Possible move to USVI

Hello MLogan,

Welcome to the board, great questions! I will try my best with your questions.

1. What are some of the pro's and con's of living on the island?
The pros; small community, environment, weather... the cons; making new friends, dealing with red tape and inefficiently run offices, not many options like you might be used to back home (multiple malls, multiple phone providers, multiple mechanics.... choices)

2. Which island is the best?
Best for what? Most island locals think their island is the best!! 🙂 Each island is different in terms of atmosphere and personality. What are you looking for?

3. What's a tank of natural gas and how long does it last?
A tank of natural gas is what people with gas operated stoves have to buy to run the stove. Many homes and apartments have gas stoves here, some have electrical stoves. A gas stove is great considering we have power outages from time to time and sometimes frequently. How long it last depends on how often you cook/bake.

4. How long will 5000 gallons of water last?
The answer to this is sort of like the gas... depends on how much you bathe, if you leave the water running while you shower, if you fill the tub with water to the brim each time you bathe, if you have a washer and dryer and do laundry at home, if you have a pool to refill when the water evaporates ect. Folks here learn to conserve by taking short showers, turning off the faucet, washing dishes in the sink rather then letting the water run while washing.

5. Is it best to ship my car or buy one when I get there?
This depends on how old or new your car is. How much its worth? If you own it outright - you can't ship a car you owe money on. Try and figure out the cost to ship and add all the taxes you will incur in shipping it. The car section of this site discusses the taxes. If the cost of shipping is more then the car is worth or about the same then it might be better to sell the car where you are and buy a car here. If its a new car you might ship it. So the answer to this depends.

6. What is the job market like?
What field do you think you would like to work in? You have a wide range of experience/education.

7. How long to prepare for the move?
Some folks on here prepared and are preparing several years in advance and others plan for a couple weeks/months. Then there are those few that vacationed here with no plans to move at all and just stayed. In you situation I think its a good idea to plan for 6 months to a year, figure out what things you need to take care of where you are, how much you need to save to make the move, plan a pre-move scouting trip (not a vacation although you certainly can take in some beach days and have a little fun) to check out job options, look at apartments so you have an idea of what’s here and available, look at cars and cost so you can figure out whether to ship or buy, look at banks, doctors, post offices, laundry, grocery stores, shopping - day to day life things so you have a better idea of where you are at and your planning.

8. What's the crime rate?
No figures to give you. There is crime it differs by island. St. Thomas and St. Croix having a higher crime level. St. John and Water Island are relatively quiet. Illegal drug trade is here and there is much crime associated with those involved including murders/shootings. There is a high level of domestic abuse. There are some car thefts and burglaries of homes, banks, businesses and of individuals.

9. What are the living conditions like?
This depends entirely on your income and you. Perhaps I am not clear on your question. Elaborate a little on what you want to know.

10. Does my credit rating transfer from the state?
Yes in terms of credit cards, loans ect.

11. How much money will be need to start of with, deposits for gas, cable, water, etc?
I am hoping someone who moved recently can help you with a guess-timate of how much they used for the first couple of months.

12. What suggestions do you have? Keep doing research on the idea and plan a pre-move trip.

13. How do employers view women with locks (dreadlocks). If they are clean, groomed locks its fine - I know teachers, attorneys, post office managers, professors... with locks here. Some businesses often sales/customer service have restrictions on hair cuts though.

Good Luck.

--Islander

Islander,
Thank you for responding. More question from my questions?

1. Which island is the best as far a job opportunities, finding an apartment, some night life, fitting in with the community?

2. How safe will it be for a single female moving alone? Of course I know there will be some crime, it's everywhere. I work as a court commissioner in Maryland, I'm the first person a defendant see after they have been arrest, I deal with criminal day after day, but when I'm out in the community or hanging out at night I have no problems.

3. I have a 2003 Chevy Impala, with an outstanding loan, so I guess I will be buying a car when I arrive.

4. How long can you make it without a car in Stt? (Looking for a job and day to day living)

5. I would like to work for the court system but I would do anything (almost anything) to make a living and pay my bills. What can I do with a Bach Degree in Criminal Justice with experience as a Commissioner ( magistrate) and loss prevention - management?
Or Banking / Customer Service experience?

6. Credit? I have credit, not the best credit, so how would that effect me there. For example in Maryland the electric and phone company require a security deposit based on you credit history?

7. When looking for an apartment, will the landlord pull my credit or just require first and last month as a deposit?

8. Will I need a bank account on the island or can I just use my mainland account ?

9. Living conditions? I'm not real sure on the question either. 🙂 I guess my question is:
Is it like apartments in the states? I currently live in a large apartment community with 1000 plus apartments, 2 swimming pools, a nice clubhouse, tennis and basketball courts, and a car wash. I guessing I will not find anything like that there. I really don't want or need all of that. I'm also thinking Stt will be like Jamaica or Bahamas, where most home don't have hot water or the stove is outdoor and the quailty of life is not the best for some. Hopeful you get what I'm trying to ask.

10. Which month is best to do a pre-move visit and to move?

Islander

I just read your response from the 12th. You mention that a car that has an outstanding loan cannot be shipped to the island. Why is that? Is there anyway around that?

-Jessica

Jessica,
If you owe a private individual you can ship a car. Under certain circumstances lenders will allow you to ship a car (primarily if you have a cosigner remaining in the states) on a case by case basis. The main reason would seem to be if you don't make the payments it is darn hard to repossess from here. Contact your lender and ask if she can make arrangements for you. Good luck.
Pamela.

Hello Jessica,

I should have eloborated on the comment. In any case Pamela did a great job at filling it in and I'll add some more info. Here is my understanding of it... shipping companies require you to have the title for the car; if you have a loan on the car then their is a lein on the title. The shipping companies require a clear title. Pamela's comment is accurate if you moved a car from say California to St. Thomas and didn't pay how would the folks in California get you and their money/car??? Some banks, as mentioned, will give you special permission to ship the car with the loan if a co-signer who is accessable and can be accountable is still in the state. So you need to call your lender and find out from them what they can or can't do for you.

--Islander

Thanks for the info. !!

Jessica

Hello MLogan,

1. Which island is the best as far a job opportunities, finding an apartment, some night life, fitting in with the community?

For jobs in general tourism/retail St. Thomas. For banking St. Thomas or St. Croix as they both have several banks. Apartment finding and nightlife - St. Thomas. I do find St. Croix has more community type evening events but not nightlife in terms of partying, ie. they have jazz at sunset, jump up and other early evening type things. Fitting into the community - all of them. St. John is a small island therefore it has fewer businesses and apartments.

2. How safe will it be for a single female moving alone? Of course I know there will be some crime, it's everywhere. I work as a court commissioner in Maryland, I'm the first person a defendant see after they have been arrest, I deal with criminal day after day, but when I'm out in the community or hanging out at night I have no problems.

You will need to be aware of your surroundings and observe the same safe guards you would if you were alone someone else you were unfamiliar with. Once you become familiar you will become knowledgable about areas you should go with groups or just avoid.

3. I have a 2003 Chevy Impala, with an outstanding loan, so I guess I will be buying a car when I arrive.

Doesn't hurt to double check - call your lender and find out if they can make special arrangements for you to ship the car. Usually this requires having a co-signer who is still in the state.

4. How long can you make it without a car in Stt? (Looking for a job and day to day living)
You can live here without ever having a car, I know several people that do this. Its just difficult; you have to take the bus, use the $1 safari, try to get rides from co-workers or neighbors particularly if you have say grocery shopping to do or laundry or if its raining and walking to a bus stop and waiting isn't feasiable. You would need to try and find a job and an apartment relatively close to each other and to grocery stores ect.

5. I would like to work for the court system but I would do anything (almost anything) to make a living and pay my bills. What can I do with a Bach Degree in Criminal Justice with experience as a Commissioner ( magistrate) and loss prevention - management?
Or Banking / Customer Service experience?

I don't know the court, criminal justice area well at all so I don't know where to suggest you start with that. Here is a web site http://www.vid.uscourts.gov/ for the courts that might help you get information. Banking, you would need to contact the various banks. You can try in the yellow pages http://www.vinow.com click on directory and select the appropriate topic. Try some of the bank web sites;
http://www.firstbankvi.com/
http://www.scotiabank.com/
http://www.bancopopular.com/

6. Credit? I have credit, not the best credit, so how would that effect me there. For example in Maryland the electric and phone company require a security deposit based on you credit history?

The electric if you move into an apartment (that is part of a house, which is the norm) is usually in the landlords name but in any case the electric company and phone company have a set deposit they require they don't do credit checks that I know of. If you don't pay your bill they will cut/turn off your service.

7. When looking for an apartment, will the landlord pull my credit or just require first and last month as a deposit?

The majority will just require a security deposit and last months rent and of course each months rent as due. A few want to do credit checks but its not the norm.

8. Will I need a bank account on the island or can I just use my mainland account ?

You can function with a stateside account if you use credit cards to pay for everything or cash. Many local businesses aren't to keen on taking out-of-island checks. And you need to consider that not all businesses do direct deposit for payroll so you will have to make arrangements to mail your checks to your stateside bank to do deposits if your employer doesn't do this.

9. Living conditions? I'm not real sure on the question either. 🙂 I guess my question is:
Is it like apartments in the states? I currently live in a large apartment community with 1000 plus apartments, 2 swimming pools, a nice clubhouse, tennis and basketball courts, and a car wash. I guessing I will not find anything like that there. I really don't want or need all of that. I'm also thinking Stt will be like Jamaica or Bahamas, where most home don't have hot water or the stove is outdoor and the quailty of life is not the best for some. Hopeful you get what I'm trying to ask.

No the apartments here are not like the large communities of 1000 plus apartments with pool, tennis, clubhouse ect. The only communities you find like this are condos and there will be far fewer "apartments" in the complex then 1000. Most apartments are part of a house if they aren't condos. I am not familiar with living conditions in Jamaica or the Bahamas so can not make a comparison however most homes here that have apartment rentals will have hot water and the stove will be inside but I understand what you are saying and so yes there are individuals/families here that are low income and that might live in conditions that include no hot water or no running water because they don't have the money to buy a trunk of water or no phone for $ reasons.

10. Which month is best to do a pre-move visit and to move? A pre-move visit for cheaper accomodations you might try summer months that are off season so the rates for hotel rooms is cheaper. For moving, if you have a job any month would do. If you are moving for seasonal work or work in the tourism industry then the first couple months of season are a good bet (Dec-May is high season,or thereabout)

--Islander

Hello All,

I hope that this note finds you all in good spirits! First, I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to all of your for creating this great environment. Thank you all for lending your valuable insight and experiences. Islander you are the bomb! MLogan, I feel where you are coming from. I vistited the islands for the first time this year and it was love at first sight - truly. I'm a 27 year old lady from Chicago and I traveled in the carribean and always loved it. This may sound sappy but my soul and spirit truly felt at peace on St Thomas and St John> I made the decision to live there and have begun working on a short term - long term plan to be fully executed when I finish grad school in about 2 years. It feels risky to leave the comforts of what has been your home for your life and take risk in totally different environment. However, I guess that is a part of life. I feel blessed to have seen the work of God's hand in that paradise- and its so great that its a US territory. On a reality level, I understand that I need a job, I need a place to live etc. I'm working on all that. Thank you all for helping make the process so much less painstaking. If any of you would like to e-mail me about this topic please feel free @ plummylove@yahoo.com. MLogan, Islander, Pam and all of you I hope to see you soon and call you neighbor one day!

Best regards,
PL

Hey!! I too am a black female, will be 31 in July, from Akron, OH and I'm looking to move to the Virgin Islands too. Preferably, St. Thomas. I have a Master's Degree in Social work and I wonder if I can find something there in that field.

Hit me on my email and let me know how you are doing on your transistion. I plan to go down in June for about a week or so just to look around and maybe put out some resumes.

Sorry, I forgot to give my email address tnmwriter@cs.com. I'm really interested in moving and it would be nice to have someone to brainstorm with.

Tiffany

Hello all,

MY name is dustin james fom Tenn. I am 25 and plan on moving down there in sept and want to work in a resterant or a bar but not in a resort any advice would be great and if anybody knows of a room mate i could talk to for when i first get there and find my own place and the best way to meet people and make friends I live in a small town about the sive of the island so I think I feel right at home I hope to talk to you all and would like to meet all of you when I get there. GOOD LUCK to all of you planing your move hope to see you there

dustin at brotherlove5331 @ aol .com

Hello Dustin,

September is right in the middle of our low season, picks up again in December so plan on having some money saved up in case you have trouble finding a job right away. You will meet people at work and your age group generally hang out at bars and nightlife type things. You might get active in some watersports like diving, snorkeling, fishing and you will meet people that way as well.

All the best.

--Islander

Tiffany: MSWs are in short supply. There might be a government job through Human Services or one of the other departments, agencies, etc. Most of these jobs require you to be here to get the job (they are not going to hire you over the internet or over the phone). Again, come down, make sure you have enough $$ to keep yourself afloat for 6 months and start searching. Good luck!