Wanting to move to US VI

Like where you live now there are similar opportunities for LNP's in the USVI's. Obvious places to look for employment are hospitals, medical clinics and in private practice doctor's office. Much has been written on this forum about employment opportunities for LPN's so if you use the "Search" function you'll be able to bring up literally hundreds of threads with useful information.

There's no logging industry in the islands and, for all practical purposes, the majority of "big rig" trucking operations revolve around moving shipping containers from the port to the local businesses. To my untrained eye these local trucking companies don't appear to have very large fleets requiring a large number of drivers so I can't be sure how difficult or easy it will be for your husband to find work. Regardless, it won't be driving a logging truck.

It is very difficult to find work until you are actually on island so be prepared to support yourselves financially while you search for employment. Most people will tell you to bring a "nest egg" of at least 6 months living expenses when you arrive. You are going to need to 3 months' rent (first, last and one month security) just to walk in the door of a rental unit. Add to that deposits for utilities, cash to stock your home with food, basic household supplies & incidentals and money to purchase a car - so you see money goes OUT pretty quickly.

A large percentage of the rentals on all islands will not allow pets so you'll have to make a special effort to find rentals that are pet friendly. Again, there have been numerous threads on this forum about bringing pets to the island so use the search feature as part of your research.

I'm not sure what you mean by - "we don't want to spend way too much on rentals". To be of any help in this area you have to give us a dollar range of what you think is "too much" for a rental property.

The best time to relocate is between NOW and the middle of December - businesses are gearing up for high season and are in the hiring mode. Within the next few weeks most tourist related jobs will be filled. Companies start laying off employees when the tourist industries starts to slow down in late spring or early summer. The worse time to come is in late summer through the end of October as that's considered LOW SEASON.

Good luck following your dream.

There is demand for truckers, because everything has to be transported. If you have hazardous credentials, so much the better. Not sure where to look for jobs, but I have seen some good ones on craigslist, and somebody I know applied from the States and got the job.

You will not be as tied to tourist season for employment. For LPN jobs, check http://www.rlshospital.org/Home.aspx. Also the territorial government has nursing needs in the departments of Health, Education (huge need for school nurses), Corrections, Human Services, etc. Also, home health care, home hospice, long term care, etc. You would definitely want to come down and look for yourself.

I can't help you with trucking except to say that it is my perception that the guys who drive big rigs here have no training. They drive those things like they are driving a Porsche at Watkins Glen. Again, it would be helpful if he could come down and network face-to-face.

Shia or Sunni, Sunni or Shia...

In all seriousness though, if your husband has a license which is federally regulated there is nothing equivalent here and he would forfeit his license when getting one here and if you ever went back have to go through process of getting those endorsements.

Thank you all for the helpful insite. My husband is wanting to keep his CDL License and not forfit them but hopefully he will find employment there. I've read so many forums and I'm still curious about the pros and cons between St. Thomas & St. Cruix. I'm looking at employment & rental housing as my main concerns and the prices of each island or are they about the same?

Also can I take my state side cell phone with me or are the islands considered international? What cell carrier do y'all use? Yes I'm from the south and we say y'all! Also as far as tv... Do y'all have direct, dish, cable?? Will my dish network transfer there?

Cellphone AT&T or Sprint. I use AT&T
Dish Network Yes. Much better channel selection than local cable. More HD.

i would think that the truck drivers dont make as much here? i could be wrong but that was my understanding from a friend who was a truck driver too. of course this was 8 years ago

STX is probably cheaper for rentals than STT and is larger and flatter but STT has better access to flights as well as to nearby islands such as St. John via a 20 - 30 minute ferry or car barge ride and to BVI islands via ferry and lots of small islands and cays by private boat for day trips, exploring. STX has Buck Island and is around 40 miles from STT. No ferry service presently between the 2 so plane or seaplane is the only means of travel back and forth.

Jobs may be easier to find STT.
Can't answer questions about truck driving but lots of large trucks on roads delivering goods coming in from container port, fuel, just not any logging ones.

It is not cheap to live in the VI.
Everything costs more, including groceries as everything imported.
Electricity is higher than stateside as well.

Renting with such a small pet should not be an issue but may include a pet deposit in addition to 1st, last and security deposit that majority of landlords require. Some require just 1st and deposit.

STT has more cruise ship activity and is busier in season between Nov. - end of April. Harder to find rentals during this time on STT, can't say for TAX as I live on STT but imagine it's about the same and rates for hotel and vacation - short term rentals more expensive on both STT and STX during this period.

We met a young couple fresh from the states, she is in heath care and is employed.

On the other hand the young man is a highly qualified truck operator, among other things, with many credentials and has applied at all of the trucking companies here on STX. He told me that he was told that he was too qualified for the positions that are available and to this day is unemployed.

In talking to them I get the impression that they will not be here long because of his inability to find employment.

CD

Obviously the weather is different for y'all than its here so how often and how bad are hurricanes or other weather problems? What all crazy stuff should I expect once I move there? And do most people drive, walk, or bike?

Almost everybody drives on all islands. Public transportation very limited. Few sidewalks. Hilly terrain St Thomas and St John. Narrow, winding roads.

Have you been to the Virgin Islands?

the weather for the most part is the same. 85 during the day. 75 at night with an 80% chance of rain.

the only time there is any variation is when we get a good system come through or if there is a hurricane/tropical storm

stx is flat on the west end and hilly on the east end. if you really really like walking....but seriously. most people drive

Most people drive.

Walking during the heat of the day gets old pretty fast unless you like sweating and dodging cars as they whiz by inches from your body and walking at night is down right dangerous - no sidewalks to speak of and poor to no lighting.

Biking isn't really a viable long term option - again no sidewalks or bike paths, many narrow twisty roads with plenty of potholes to avoid while being overtaken by speeding cars and what will you do when you encounter one of our ubiquitous rain showers while your are biking.

Budget for a car - you'll need it.

If you haven't already done so, check out topics "Moving to the States" and "why did you leave" for a good look at island living.

I think Neesey was testing out the idea and decided against it. This happens to quite a few posters here...