Moving in 2012

Commuting from STX for work isn't feasible. Good luck.

Have you been to the VI before? If not, I suggest you come for a 2-3 week visit to check out jobs, housing, etc.

Don't forget to research the crime rate.

There is crime every where. I don't like when people act/think there is only crime in the V.I....

Statistically, there is no crime anywhere in the US that matches the crime level in the USVI - if you love the VI, then you have to love it warts and all - and the crime level in the VI is definitely a wart!
Now WAPA is more of a giant boil!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Welcome to the board! Hope you will read through the archives as there is a great deal of information there.

1. How easy will it be to find a job?

For you, as an RN, pretty easy. You can start with the nurse recruiter, Marci, at Schneider Regional Medical Center http://www.rlshospital.org/Home.aspx, but there are lots of other opportunities.

2. How difficult is it to find a rental home or apartment?

Not too hard, but don't rent anything sight unseen. It isn't so much the degree of difficulty as the amount of money required.

3.. What is the criteria to rent ?

Not sure what you are asking. Usually they will require several months' rent up front.

4. Would it be better to rent in St.Croix or St. John and commute to St. Thomas?

Can't commute from St Croix. You would have to figure out if the hassle of the commute and the cost of living on St John would be worth it to you.

5. What areas should we avoid in regards to crime,drugs etc.?

This is where the longish look-see visit comes in handy. St Thomas has much more heterogeneous living areas than most stateside locales. Nice neighborhoods have feral chickens and terminally unfinished houses in the mix.

6. How difficult is it to start a new business or get into real estate?

I suspect the new business is harder than you expect. Buying real estate just takes money. 😉

There is crime every where. I don't like when people act/think there is only crime in the V.I....

Remove the rose colored glasses. Who said there's only crime in the VI? What if they're from Iowa and the biggest crime is cow tipping. They have the right to know. Lot's of people are blinded by what they think is "paradise".

Corporate jobs are basically nil on this island as well, so your husband is likely going to have to learn to love Jewelry sales, hospitality, or Food and beverage jobs. There are some import/export opportunities but you have to know the people running those businesses.

Do some more research, and as noted above, definitely take time to 'live' down here before making this move. Read a lot of the threads here, and use the "search" function to look up existing threads where your questions have been discussed. It's a great place, but it's not for everyone, and you'll save time and money researching as MUCH as possible before you take the plunge!

Thanks,I appreciate it.

I was not implying that VI was full of crime,only that in every city,town and state there are areas to avoid. Sorry if I offended anyone but this is a question I always ask before moving to a new location.

I live in Tennessee and grew up in a small town in Alabama. This made me laugh out loud. Thank you- I needed that! 😀

What if they're from Iowa and the biggest crime is cow tipping.

 

just an fyi, the murder rate in the vi a year or two ago was the highest per capita of any us owned property. even higher that chicago.
not saying this to upset people but it is a fact. not sure how the other crime rates on a per capita basis.

The VI is full of crime and unlike many "Stateside" places, everyone is real close together on the islands - there is no "wrong side of the tracks" that can be easily identified and avoided - the neighborhoods (unless one has plenty plenty $$$) are pretty much jumbled all together.
Crime is a factor - so is separation from family - high airline prices - lack of white collar jobs etc etc.

"Paradise" comes with a lot of downsides...that is why there aren't 1 million people jammed elbow to elbow on the islands - thank God!!!!!

The per capita murder rate in the VI is higher than anywhere else in the US - even Detroit or LA - it is just a fact.
Should that panic you...should it stop you coming down...only you can answer that...that is why you have to get to know the islands before you move here - unless you can afford to turn straight around and go back stateside if you find that it isn't to your liking.

"terminally unfinished houses" LMAO

I live in Tennessee and grew up in a small town in Alabama. This made me laugh out loud. Thank you- I needed that! 😀

What if they're from Iowa and the biggest crime is cow tipping.

You're Welcome. Just stating the obvious. WGAF

 

Thank you so much for the great info. In regards to renting:
1. Do you need to be on the island for a certain amt. of time.
2. In your current Island job for say 6months or more before anyone will rent to you?

Depends. If you have first, last and one month's security and impress the owner as a responsible person, he/she may rent to you without long-term references or plans. That's one good thing about most of the rental market here, you are renting from an individual, not a corporation. When we arrived, we had savings, some off-island monthly income (not a lot), a glowing reference from our landlord in the states and $$$ in hand. We'd been here for 3 days and, while driving around saw a "for rent" sign in someone's yard. Called the number given, went that afternoon to see the apartment and talk to the landlord. By day 4 we had a place to live and were $1,800 poorer.

The landlord, a native Crucian, took us to his bank to help us get a bank account, to the post office to get a po box and, when our car arrived a week later, spent the day with us getting it insured, out of customs and licensed. I know we hit the jackpot, but such stories are not that uncommon.