Scotland -> USA (SF Bay Area). I finished up a CS degree in Scotland and then applied for several engineer jobs in CA. I interviewed via Skype and got made a j

Scotland -> USA (SF Bay Area). I finished up a CS degree in Scotland and then applied for several engineer jobs in CA. I interviewed via Skype and got made a job offer (Groupon). Accepted offer and applied for the H1-B visa, and was extremely lucky that the visas didn't run out immediately that year (2011). The visa process was very straightforward and the interview ultimately felt like a rubber stamping exercise (total anticlimax). It took about 5 months for the visa to become valid, though, so I spent that summer hanging around researching CA on Google maps and wikipedia. Packed up 5 suitcases and got on a plane from Glasgow -> Philadelphia -> SF, having never set foot in CA before. Hired a car and drove around looking for apartments. Ultimately settled in San Mateo as I had figured out on Google maps it was about half way between Palo Alto (where I was working) and SF (where I anticipated I would want to spend quite a bit of time). Have been here ever since and no plans to move away. Also made the mistake of shipping some items from Scotland which didn't arrive until 6 months after I did - would not recommend trying that.