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I plan on moving to St.J in a couple months, sometime in May. I have been to the Virgin Islands a couple times before but was to young to ask any of the questions I have now. I have a college degree in General Arts and Science, have waited and bartendended at a few different restaurants/bars, I worked in retail(ALDO shoes and Athletes World), and for the past 4 summers I have worked with mentally and physically disabled children.
Now as I try to plan this move all the info. I have been getting is from American citizens which has all been very helpful but as we know isn't a problem for you to relocate over to the islands and find a job as if you were on the mainland. For me on the other hand being a Canadian citizen they say for me to work I have to get visas, work permits whatever all of them being a HUGE pain in the you know where. But see theres a catch 22 of the whole thing for me to get the proper papers I have to have an employer apply for the visa for me, but after all the research I've done everybody says that getting a job is one of those things that you just have to be on the island to get. Especially a job that I would like to start off with, waiting or bartending.
So does that mean I have to come to the Island first and minus any papers get a job and if so does anyone know wether or not I would have to return back to Canada and then come back again when my visa comes in?
Does anyone know if employers are ever willing to hire under the table? Is that common at all?
Does anyone know any canadians over there now? How are they doing? was it difficult for them to get the right papers to work there? or did they even get them?
And lastly if anyone is looking for a roomate in May let me know.
I know that this is long, I apolojize but thank you very much for your time and any input/feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Posted : March 7, 2005 4:38 pm
Hello Benjamin,
A bit of bad news... Employers in the restaurant/service industry are not going to go through the hassle of sponsoring a non-American because there are lots of Americans and legal immigrants here already willing to do those jobs. A sponsor must be able to show that the job can not be filled easily to sponsor a foreign national - that isn't the case with wait staff. Most of the 18-28 year olds on this board that are talking about moving to the VI for a few months, a year; its restaurant and service work that they go after because its easiest to get.
Some employers do hire under the table. I don't know how common. There are illegal 'residents' here, mostly from other Caribbean islands, they work mostly in manual labor.
I can think of only one Canadian, she was a teacher. Her paperwork expired and she went back. That was quite a few years ago. I don't know of any others.
--Islander
Posted : March 14, 2005 10:10 pm
