employed vs unemployed

[jedinite 0]

Ok, I am curious as to how many people on here are employed, going to school, homemakers (with kids), disabled, or are just unemployed.

After being a part of the VJ community for some time now, I've noticed that there seems to be a large number of people that are waiting for visas that are just unemployed. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me because I've always been someone that has earned his keep. I'm just curious for those people not employed or working what do you do to keep your day busy and are you unemployed by circumstance (i.e. cannot work b/c you are in the US awaiting visas) or by choice.

I don't mean to be judgmental or mean but it seems like in the last few months there are more an more questions about collecting EI or asking questions about remaining in the US for longer periods, etc. I am just wondering how some people can afford the time to just up and leave Canada to live with SOs in the US and not have a job, career or something other than his/her significant other as a purpose in life. And I'm curious as to what happens to a lot of these people after they get visas because they don't strike me as the type of people to be very proactive about pursuing some sort of career afterward.

Morally, I just don't believe in trophy wives (or husbands) but I understand that some people out there don't care that their SO's don't work or have careers and that they make enough for 2 people to live on. I consider homemaking an occupation because you're taking care of the children and that's a choice between you and your spouse. Anyways, I'm just ranting and I just wanted to get a feeling for how many Canadians become contributing members to the US workforce.

[jedinite 0]

Reply to this one not the other thread with the same title.

[Cassie 8]

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...p;#entry2410214

To add to the above answer: up until two weeks before moving to the US, I worked. I didn't find a job until a year and a half after coming here. Volunteered lots though.

Edited November 19, 2008 by Cassie

[Flames9_RN 358]

Here since Dec 2004--slacker,lol Hopefully graduate (nursing) this May!!

I worked (Cdn Air Force) right up until I left for the USA (DEC 2004) Since Ihad no clue on what i was going to do here, took an EMT course for the fun of it and enjoyed it. But realized more jobs as a RN so went to work at obtaining that. Graduate this May (hopefully) My wife supports me,lol So I just have to concentrate on classes.

[Sprailenes 47]

I work.

I volunteered when I first arrived here as well, to help out, pass the time and to gain some local references. But as soon as I was able to legally work, I did.

[hheaven67 2]

I received my EAD on Sept 19th...started applying for jobs in July/Aug (gov't jobs are a long process), to this day, Nov 19th, I've applied for over 140 jobs and NOTHING! Most employers don't even let you know what's going on with your application let alone, what happened after your interview! It's quite disgusting to say the least...in Canada, by law they HAVE TO let you know what the outcome was. I am really disheartened as I have a lot of experience and much to offer an employer...economy sucks and we're the one's paying for the mess that the bank and oil companies started! Thank God I have my wonderful husband and son by my side...I would've lost my mind awhile back otherwise!

[jedinite 0]

Please know that I'm not judging anyone that doesn't work immediately or that is having a hard time finding a job. I just want to understand if there are a lot of people just coasting along without having to worry about work/money etc or if it's hard times and a bit of "finding oneself."

I've been thinking a lot about my post-interview, visa approval time period and trying to decide what I need to do to reunite with my wife in the US permanently. Right now I'm lucky to have a well paying job in Canada and I hope to find a job in the US in the next while but with the economy doing as poorly as it is and so many people getting laid off, and the holidays right around the corner there are just so many conditions to overcome it's a bit overwhelming. I'm hoping after the first week of January things start to pick up again. I'm really anxious to return to my wife but there's no way I can do it without first finding a job to support our lifestyle. I'm hopeful that my transition will be much easier because I've already spent several years working in the US.

Thank you all for sharing your experience and perspective on this topic.

[ruby_mtl 0]

Here's our situation: we have 2 kids together. The youngest will turn 3months at the end of this month, so I'm still on maternity leave. I will probably go back to work between the time that my maternity leave ends and the time that I will move to Albany. He works and we both agree that when I'll move, I'll try and find a job. I cannot see myself being home forever, regardless of how much I love my kids. I just need to work...need that intellectual challenge you know? Plus we definitely need 2 incomes! Ok went way off topic...sorry!

[SapphireDreams 71]

Jedinite what industry do you work in? Is it Tech? (I remember reading that maybe you worked in Tech, can't remember). If I wasn't in school full time, I've been working full time. Right now I work full time as a PR consultant and love it. I could never see myself not working, even with kids (it doesn't bother me that I won't get 1 year maternity leave which is shocking I know).

While I'm looking forward to being forced to be unemployed, I plan to agressively network and look for jobs and try to get something lined up. I was pretty confident I would be okay because of my experience, but the economy right now is really putting a damper on things. Especially since I work in Tech PR and budgets are being cut. I may have to switch industries, which wouldn't really be a bad thing.

That being said, one of my clients is HR software and we have been doing a lot of industry trend analysis around how even in a recession, employers will always be on the lookout for good quality people. Recruiting is changing, becoming more efficient and difficult, but not disappearing completely. I think employers will be pickier than before, but opportunities will still be around.

We will 100% need 2 incomes to live in NYC and afford our lifestyle so I really hope I'm able to land something. Right now I'm planning for the worst and saving enough money to get me through 7-8 months without work just in case.

[BermyCat 1]

I can do my job remotely so they've offered to keep me on even after moving to the US. In fact, it's an advantage to them to keep me on since they can drop me from the company health plan. I'll have to be covered under Phil's insurance when I'm a US resident. I'll probably look for a job here when I'm allowed to but at least I'll have an income until I find something local.

~ Catherine

[Galateia 1]

The reason people are so focused on EI once they move is so they have some income while they wait for 'real' permission to work. It's not difficult to understand.

Why would you apply for a job knowing full well you are not going to be able to continue working there once your I-94 expires? The current timelines for EAD approval leave a definite gap. If there is an RIE, RFE, delay, mistake, etc, you could be unable to work for longer than the usual month or two between I-94 and EAD. Would you get a throwaway job that would be an embarrassment on your resume? Would you try to work illegally and just conceal the fact that you were not work authorized from your employer, and hope it wasn't discovered by USCIS?

Look at all the people in the AOS forum who are having problems finding employers who will accept an official EAD. Many employers refuse to accept anything but a bona fide GC. EADs give us permission to work, they do not guarantee that the employer will accept it is in fact valid in lieu of a GC.

Some people are uneducated about when and how to quit their jobs, and quit early in anticipation of a quick visa acquisition, then repent at leisure. Some people find it more difficult to adjust. Some people don't count their chickens before they're hatched or make grandiose plans based on assumptions that are ripe for snags.

I am accustomed to being self-sufficient and am proud that I got a decent job immediately after getting my EAD. I have a vigorous worth ethic and am very conscientious about providing for myself and my household. That doesn't mean that I struggle not to be judgmental towards others who have not done the same.

[MrsCat 6]

The reason people are so focused on EI once they move is so they have some income while they wait for 'real' permission to work. It's not difficult to understand.

Why would you apply for a job knowing full well you are not going to be able to continue working there once your I-94 expires? The current timelines for EAD approval leave a definite gap. If there is an RIE, RFE, delay, mistake, etc, you could be unable to work for longer than the usual month or two between I-94 and EAD. Would you get a throwaway job that would be an embarrassment on your resume? Would you try to work illegally and just conceal the fact that you were not work authorized from your employer, and hope it wasn't discovered by USCIS?

Look at all the people in the AOS forum who are having problems finding employers who will accept an official EAD. Many employers refuse to accept anything but a bona fide GC. EADs give us permission to work, they do not guarantee that the employer will accept it is in fact valid in lieu of a GC.

Some people are uneducated about when and how to quit their jobs, and quit early in anticipation of a quick visa acquisition, then repent at leisure. Some people find it more difficult to adjust. Some people don't count their chickens before they're hatched or make grandiose plans based on assumptions that are ripe for snags.

I am accustomed to being self-sufficient and am proud that I got a decent job immediately after getting my EAD. I have a vigorous worth ethic and am very conscientious about providing for myself and my household. That doesn't mean that I struggle not to be judgmental towards others who have not done the same.

good post

[Carlawarla 1]

I tried voting, and it wouldn't let me! Maybe because I couldn't answer question #2 correctly. I was employed full time in Canada and left my job after 26 years, taking early retirement when I came down here. We have no kids. My adult children are in Saskatchewan. My husband supports me, as we're not going to access my retirement funds until much later. He has around 8 years to go before he can retire.

He makes enough money to support us, and said if I didn't want to work I didn't have to. So, I don't! Actually, unless I went into the same profession here as I was doing in Canada, there is no way I could make the same money, nor have the time off that I did. So, if I did work here, it would be for gutter pay, and no vacation time. Gene gets 8 weeks a year, so travelling would be on my one or two weeks vacation time a year? I don't think so.

I have been very active in the community since I've been here however volunteering. First I was a reading tutor, then an ESL teacher, and now I'm an Ombudsman in the long-term care facilities and an abuse investigator.

As an aside, I should say that if offered the right type of job, part-time, where I could take unpaid time off when needed for vacations, I would consider employment. I've actually been offered a job recently, so again, I might work if the right job came along.

Edited November 20, 2008 by Carlawarla

[trailmix 77]

I just answered the poll from my Husband's point of view, because although we both immigrated, he is the one with the visa - plus - as Carla mentioned, I couldn't answer the second question:

"Become a Homemaker (with kids or kids on the way)"

I don't work, he does, he waited for his green card and then went job hunting, he had a few contract positions and is now in one longer term.

After being a part of the VJ community for some time now, I've noticed that there seems to be a large number of people that are waiting for visas that are just unemployed. This doesn't make a lot of sense to me because I've always been someone that has earned his keep. I'm just curious for those people not employed or working what do you do to keep your day busy and are you unemployed by circumstance (i.e. cannot work b/c you are in the US awaiting visas) or by choice.

I have pretty much always worked, quit my job in Canada about a year before we moved here and i'm not looking for a job. Despite what our N.A. societies deem to be the norm - ie the two income household, it is not necessary for everyone - it works for the country and for employers and for the tax base and I assume that is why it is touted as the norm.

I don't mean to be judgmental or mean but it seems like in the last few months there are more an more questions about collecting EI or asking questions about remaining in the US for longer periods, etc. I am just wondering how some people can afford the time to just up and leave Canada to live with SOs in the US and not have a job, career or something other than his/her significant other as a purpose in life. And I'm curious as to what happens to a lot of these people after they get visas because they don't strike me as the type of people to be very proactive about pursuing some sort of career afterward.

Oh but I think you do mean to be judgmental - otherwise you wouldn't be bringing this up again

I did explain the EI phenomenon to you in another thread where you asked the same question - but in a nutshell, EI is available to K and IR visa applicants - so why would they not use it? As many have mentioned, it can be tough to get a job in the U.S. when you are a new immigrant.

To answer your other questions, and this is just my opinion:

- I'm sure some people can afford to just up and go to the U.S. for extended periods of time, maybe they or their SO are independently wealthy? Maybe they borrowed the money from their Dad? Does it really matter?

- If you do not have a job or career, or if your SO is your main purpose in life - does that really matter? (I just don't see your point, not trying to be argumentative here).

Morally, I just don't believe in trophy wives (or husbands) but I understand that some people out there don't care that their SO's don't work or have careers and that they make enough for 2 people to live on. I consider homemaking an occupation because you're taking care of the children and that's a choice between you and your spouse. Anyways, I'm just ranting and I just wanted to get a feeling for how many Canadians become contributing members to the US workforce.

What is a trophy wife or husband to you? Is this simply a spouse that does not work?

Can you not be a homemaker if you don't have small children at home?

[thetreble 19]

I agree 100% with trailmix.