Supporting your s/o through the big change...

[doodlebugg 10]

Bump for Betsy (ok was too lazy to find an older thread)

I know this is about work/school related adjustment but we could also add fun tips about what we've bought for or researched (transportation, currency, mosques/church groups, etc.) in order to welcome our SO's to the US.

If anyone (doodle you're good at this ) can find another thread re: what I mentioned above maybe give that one a bump, too?

Ask and you shall receive http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...c=24262&hl=

[morocco4ever 63]

I agree with Jackie - not mean at all. That's a simple reality for many immigrants - starting at the bottom of the job market, so to speak. Back in the days when I immigrated from Poland in the 90's I held a job in a deli as a catering coordinator for about 12 years that got me through college and gave me a a wide variety of life experience...Some might see it as a demeaning work but hey it it's honest employment and it pays your bills, what's wrong with that...

Can I ask a question though, maybe I am being naive - but I see immigrants - specifically arabs - working all over the place in white collar jobs. I have had doctors that likely have not been here THAT long as they still have thick accents. I have seen advertisements for lawyers who seemed the same. There are guys who have corporate jobs, management jobs, high tech jobs in my building, same situation and I work for a fortune 100 company. And these arent people we have offshored and brought over temporarily, these are people who live here and got jobs like everyone else. So I read all of this about doctors/lawyers/engineers etc who are working at mcdonalds here and I dont doubt it - but I just wonder what the people who I encounter over here are doing differently? Also my husband is a contractor and he has hired companies that are immigrant tunisians, palestinians and moroccans where their business is either painting, or tile or whatever and they are clearly making a good dime. I know a palestinian guy here who has probably been here for about 5 years and he is making amazing commissions as a real estate agent in my city.

I don't think having a thick accent is a good indicator as to how long a person has been in the country. My next door neighbor is from Greece. He is a doctor. I know he has been here at least 30 years, but his accent is very strong. I couldn't give you any of his background however. I should go find out more to satisfy my curiosity.

[Jenn! 918]

I don't think having a thick accent is a good indicator as to how long a person has been in the country. My next door neighbor is from Greece. He is a doctor. I know he has been here at least 30 years, but his accent is very strong. I couldn't give you any of his background however. I should go find out more to satisfy my curiosity.

True! My grandmother has been here for over 50 years and I still can't understand a darn thing she says!

[Staashi 371]

I don't think having a thick accent is a good indicator as to how long a person has been in the country. My next door neighbor is from Greece. He is a doctor. I know he has been here at least 30 years, but his accent is very strong. I couldn't give you any of his background however. I should go find out more to satisfy my curiosity.

True! My grandmother has been here for over 50 years and I still can't understand a darn thing she says!

Amen to that!!! Go to Miami - you'll see people who don't even speak English - how long have they been here??? 50 years or more. No lie.

[Nothing1234 2]

Connections, location in the US, motivation to find gainful employment and spousal/family support....I think all play a part in the success of finding decent employment here.

[S and S 12]

Jobs here are really scarce right now and difficult to get. My husband looked for months and applied at just about every place we could think of. Many people wouldn't hire him because he is a med school graduate (at least for hospital jobs) and said he was over qualified. Other places wouldn't hire him due to lack of US work experience and preference to US natives. Finally my husband got a job at Ihop because the local mosque had people working there to help him get in. People at the mosque told him he was lucky to get that job. My husband says he sees at least 4 or 5 people apply at Ihop every day and only the ones who know someone actually get the job. Times are tough and every place can afford to be picky.

In my husband's case, he has to study for the US medical licensing board before he can even apply for residency. The tests are extremely difficult and expensive. As an Iraqi he needs high scores if he wants to be chosen over US candidates for residency (according to statistics maybe half of foreign medical graduates get picked up each year that apply for residency whereas over 90 percent of US graduates get picked up). I would rather he take his time for the tests and study hard so he can get competitive scores. Some doctors take the first two tests overseas in their home countries so they only have to take the 3rd one in the US. Then they can apply for residency at a hospital after that and come in on a visa that way. My husband didn't take his tests ahead of time because we weren't sure if he would come here or go to Australia with his family. His sister is a doctor too and lucky because she can chose to opt out of the test in Australia and just go straight to residency in the countryside or she can just take one test and do residency in the city.

Anyway, I wish your husband the best of luck and if he starts looking for jobs ahead of time and preparing, that can make the difference. It would help too if he knew anyone here that is an engineer and could help him.