Using my previous experience as a guide to moving from one country to another, I was expecting the chicken and egg scenario. You can’t have a bank account without an address, you can’t rent a place without evidence of funds (ie bank account), you need a local driver’s license as ID to open a bank account, talking to letting agents needs a phone, both of which need an address. You get the picture.
I set myself aside a week to investigate how to manage this catch-22 for my impending move to Texas. Having been through the tribulations of getting the visa, I was steeling myself for negotiations about how a bank account in the UK can be accessed from the US, there was money there honest, immigration trusted my passport as ID and why isn’t it good enough for you (I’ve had that one when buying alcohol in California!) etc etc. Using the tried and test approach of breaking things into chunks to get the elephant eaten, there were daily goals:
- Monday: Phone
- Tuesday: Bank account
- Wednesday: letting agents to find out how I may find myself a home
Thursday and Friday were ‘spare’ (I think there is a technical term for that in the PRINCE2 project management methodology, but I can’t remember and don’t have my manual to hand).
How did I get on you ask? Monday I got a phone. Tuesday I got a bank account. Wednesday I saw a letting agent and two property managers. Thursday I contacted one of the property managers to say I wanted to rent one of their flats. Friday I picked out the flat and the following Monday I signed the lease.
No chickens, no eggs, no catch-22s. 🙂
travel tales 
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How long ago was it you had to prove you were over 21 in California? 🙂 I wish they would ask me those sorts of questions!
It was a few years ago that I was last ID’d, I must admit. That time in CA was just rather peculiar and stuck with me!