Relocating to America | ExpatWoman.com
 

Relocating to America

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 13:18

We are a young couple with a 3 month old baby with a combined salary of 34k dhs. DH got a job offer where we can live anywhere in the USA, salary before tax is 100k$. We currently have loans (lasting over 2.5 years equivalent to 6000 dhs a month. I am Indian with marketing experience and have heard it can take anywhere between 6-9 months to get a job. I love Dubai and the pampered lifestyle (we have a live in nanny). Pros about moving – new experience, better schooling system for my child, better weather, cons – day care, do it yourself lifestyle (nannys are unaffordable), my friends say if you can afford it you probably get a cleaner in once a fortnight. I am super confused. It’s a huge decision moving with a small baby and I want to know your opinion and experience living in America. Dh’s job allows us to live anywhere we want in America, what cities would you recommend? Has anyone moved and loved it or do you miss Dubai and the lifestyle here?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 13:25
My company refused a transfer to Hartford and on researching it seems like a terrible place. I have an MBA from Bombay University so I am sure it wont count. One fact I am sure of, I do want to work and if I move I have to start my career from Scratch or take on a admin job. I am currently working as a Marketing Manager with a good company in Dubai, but money and perks are limited as I have been with them for 9 years. I am sure of finding a good job in Dubai and there is the issue of our 2.5 year pending loan. Lots of factors to consider. Whites what is the salary I can expect to get in America and will I definitely get a job? Any idea?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 12:37
OP- I agree that if your husband is on H1 visa, then you will be on dependent visa and not able to work. About finding a job there, while I am not sure where you got your degree from, I have to say that unless your degree is from a US school, it will in most cases not count (most employers in the US only value US degrees)- of course unless you get a transfer to your office in Hartford. I personally would not live in Hartford- it is a terrible place. In regard to borrowing once you get there so as to repay your loans here, I am not sure how you will be able to do that especially since it is a large sum involved, and you have no credit history at all there.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 12:33
Thanks - OH is the gas / infrastructure man so that helps! I'll do anything - thanks, if I need those headhunters I will give you a call - if that is ok? edited by pollydxb1 on 13/01/2013 Sure that's fine :) Just look for me on here. My cousin is a headhunter based out of Chicago, I'll check how far her network goes, and DH has connections in the gas industry. x Thanks, I will discuss with OH and let you know! x
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:44
Rainyskies: My knowledge is two years old. But the H1 policy is quite the same I think. I do not know much about L1. I have heard it is more flexible than H1. Within H1 as well there are two categories - H1 for non profit like universities,research organizations etc which can be filed roud the clock and has no cap and H1 for profit the usual corportates/privates etc for which you file in April and which becomes current in october. There is also a B1 visa for business visits but that is not long term i think. That is why I think it is very important your husband talks to their VISA specialist. You need to know what the company usually does for non US employees. Based on their company's usual approach you can research further. The US visa is a broad umbrellla. I think it is mandatory for anyone to know what the actual picture is like before you can make a call if you will fit well in that picture.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:44
Chi2dxb.....you sound really positive and from your background you understand where I am coming from...I am researching Chicago, Houston, Seattle and Portland at the moment.....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:42
Tkoshy, that is my biggest fear, with hubby gone all week, every week, I will be left to work, and look after the baby on my own and I will be exhausted and cranky when he comes home on weekends.....But I am researching, its a big move and trying to see if the pros outweigh the cons....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:24
Wow! so if he starts the visa process now, we would be looking at moving anyway in 6-9 months?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:23
Hartford sounds horrible, high crime rate, no grocery stores or limited, and a crappy schooling system.....Any neighborhoods around there which are better? My company and the brand I am working on has an office in Hartford...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:22
I would recommend you to have a call with your husband's company's US VISA specialist. The US visas for immigrants are subject to a cap. Also, these VISAs become active only at a particular period (For H1 a visa is filed on april 1 and it becomes current only in October).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:16
None. He would be going on an H1 or L1 visa and if i dont find a job, I will be on a dependent visa....I will look up the difference between H and L visas. Had no idea there were 2 types....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 10:14
Is your husband an American citizen or a GC holder? If not he must be working on a H1 or L1 visa right?Are you going as his dependent on H1 or L1? I am quite sure that it is not easy to convert from H4 (spouse dependent) to a work visa. I have heard mixed words about L2 (L1 holder's dependent). The US visas are a little different from most countries. I would recommend you completely consider every tiny aspect before you make a move. <em>edited by aa5207 on 14/01/2013</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 09:55
I have a new username....rainyskies :).....and I am struggling to change my attitude and insist of resisting change, try and flow with it. DH could apply for a loan once he moves there and we could pay off our debts and I move. We are going to talk through it this weekend and decide on an action plan. Verdeque whats your email address?
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 09:46
you may be able to get a loan elsewhere to pay off your loan here, just a thought. Honestly, it sounds like you don't want to go at all, and that your mind was made up before you even posted originally.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:20
DH does want me to work and so do I ......if I don't find something worthwhile in dubai ill definitely move.....but you do have a point......it could be a great adventure but maybe when debts are paid off.....the two year loan is massive and i realised we can't leave dubai without paying off loans. dH may have to go ahead and I follow him in two years or he decides to stay......
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:15
Depending on what sort of stuff you're into, you should really look at Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn. You really don't need to work, if your husband is ok with that. You can find plenty of time to do your own thing with part time nurseries, and spend time with your child. You can also find part time work there, but I'd wait till you got there. I was petrified about moving here, and SunDevil thought I was nuts, lol, as I'd just moved from the West to the East Coast. And I really did NOT want to come at all. But, amazingly, I loved it from the get go. You may feel the same in the US. Again, Texas is a bit conservative for my liking.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:04
Fair enough I'm still trying for a good job In Dubai.....if not will reconsider move to the USA.......only the rain could tempt me to leave :)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:01
Houston has rain that's what google says :) Oh, it has rain :D and thunder storms....yay........and scary tornado scares too....and the odd hurricane....
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:01
you can change your visa once you find a job. you dont need to wait it out here.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 22:00
Houston has rain that's what google says :) Oh, it has rain :D
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:58
Yes I'm aware of that.....I won't move until I have a job either with our sister Co in Hartford or anywhere else.....I'll have to stay back in dubai until we pay off some debts and I find a job
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:52
On another note, your husband will probably enter on an F1 work visa and you will then go in on an F2 dependent visa, which you cannot work on, you would have to apply to have that changed or arrange employment before you arrive and you also go in on a work visa. (people say the UAE is sticky lol).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:48
Our filipina nanny is super awesome......but she has worked with us only three months thus doesn't fit the criteria of a b1 visa......is there any way of getting around that and taking her with us (if I get s job) of course
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:44
Houston has rain that's what google says :)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:43
Also any recruitment contacts in USA?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:42
If I get a job paying at least 5 to 6 k I could def afford an aupair.....life is an adventure and i guess I should just suck it up and stop being scared.....like you said I can always come back......and pro is with American work experience maybe we get better jobs in Asia or else we fall in love with America and stay there......part time nurseries.....yay....I could sleep in one day a week! If I don't go I will never know......true......fingers crossed and hope for the best.....I'll just let my career make the choice for me...... Again if anyone knows of any openings in marketing or branding in dubai give me a shout....at the same time ill apply for jobs in USA.....lets see what destiny unfolds
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:39
.Texas sounds feasible but I would love to stay someplace rainy... Depending on what part of TX, there is plenty of rain.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:29
leenavaz, perhaps you are spoilt for choice! If I was you, I would gooooooo.....so many opportunities, better than UAE, India and SA. If you don't go then you will never know.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:22
fyi a live in aupair would run you about $1600 per month, if you're lucky, which is why you may want to consider just being with your baby and bonding with him/her, and finding some part time nurseries, which there are a lot of in the US. :)
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:21
Go to Portland! You would love it. We still have two houses there, and I always go back. Re a live in, I'd look at greataupairs.com. Best affordable bet for you, I have friends in Portland who did that and had great success with a few girls from Brazil. Re budget, you can totally afford Portland, and I'd skip Hartford, personally. I think you should go. Life is an adventure, and as I said, we always have choices. You know what you have here, and you can always come back, and your friends will still be here when you come back.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 21:17
This is very interesting to me too...it looks like we'll be moving there later this year. I haven't been there before, other than a brief layover in NYC - sorry to hijack the post, but to Beebers, may I ask why you wouldn't be keen on going back to California? That's where we'll be going, probably somewhere in San Francisco Bay area. Hi Beany, I have been all over California for business & pleasure, but didn't like living in LA and SoCal as much as I liked Texas. My best friends and extended family live there, so that's where my heart is. I am a midwest gal, but wouldn't move back to my hometown because of the winters! If I had to pick one city in CA, it would probably be Sausalito and that area. Truly it's lovely :) My cousin who has a couple of homes in SoCal has dealt with numerous issues over the years (mudslides, earthquakes, smoke form fires) and I don't know if that sounds happily ever after for me. That's all. Lovely to visit though! Truthfully, no plans to move back the US! ETA: Yes, my budget may have been on the conservative side, but it is not uncommon at all for Texas, and I did not include entertainment or shopping; just my "musts." I have friends that pay much less for rent and their vehicles x edited by Beebers on 13/01/2013 It's funny, I have a friend here who just bought in LA and is dying to get a green card to move there. I haven't really ever loved it there, either. Always been a nor cal girl, and agree Marin County is great, but v different from other parts of the Bay Area, mentality wise.