Questions on moving to the islands

Yes!

Yes to which question? lol

Yes to all.
It's perfectly possible and reasonable for you to relocate.
We live on relatively small islands and in a hurricane alley.
There's lots of yachts/boats, businesses that cater to these businesses and homeowners that have diesel generators that require servicing. Including the automotive sector. Anyone who knows their stuff and isn't a rip off can find work on all 3 islands.
You probably will need more than a couple grand to move, especially if you bring your vehicle and your tools but if you're hardworking, honest and dependable, you'll do well
In St. Thomas there are a multitude of sailing, fishing, diving charter companies, individuals and homeowners that can use a qualified diesel mechanic.

Our electricity provider, WAPA, goes down, often, without rhyme or reason.
Many homeowners have learned to have back up systems.

Especially necessary when tropical storms and hurricanes blow thru.
Doing a great job, first time out, gives you word of mouth advertising.

There are pitfalls. Do your homework to see if this suits you.
Not knocking your age but many people can get caught up in after hour activities that detracts from job performance. In that case, the VI can eat you up and spit you out.

I'm sure others on this forum can add additional information and advice.
Do your homework for costs of living expenses and how much it actually does cost to move and live here.

It ain't cheap.

You probably will need more than a couple grand to move, especially if you bring your vehicle and your tools

But that was the original question. A couple grand including air fair? No. As has been stated in many a past discussion you pretty much need personal transportation in the VI (and not a skooter), few exceptions. So for starters you have airfare, first/last month's rent and security after paying for someplace temporary while you look for long term rental, utility deposits, buy a car/ship a car, short term living expenses while you get that job lined up, plus reserve for return ticket if all does not work out as planned. More than a couple grand.

its been done in the past

If you have good skills, expertise and don't succumb to drinking or drugs you will do just fine.

Don't dream it...BE IT!

Is it possible for someone with a couple grand move to the islands? Im a 22 year old single guy and im tired of these Kansas wheat fields. Whats the job market like? ive been a disel mechanic for four years and i work hard, i might have to switch careers im aware but whats avilable down there? Im super motivated to the point where im about to just buy the ticket and leave. Thanks in advance for any good responses or tips.

If your motivation is to get away from the wheat fields, your safest option is to find a job as a diesel mechanic in Florida.

In USVI, you'll earn 30% less, and your cost of living would be 25% more.

$2,000 won't get you to FL either.

Some folks consider the waving wheat of Kansas an ideal vista.

If your motivation is to get away from the wheat fields, your safest option is to find a job as a diesel mechanic in Florida.

In USVI, you'll earn 30% less, and your cost of living would be 25% more.

"Don't dream it...BE IT!"

Ohhhh Rocky!!!!!!!!

Do you have any experience working on heavy equipment or has your focus been on vehicles?

Personally, the advice I give to anyone moving anywhere is to try to have a job lined up BEFORE you relocate. Given your trade, I would expect that you could find a job, although if you're used to working on those giant, transport engines, it maybe a little more difficult. If you can and are willing to work on smaller vehicles, you should be able to find work easily enough.

Finding a place to stay will be a little tougher. If you're simply tired of Kansas and want to try something new and exotic, then you might want to consider a larger metropolis: Alana33 suggested FL, but Atlanta, Dallas, or VA can all give you different scenery and work.

I will stress this condition: IF you have a guaranteed job, have already found and placed a deposit on a place to stay, you MIGHT be able to relocate to USVI for $3500. That said, I'm about to relocate, met those two conditions, and I'm still relocating with $7500...and I'm a little worried that might not be enough.

And you are cutting a lot of corners doing it this way. Most people on these boards suggest doing a pre-move visit, where you come down, scope out where to stay and work in advance, and then move. I was lucky enough to be able to get away with not doing that, but I wouldn't recommend it. And I'm still not certain I'm getting away with that, either. LOL.

All the best in all you do while staying true.

Sjointer,

Although securing a job before moving is ideal, and quite feasible when moving from one city or state to another in the US, it is quite a different situation on island (in the VI, at least). In most cases, it is very difficult to be hired unless you are on island; employers simply do not trust that people will actually take that leap of actually moving. There are certainly exceptions to this (yours being one case - I was also fortunate in securing a job, that included housing, to get me to STT), however they seem to be few and far between. As you will soon learn after being here for several months - things here in the VI do NOT work the same as they do Stateside! That is not meant to be discouraging...just a reality check that is needed by many.

almost all of my experience is working on heavy equipment, specifically the machines that load, unload and stack shipping containers. i figure there has to be a port somewhere on the island but i cant find anything on the internet. I can email anyone who reads this my resume if anyone wants to lend a hand.

Try this link:

http://www.viport.com/about/departments.html

Tropical Shipping and Crowley come to mind. They have containers coming in all the time.

http://www.viport.com/seaports/seaports.html

Kansas, go to www.tropical.com, the Careers link in the upper right corner. Tropical has locations on STT and STX. No mechanic jobs open right now, but if can get on as a shipside checker you'll have a good chance of moving to the shop when something opens up.

Also, Crowley's agent in STX, Oneale's, must really need a mechanic because almost all of their equipment is down.