is $860.4 billion (Brookings Institution 20 14 data).

It is lower than Tokyo (161600 million USD) and new york (140.3 billion USD), ranking third in the world and higher than Seoul (845.9 billion USD), London (835.6 billion USD) and Paris (70/kloc-0.5 billion USD). Close to the GDP of the Netherlands ($866.354 billion).

2. Big orange with dazzling sunshine

Southern California is rich in oranges, equivalent to the big apples in new york. Los Angeles has the nickname "Big Orange". As far as climate type is concerned, LA belongs to subtropical Mediterranean climate (Ke Ben classification), which is characterized by dry and high temperature in summer and warm and humid in winter.

The sunshine intensity in the southwestern United States is second to none in the world. Close to the intensity of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, but in sharp contrast with sunny eastern China.

In addition, it is worth mentioning that because of the lack of water resources in Los Angeles and the need for artificial irrigation of green belts, the greening appearance of a city can often show its wealth.

Benefits after American immigration status

Newborn baby

Any child born in the United States is regarded as an American citizen, holds an American passport, does not limit the time of residence outside the United States, and is free to enter and leave the United States for life. /kloc-citizens aged 0/8 will legally enjoy all the rights and interests of American citizens after taking the oath, including immediately handling American immigration for their spouses, children and parents.

Student tuition

/kloc-before going to college at the age of 0/8, all primary and secondary schools in the United States implemented compulsory education, that is, zero tuition (except private schools). Going to college (including graduate students and doctoral students) only pays local tuition fees. Take California for example. In a medium-level California public university, foreign students have to pay more than12,000 dollars a year, while locals only pay more than 2,000 dollars a year at California State University.

scholarship

For ordinary China people who are interested in applying for American university scholarships, they can only compete with outstanding people from all over the world for very limited scholarship places open to foreigners. But for people with green cards, the scope of scholarships is far from what a foreigner can apply for. Because many scholarship institutions in the United States restrict scholarships to Americans (people with permanent residency in the United States). Therefore, after immigrating to the United States, children are far more likely to apply for scholarships than overseas students.

Student loan

/kloc-green card holders over the age of 0/8 can apply for various student loans in the year when they get a green card. For example, the annual tuition fee of excellent private universities in the United States is as high as 30 thousand dollars. When green card holders want to study for a two-year master's degree, they can apply for a loan of 60,000 to 70,000 dollars. If you can't find a job after graduation, you don't have to pay the loan. After finding a job, you can pay it off in years.

Retirement benefits

Accumulated ten-year tax records (the bottom line is about $50 per month), and after retirement (usually 65 years old), you can receive a pension issued by the US federal government for life (1000 ~ 1200 dollars per month). For many immigrants, the number of years of receiving a pension is more than the number of years of paying taxes.

unemployment relief

When an applicant, spouse or even a child has no job after transferring to a green card, the government will find a job for you for free. With a six-month tax record, you can get government relief (ranging from $400 to 1200 per month) when you declare unemployment to local authorities in the United States.

Living conditions of immigrants from China in Los Angeles.

In my first year in America, my wife and I have been walking around the country. With a little money in the past, I want to take a vacation for myself, get to know the United States well, and decide which city to settle in. From east to west and from south to north, we have walked through many cities.

I. Sightseeing places

As far as sightseeing is concerned, I don't recommend new york on the east coast and Los Angeles on the west coast.

Many students set foot in these two big cities for the first time and experienced the kindness and enthusiasm of Americans in these two big cities. But what I want to say is that these two cities are both immigrant cities, and there are not many authentic old Americans.

When you go to the vast middle of the United States, you can feel the American simplicity of authentic old beauty. My wife and I used to walk in a small town in Colorado on a rainy day.

On rainy days, the town is sparsely populated. But every time we pass our car, we will stop in good faith and ask you what's wrong. Do you need a ride? No need? Do you need an umbrella? We are exhausted.

They may not know that we are out of acid rain and just want to enjoy the fresh light rain.

For sightseeing, I recommend Seattle and New Jersey in spring and autumn, Utah in summer and Colorado in winter.

These places fully demonstrate the diverse landforms and vastness of the United States, as well as the intoxicating beauty. I have to say that national parks in America. Interested students can search by themselves, and I believe you will be shocked.

Two. place of residence

Although I don't recommend visiting Los Angeles and new york, you have to choose between these two cities in terms of immigration and specific life.

As we all know, China has a large population, convenient language communication and convenient shopping. You can't say that you have to travel hundreds of miles for the raw materials of Sichuan pork.

We have seriously considered three major Chinese cities in the United States: new york, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Let's talk about our choice, hoping to have a reference for friends who are preparing to immigrate.

New york, LA and Las Vegas, three big cities. Frankly speaking, I like new york best.

The advantage is generous welfare, the most generous of the three cities. The air is the best, and new york is very beautiful in spring and autumn. But the disadvantage is that the four seasons are too distinct. There are sauna days in summer and heavy snow in winter, so it is inconvenient to go out and not suitable for children. And we are going to have children, and the environment of the children is the key.

Of the three cities, Las Vegas is my least favorite.

Welfare is the worst of the three cities, with dry air. Every time I go to Las Vegas, I have a headache. The temperature difference is very large. Maybe it's because of Vegas. People are impetuous. I feel that everyone's eyes in this city are burning with material desires. Although our relatives are in Las Vegas, the city has been abandoned by us.

Los Angeles, where we choose to stay, has its shortcomings.

The water quality and air quality in Los Angeles are notoriously poor in the United States. According to the investigation, this is due to China. Relying on the circulation of the Pacific Ocean, air and seawater pollution from China came to Los Angeles on the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

But the advantages are irreplaceable. The air in Los Angeles is not good, but the climate is the best. California is sunny all the year round, and it can be used for outdoor activities for a long time, which is most suitable for children to grow up.

The welfare benefits are below average, but acceptable. Life is more convenient. Chinese areas are scattered in several different places and can be radiated to many areas. Going to the Chinese area is not too congested, and the traffic is more convenient.

Los Angeles has another advantage: there are no mosquitoes in any season.

Finally, after wandering around the United States for nearly a year and a half, we returned to Los Angeles as our foothold.

Step 3 get to know America

Let's talk about our three-year life as immigrants. Speaking of American life, let's have a comprehensive understanding of America first.

1. On racial discrimination

The reason why I put this problem in the first place is because I attach great importance to it and am sensitive to it. Frankly speaking, in the past three years, as far as I am concerned, I have not encountered any discrimination. Personally, I don't think this problem exists in the United States.

Many China people, after arriving in the United States, can't really understand American law and culture because of their own language and ability. At the same time, I am sensitive and encounter unpleasant problems, so it comes down to discrimination. I think this is unfair at least.

As we all know, to win each other's respect, you need to know each other well first, and you also have certain qualities.

You don't understand American culture and laws, and you don't have enough quality. How can you win the respect of the other side? To give the simplest example, Americans are very sensitive to the taste of cigarettes. Many middle school students come to America and like to smoke in groups in front of shopping malls or restaurants.

In California, this violates at least two laws: it is illegal to smoke within ten feet of the entrance of a shopping mall or restaurant. Because the smell of smoke will float into the room or people passing by will be affected. The second is to block the sidewalk when smoking in groups, which may also lead to a ticket.

Think about it, even if you don't get a ticket, what will passers-by think of you? If I look at you with disgust, will you feel discriminated against?

Secondly, because of the language problem of China people, this is really a big problem.

If you have an argument with others, if the police or the judge can't even understand what you said, or if your poor English has caused misunderstanding, why do you think they will be inclined to you?

A friend of mine was stopped driving in Manhattan. Others did nothing, but he was knocked down. The reason is that the police told him not to move, but he was in a hurry to touch his driver's license to prove it to the police. As a result, he was black and blue.

Later, he was urged by a lawyer to go to court to sue for discrimination. It really makes people laugh and cry.

Generally speaking, in the past three years, I have never encountered any discrimination in dealing with the staff of immigration bureau, ZF agency, DMV of Transportation Bureau and welfare agency.

Remember, no matter how your English is, please remember to give each other a smile before communicating.

2. About the ballot papers

Votes are really an ethereal thing for new immigrants. Frankly speaking, I haven't seen what the votes look like in the past three years. Who is the candidate and who won? This is not my concern.

However, you have neglected the significance of voting, which is really short-sighted.

I never care when and who took part in the election, but I know that the existence of votes is very important to me.

No matter who is elected in the end, as long as there are votes, the rich and powerful people will be subservient to Nuo Nuo and bow to Nuo Nuo. Only votes can make those powerful people lower their noble heads. Only by voting can the voices of the people all over the world be taken seriously.

So, you can not vote, you can ignore it, but you can't deny the significance of the vote.

3. About the law

The situation in the United States is very different from that in China. Every state in America is different. These differences include laws, traffic rules, welfare and so on.

For example, you can't turn right at a red light in new york, but California can. You can smoke in parks in new york, but not in California. There are many small things like that, so you should pay attention to them. My suggestion is that you'd better know the local laws before you go to this state.

Once a classmate posted that the oil price in California was high, and it was naive to conclude that the oil price in the United States was not cheap either. Because you don't know that in Nevada next door to California, oil prices are much cheaper than California.

My friend invited me to live in Florida. But there is a law in this state that you can go out with a gun. At the same time, if someone shakes his fist at you in the street and poses a threat to you, you can snatch it to defend yourself and even kill him.

Plus Florida is easy to get a gun license. It's not that fun. Florida passed this law in 2005. Up to now, in 20 12 years, statistics show that within this legal framework, there have been more than 40 cases of 140, with 65 deaths.

In other words, you'd better not quarrel with people or even start a fight in the streets or bars of Florida. In that case, it's very likely that the other party can legally pull out a gun and shoot you down without being caught afterwards.

After learning about this law, we gave up Florida and always thought it was a bit scary. I can't imagine what it would be like if everyone passing by in the street had guns. So I declined my friend's invitation and gave up Florida.

When it comes to law, you have to say lawyer. By the way, it is best for new immigrants to know the laws of the United States and your state first.

In the United States, don't trust too much, especially don't trust the encouragement of China's old lawyer, unless this person has a long-term reputation. In the United States, lawyers in China and Laos always take advantage of new immigrants' ignorance of American laws and then encourage you to sue this and that. All you have to do is start a lawsuit, and then you will spend money on them endlessly.

So every state in America is different. When you go to a state, you think you know the whole United States, which is really wrong.

Welfare treatment of immigrants in Los Angeles

There is a senior immigrant who has personally experienced the so-called perfect welfare policy in the United States. Listen to her:

We will meet our compatriots at work. They usually work in restaurants in the town, or help others take care of the elderly. They all became American citizens, and their families immigrated to the United States. They also strongly advised me to do so on the grounds that the welfare in the United States is very good. Because of Mr. Wang's high income, we can hardly appreciate the benefits of American welfare-except the refund of loan interest (although there are various benefits in the United States, it is often low-income families, and high-income groups want low-income groups in indirect subsidies), but I am really curious about what benefits Americans and legal immigrants can enjoy and how good the benefits are.

Another day, the woman who opened a Chinese restaurant in our town asked me to help her translate a document, which was a renewal notice from the state government about her Medicaid (medical insurance provided by the government for low-income groups). I was really taken aback. All her bags are LV's. She and her husband bought houses in new york and New Jersey, and she actually enjoyed the medical insurance provided by the government for low-income people.

Of course, I often hear that many high-income families in China use various "smart" means to make themselves look "poor" and let themselves or their families enjoy state subsidies. This is not unique to us in China, just like Americans.

I have a neighbor whose husband has cancer, and she sent him to a "nursing home" with state money, because she also applied for Medicaid (she kept it a secret, which I learned by accident), but I really don't know how she can apply-the average annual income of residents in our town is 1.3 million US dollars, which means that except those living in government-subsidized apartments, the residents in this town are at least.

So I checked the government welfare online, which was really a surprise. I estimate there are hundreds of such benefits. There are more than a dozen welfare projects under the nutrition project alone. Not only do you not need to ask acquaintances to apply through the back door (but you must meet the identity requirements: the applicant must be an American or a permanent resident and a legal immigrant), but the government has also hired many welfare commissioners to help people understand and apply for your eligible welfare programs, so as to help specific groups enjoy these benefits. I glanced at it, and the variety was dazzling. The following are some of the most common examples that spend the most government money:

1. Social security-supplementary security income

Similar to domestic social security, but different from the principle that one person pays one person to enjoy, American social security fund covers spouse benefits, ex-spouse benefits, minor children benefits and supplementary income benefits.

Ex-spouse benefits: that is, divorced spouses can also enjoy ex-husband's social security benefits, provided that the woman has been married to her ex-husband for 10 years and has not remarried (over 62 years old); Or raise and merge all the minor children (regardless of age) under 16 of her ex-husband; Or married her ex-husband for 10 years, and then remarried, but the marriage was terminated for various reasons; Or your ex-husband dies and you remarry at 60.

Spouse welfare: if you lose your spouse, you can receive the other party's social security at the age of 62; If you are raising minor children, you can receive this benefit at any age; If you work, you can compare the benefits with your spouse when you retire, and then choose a higher one.

Welfare for minor children: If the main income earner in the family dies, unmarried minor children under the age of 65,438+08 (if disabled, the age will be relaxed to 22) can receive the supplementary security income of the deceased father or mother. This kind of welfare and spouse welfare are separate, that is, the living mother or father receives the welfare of the deceased spouse, and the children can also receive their own, as long as the total amount does not exceed 65,438+080% of the supplementary security income of the deceased. Minor children also include leading daughters, stepchildren and grandchildren.

Supplementary income allowance: this allowance is only for low-income people and disabled people over 65 years old.

Welfare for the disabled: For adults with disabilities, there is generally a requirement for working years. For example, to receive this benefit, 28-year-old adults must have one and a half years of work experience, 30-year-old adults have two years, and 34-year-old adults have three years. If you are disabled before you are a minor, there is another policy.

2. Federal Medicaid system

Medical insurance for retired low-income people, other low-income groups and the disabled. The insurance covers hospitalization expenses (including surgery and postoperative recovery), outpatient expenses, drug expenses and nursing home expenses. This cost alone will cost 10% of government expenditure!

Strangely, this welfare only considers my income, not his family. For example, even if the child's income is high and one parent's income is low, if one parent is sick, he can apply for this benefit.

An Indian colleague of mine knows this very well. Her family income is also a high-income group, but her mother has never worked in the United States and has no income except receiving government benefits. A few months ago, her mother suddenly fell down and they called the emergency number. The hospital staff arrived soon and took her mother to the emergency room. They didn't even ask if they had insurance. They were rescued immediately and then sent to the maintenance center after the operation. All expenses are borne by the government, because her mother is a low-income person!

Originally designed for retired low-and middle-income people and other low-income groups, too many Americans try their best to squeeze in because there are too many loopholes in the welfare plan, such as the principle of protecting the spouse who is not sick. The plan stipulates that if one spouse is sick, the other spouse cannot live in poverty, so even if the husband and wife have their own property, the spouse who is not sick does not need to sell it to treat the sick spouse. Many people even hire lawyers to do property planning to make themselves look like low-income groups. Because of this, we often hear the above-mentioned cases of restaurant owners and my neighbors enjoying this kind of insurance.

3.Food/Nutrition

Food and nutrition program, the slogan of this welfare is "no one should go hungry in America." (In the United States, no one should go hungry), this welfare has benefited almost 25% of Americans and legal immigrants. There are more than a dozen specific benefits under the plan, targeting children from low-income families, pregnant women, low-income adults and the elderly. There are food stamps and food, and the school provides some students with free breakfast, lunch, student fruit plan and milk plan.

4.ChildCare/Child supports.

This benefit is mainly aimed at nutrition, health and preschool education for pregnant women, infants and children aged 3-5 (also low-income families), and also includes part of the compensation for parents to ask someone to take care of their children.

5.TaxCredit/ tax refund

Tax refund. On the one hand, American tax covers all income, including all employees' salaries, bonuses, overtime pay, and even the rewards given by the unit to some outstanding employees-even if the reward is only 100 USD watches, the investment income from selling houses, and the tax management in the United States is very mature and standardized. No company will help employees evade taxes, because the company is responsible for providing employees with annual income statements so that employees can file tax returns. If the unit helps employees evade taxes, the unit will be severely punished. All units, whether government departments or private companies, are equal.

On the other hand, there are many "reasons" for tax refund in the United States, such as medical expenses, children's college expenses, donations from charitable organizations, tax refund for first-time home purchase ($7,500, later increased to $8,000, but with income requirements), tax refund for interest on housing loans, and tax refund for real estate. If you are self-employed, you can return a lot of hardware for starting a business, including buying a computer. Low-income groups can also get additional tax rebates.

Child support tax refund is one of the main sources of tax refund for many low-income groups. As long as the income requirements are met, this means taking care of low-and middle-income families and children under 17, and each child can get 1 0,000 dollars from the government. My colleague, she proudly told me that because she and her husband are both low-income, they not only don't pay taxes, but also get thousands of dollars from the government every year through various tax refund policies and welfare programs!

There are hundreds of welfare projects in the United States, such as helping low-income groups rent houses and use energy benefits (such as free natural gas). ), help mental patients, help people who can't change loans to reduce the principal and interest of banks, and so on. Through various tax rebates, 49% households in the United States do not pay any federal taxes. The welfare program in the United States has also made the government's burden heavier and heavier. When Americans loudly accuse the government of excessive spending, most of them forget that they are also missing all kinds of benefits.