Thinking about relocating to USVI

Welcome to the forum! I am farily new to this forum as well, and looking to move in the next few years. Everyone on here has good advice and can let you know the good, bad, and ugly on life in the VI. I suggest reading the threads going back aways as well as asking questions. Most of the questions you have asked are all right here answered already.

But I can say with certainty that many employers will not hire prior to at least going down to interview. Much the same as stateside. It depends greatly on your career. I do see that medical staff sometimes get hired on without a face to face. There are always exceptions, but why take a chance to hire someone over the phone not knowing if they will show up on island.

Again welcome, and good mornin!

The best place to start is at the top of this page. Starting from the left, go through everything from "Home" through to "Message Board" and you'll find a ton of information along with answers to questions you haven't even yet asked. Good luck.

Thank you.. I have been going through and reading them already. There is so much. lol .. It sounds like alot of it is very similar to the state side..

Dreamer, have you made a trip down before? I thought the same thing US territory must be similar. We got down there and not so much. And that was just us walking STT for about six hours. We made a point to get out of the tourist area to get a look at local life. And yes there are many things that are certainly the same. But from what the forum members have said most of it is very different.

Yes I have been to St. Thomas a long time ago. I have definitely been reading through all the information and even though similiar definitely different and definitely someplace I could feel good about living in. I am leaning towards the island of St. Thomas. I believe it will offer more to me but like the fact I can make a day and visit one of the other islands. I do have to work for a living and St. Thomas will have more to offer me in the way of jobs. Everything I have been reading is definitely letting me know this will be a good move for me when it happens.

😀 Same here. I am lucky enough to be able to transfer to the VI national guard and am able to get a federal job as well. So that helps a lot. We are looking at STX for the more laid back pace.

I'm in the same situation - mid-life female looking for some major change. I've read and appreciate all the threads involving the "nuts and bolts" of the move. Now I'm curious about the openness of the community (particularly STJ) to newcomers and the ability to create a social structure. I am an avid sailor and wondering if there are particular clubs/groups to join. I know it will be what I make of it - I am outgoing by nature - but wonder how long it takes to not be viewed as an outsider.

after you have read a few other posts like oldtart suggested, come back with specific questions and we will be more than happy to help

mic50, i know on stx there is a yacht club, maybe on stj also

Do it. It's awesome 😀

STJ has its own yacht club as does STT.
Keep reading and asking questions. Save $$$$$ for a move.
Visit again before you move and see if you still like it here.
If thinking of purchasing property make sure you have enough for your down payment plus some for all the added expenses and make sure you are prequalified by a lender so that you already know a price range you are eligble for.
Prequalification can also be a good negotiating tool.

STJ more expensive than STT and STT more expensive than STX.

My specifics are;

Which Island is the best to live on especially for a single 40 something woman?
Is it very hard to find a job? I do Human resources, payroll, secretarial, legal secretary, collections and shipping. I am working on my 2nd BA this one in Psychology so then I can do social work.

Are people accepting of new comers?
What is a good amount to come out there with first - how many months rent should I pay upfront (if I have not secured a job yet)?
Is it better to get a furnished place or unfurnished and if unfurnished is furniture expensive to purchase on the Islands?

I plan my move in about 2yrs. I will be moving there from Florida and I plan on selling what I have here and only bringing the clothes I will need and some personal belongings.

Aand A2Vi.. I am definitely going to go for it and it is going to be a 2 yr plan (but has been years in my heart and mind since I first was in St. Thomas). I knew it was the place for me. But I want to make sure I do it right and not fall completely on my face. lol especially with no family or friends currently there.

April

Most places require a first, last and security deposit for securing a rental. Some may only require 1st and deposit.
It's pretty easy to meet people unless you are an absolute wallflower or extremely shy.
You may want to rent here prior to selling everything there. If you have a nice car that is suitable for our island roads and nice furniture, etc.,
you may want to bring/ship that rather than buying every single thing here that you will need as prices are much higher for EVERYTHING compared to FL.

Aand A2Vi just moved here so they can fill you in on what hey have found as newly relocated.
I prefer STT but then I live here. Everyone shall have varying opinions but you may have more options for work here.

Being single you can get away with bringing less $$. But I personally wouldn't go down without less than 10K. Figure average 1 bdrm will run 800-1000$. although I have seen some for around 650 -850$ At least first and last months if not security too. plus utilities to set up. However much $$ for a short term until you find a place. Are you bringing a car? that's a few grand more to think about. First months worth of food and necessities. It really boils down to your standard of living. Do you need newer condos etc. or is an older home, apt suitable? Being single I would lean towards a furnished place. Will likely cost a little more, but some of that would be offset by not shipping a household of stuff.

Just my 2c of how I see things from a person looking to move down.

Most rental housing here is already furnished.

Some factors when choosing an island:

STX is the least expensive island, mostly because of lower real estate prices. This is partly due to a larger supply of land vs. the other islands, and a glut of real estate from people leaving island due to the recent refinery closing.

STT is the easiest and cheapest island to travel to/from the mainland.

STT and STJ are convenient to get to the BVI.

STT and STX have very high crime, and STJ has much lower crime (but still higher than the stateside average).

People are friendly and the beaches and views are nice on all of the islands, although STJ probably wins on beaches and views.

Thank you for all that information. I got 2 yrs to plan this so that works in my favor (hopefully). I was looking to get a furnished place most of the rentals I saw are furnished.

It is just hard trying to decide which island to move to. Once I set my mind it is full steam ahead and making all the arrangements..

I do have another question, on some of the messages I have seen PMV what does that mean? Is that Pre Move?

yup Pre Move Visit. 🙂

Thanks VT2Vi.. I thought it was but wasn't sure.

Finding a job won't be a problem. If you move to STX, I can give you a lead. The problem is finding a job that will pay you enough to live. Many people work two jobs, perhaps an office job during the day and waiting tables part time in the evenings.

Bring $10k and a good "island car" like a Honda CRV style, and an open mind. I'm not kidding, in my opinion that's really all you need!

IME - plan on not working for 3 months and have enough savings for that separate from your 10k. You'll likely find work within the first month but good to have a backup if not.

I originally fell IN LOVE with STX. Just loved the feel of it. Now on STT for a few months I'm liking it more and more every day. My impression of STJ hasn't been that great. Nothing personal STJers but I just feel like I'm looked down on there. Maybe snooty is the word... But totally just the vibe I've gotten. Maybe you would have a totally different one, so don't rule it out on my behalf. It's BEAUTIFUL there.

In my honest opinion, while I LOVE STX, I am really finding that having the ability to go to PR, Tortola and STJ for the day is just really awesome. Something you can't do as easily from STX. I do miss the food on STX, overall better IMO. Just wondering why 2 years? Seems like an aweful long time. Saving can take a some time I suppose. OH and don't buy anything. Trust me. Just rent a condo, less money and less work! I heard condo fees can be crazy.... and IDK of you have to have hurricane insurance on them either but wowza that's a shocker when you see the price for that! You mentioned you're single and an empty nester.... Wouldn't it be sweet to try here for a year and then another island? If you buy you're kinda stuck. Maybe that will cut down your stateside time if you don't buy 🙂 life's SHORT after all!

Really thou, these islands are all beautiful, no matter which one you pick, you will find yourself settling in within a couple months, loving it and saying "it's the best of the three" 😉

I haven't read all the above posts, but I am going to chime in on what I know. If you are coming down to live the life, and you don't have a specialized field for employment, then you will be in a jamb. Well, that applies to STX. The job market sucks, and you should not come here thinking you can just get any job. STT has a ton more jobs, STX is not doing well.

Just my 2 cents!

Funny, I think the opposite. I think if you have a specific field of expertise i think it will be HARDER to find work. Seems like specific gigs are so hard to get for newbies. I think be flexible and if you're not coming down with a transfer consider serving or maid service to get started. Not glamorous but it'll pay the bills and give you time to network and prove yourself.

On STX I had a couple design job offered on my PMV but when I came to STT instead I found it hard to find a design job. Luckily I found something I like doing more 🙂 it's really about keeping an open mind.

thank you so much to all that have responded on here and in PM. I have so much information to go by and consider. The common question everyone keeps asking why 2 yrs. My youngest has one yr left of high school and I then I want to make sure she is adjusted after for her first year of college. Plus it gives me time to get some personal stuff taken care of and yes the second most important saving up the money. lol. I don't own here in the states so all I would be getting rid of is just material stuff. In all the information I have looked at renting a furnished condo is the best. I also would want to pay off my car here and buy one straight out (used) there. I do not want to ship anything if I do not have to.

Job wise. I work in HR, Legal and Administrative. Hopefully finding something in those areas will not be too hard. I currently do shipping and collections. But 2 yrs alot can happen. So I am just taking in all the information and making a serious decision as I am currently saving up.

So much information to go through and decisions to make. I appreciate all the advice that has been given.

April