In America, the Social Security Number is the Golden Ticket to pretty much everything. You can actually open a bank account, and even arrange finance with some organisations without it (hence the fact that I’ve already bought a car). But you can only do these things on the understanding that you’ll let the organisation know as soon as you have one arranged.

Getting a SSN is a bit of a pain. The rules for foreign nationals have changed in the last few months, and you now have to wait up to 10 working days from your entry into the country before you can even apply. This is the deadline Homeland Security have for passing on details of your immigration entry to the Social Security Administration. Fair enough. My details actually arrived in 7 working days. So far, so good. (more…)

Well, that was a surprise. Amazing what a dealership can get done when they want your business.

After the cagey approach I had from the Mini dealer I spoke to in Mountain View, I was quite disheartened about the prospect of easily buying a car in America with no US credit history.

Enter the Chrysler/Jeep/Dodge dealership in Sunnyvale. I was out and about flathunting on Sunday when I drove past it, and thought I’d just drop in for a quick look at what they had on offer.

Three hours, one test-drive and a damn good salesman with the voice of Samuel L Jackson, the approximate demeanour of an ex-Navy SEAL (which he claimed to be), the gangster name “Tony B” and the real, strong desire to win my business, and I was signed up. (more…)