moving to the island

Really? You are moving here and don't know anything?

How about telling us what island you plan to live on?

Yes, there's housing in the USVI's - everything from simple 1 room studio apartments to multi-million dollar mega-villas. Generally speaking, housing costs for comparable properties will be higher than they are "back home". And, yes there are doctors, clinics and hospitals, the quality of which varies just like they probably do back where you now live.

Did you notice the "drop down" links at the top of this page? Start at the left and click on each one working your way to the right- read everything you find and you'll find tons of information and answers to all your questions plus hundreds more that you haven't even thought of yet. Also, browse this forum, there are 10,000+ threads covering every "relocation" topic imaginable.

Do some first hand research then come back and ask specific questions.

are you coming alone or with a family
have you ever been here before? if not do visit before you move-if you do not have the money for that-do not come. it is not cheap to live here
if you move-bring your car
as the poster above said-read read read and then come back and ask specific questions
welcome to the forum

@spee1dy. I did not make a pre move visit. And I did not come with a car. That is a personal decision based on individual needs.
I did, however, have a job lined up prior to coming. I also did research, especially on this board prior to coming. That was two and a half years ago and it has all worked out just fine for me. There is no set way on how to move to the island. Personal choices d opinions based on reasearch is the best way to go, no right or wrong way. Yes, read, read, read and then ask questions.

hi iam new to the message board. i would like to know about the islands, any and all information on housing doctors,things like this will be so helpful. thanks you. .

Helen: Welcome to the board! Reading the information on this site will be helpful. In the meantime, do you know which island(s) interest you? What sort of work are you seeking? Or are you a trust fund baby? LOL

P.S. Ignore the snarky answers... 😀

@sheiba, she was asking for information and i gave my answers based on my choices just like you would base your answers on your choices.

hi iam new to the message board. i would like to know about the islands, any and all information on housing doctors,things like this will be so helpful. thanks you
.

Research the violent crime. IE: home invasions etc. then decide from there.

Research the violent crime. IE: home invasions etc. then decide from there.

Dude, you obviously have an agenda here. I'm sort of new on these forums, but you've already caught my eye. Crime? There is crime everywhere. Compared to USVI, I live in a war zone (Philly suburbs). Yes, I did my research, I am following the news, and read all your ramblings on the subject. Whatever you find so shocking doesn't make the news here.

Just because it doesn't make the news doesn't mean that it does not happen.

Just because it doesn't make the news doesn't mean that it does not happen.

Agree, but it wasn't my point.

Research the violent crime. IE: home invasions etc. then decide from there.

Dude, you obviously have an agenda here. I'm sort of new on these forums, but you've already caught my eye. Crime? There is crime everywhere. Compared to USVI, I live in a war zone (Philly suburbs). Yes, I did my research, I am following the news, and read all your ramblings on the subject. Whatever you find so shocking doesn't make the news here.

Dude. You're obviously oblivious. And yes. I do have an agenda. People get starry eyed dreaming about moving to the V.I. because they vacationed here for a week or spent their honeymoon here, not knowing what they're getting themselves into. Then after spending a ton of money they find out not only is there alot of violent crime here but, the police (what an effin joke) don't do #@&* about it. Life here is difficult enough without having some loser dirtbag stick a gun in your face because he blames the establishment for his miserable life.
When was the last time some one said "gee I got vacation coming. I need 2 weeks in Philly". Now let's move there. See, you have a choice. You can stay in your friggin war zone if you like and if you don't you can pack up all your #@&*, drive a couple of hours to where there isn't a war zone. You can't do that here. So how's that for rambling. Philly doesn't make you an expert on what's going on here or anywhere else for that matter.
Thanks for taking the time to put in your 2 cents.

You really should plan on a longish visit, we call it a pre-move visit, to see if island life is for you. You don't give much info, but in general, the more "baggage" you have (kids, medical issues, no local back-up, you want to come but spouse doesn't) the more careful you should be. Especially if you or a family member has specific medical needs. If you are 20 and foot loose and fancy free (you can tell by that phrase that I'm NOT 20! lol) then pack a bag and go for it.

Forgot to mention money - the more you have the better off you'll be. For a family, I'd suggest $15,000 MINIMUM.

Message Removed: Please review board rules regarding forum etiquette; specifically related to keeping sarcastic comments to a minimum.

@Tiberius. You still on island? If so, why stay if crime so bad? You do tend to highlight the crime issue and only the crime issue. Are there positive reasons you stay?

You really should plan on a longish visit, we call it a pre-move visit, to see if island life is for you. You don't give much info, but in general, the more "baggage" you have (kids, medical issues, no local back-up, you want to come but spouse doesn't) the more careful you should be. Especially if you or a family member has specific medical needs. If you are 20 and foot loose and fancy free (you can tell by that phrase that I'm NOT 20! lol) then pack a bag and go for it.

Forgot to mention money - the more you have the better off you'll be. For a family, I'd suggest $15,000 MINIMUM.

I agree with Linda. Also, the VI isn't what it used to be as far as living goes. They have almost everything the states do to a point and finding good accomodations is easier than it used to be in the early 70's with all the building that has gone on for the past 20 years. Yes, there is crime like any where else, it's just magnified there. You just have to watch where you go and where you live. My relatives who have live for generations on St. Thomas usually will not venture down town or certain parts of the Island after dark.

Dude. You're obviously oblivious. And yes. I do have an agenda. People get starry eyed dreaming about moving to the V.I. because they vacationed here for a week or spent their honeymoon here, not knowing what they're getting themselves into. Then after spending a ton of money they find out not only is there alot of violent crime here but, the police (what an effin joke) don't do shit about it. Life here is difficult enough without having some loser dirtbag stick a gun in your face because he blames the establishment for his miserable life.
When was the last time some one said "gee I got vacation coming. I need 2 weeks in Philly". Now let's move there. See, you have a choice. You can stay in your friggin war zone if you like and if you don't you can pack up all your shit, drive a couple of hours to where there isn't a war zone. You can't do that here. So how's that for rambling. Philly doesn't make you an expert on what's going on here or anywhere else for that matter.
Thanks for taking the time to put in your 2 cents.

I sense a lot of anger. I am indeed starry eyed, dreaming about moving to a warmer and friendlier place. I am not an expert on what's going on where you are - you're right - but I am certainly not oblivious. I am a realist. I understand that there is crime everywhere and it is a factor in my decision-making paradigm. Thus far, USVI seem to possess the right proportions of good qualities vs. bad that make them very attractive to me.

Where would you go if you had an opportunity to leave the islands?

the crime here does seem magnified because each island being small, you tend to know many many people who have been affected by crime in one way or another. our per capita rate for murder i believe in the year 2010 or 2011 was higher than your worst neighborhood in the states. so in effect that makes living here more dangerous than living in philly.

this is not to scare you off, just for you to take off the rose colored glasses that so many wanna move here people wear. the best thing about the island is the weather.
do a lot of reading on crime, electricity, cost of living and if you have kids-schools/education and let us not forget health care.

there are a lot of problems our islands have but a lot of good.

And this all started by someone asking a really open ended question, and they never came back to this page to see the ruckus that they raised.

And this all started by someone asking a really open ended question, and they never came back to this page to see the ruckus that they raised.

I noticed that... and the OP "disappeared"... This board is similar to the Middle East.. You don't know when and where it will explode... all you know it that it is a matter of time... it also includes the topic hijacking...

@Tiberius. You still on island? If so, why stay if crime so bad? You do tend to highlight the crime issue and only the crime issue. Are there positive reasons you stay?

Well, that's because everyone glazes over crime whenever the subject comes up. People have posted multiple questions here under a topic incuding crime and for some reason all their questions are answered in great detail except for the crime. Like it doesn't exist.
And yes. Still here. I never said it was soooo bad. It's that people have the wrong idea about the islands. Not just the V.I. Islands in general.
They think it's paradise and the last thing on their mind is violent crimes in paradise.

@Tiberius. You still on island? If so, why stay if crime so bad? You do tend to highlight the crime issue and only the crime issue. Are there positive reasons you stay?

Well, that's because everyone glazes over crime whenever the subject comes up. People have posted multiple questions here under a topic incuding crime and for some reason all their questions are answered in great detail except for the crime. Like it doesn't exist.
And yes. Still here. I never said it was soooo bad. It's that people have the wrong idea about the islands. Not just the V.I. Islands in general.
They think it's paradise and the last thing on their mind is violent crimes in paradise.

I agree, I think you would have a better chance of being the victim of a crime in the Islands versus most other places just due to the size of the island or parameters. But this isn't saying it will happen, just that it's a distinct possibility that it could.

And this all started by someone asking a really open ended question, and they never came back to this page to see the ruckus that they raised.

I noticed that... and the OP "disappeared"... This board is similar to the Middle East.. You don't know when and where it will explode... all you know it that it is a matter of time... it also includes the topic hijacking...

Exactly.

I must be missing something. I've not seen the posts about violence. When I look at the "What to Expect" forum all the messages date to 2004 and 2005?

hi I'm new to the message board. i would like to know about the islands, any and all information on housing doctors,things like this will be so helpful. thanks you
.

Thank you for all the input.i should have clarified a few things before i posted. i was looking for insight from people who live on the islands, as for cruzanlron,rudeness gets no where knowledge and research will get what is needed that is why i joined the message board looking for all the information that is available. I'm looking for something small on the water nothing fancy simple is better.i do plan on a pre-visit for a few months to check out the areas on the islands. once again thanks to all for you input