Cost of living in US? (From an Aussie perspective)

[iraasuup]

Ok, I'm gonna try and answer everyones questions in this one post. So listen closely lol

The reason I chose 500 USD a week is because we're pretty much loving on 600ish AUD a week here (since only I am working). I chose that figure as an absolute bare minimum. If we go over to the US, the plan is we would both be working. So I guess you could probably double that amount. We would still plan on have little or no mortgage/rent. So best case scenario.. that 1000ish USD a week would be to cover things like food, gas, electricity, day-to-day bills, general living costs.

As for the green card thing: I'm not entirely sure what Visa we would go on yet. From my research there appears to be a few options. There's also the green card lottery (j/k- but seriously it exists..it's just risky). I have heard sometimes it's easy to just get temporary working visas and then organise upgrading/extentions etc once you're in your desired country.

I don't think there's any particular jobs - although having skills that are in shortage is beneficial. If you look it up online, it tells you all the visas available and the criteria you need to meet to be eligible to receive one. There's also a new visa out ONLY for Aussie's who want to immigrate to the USA. It is renewable without leaving the country, although there are a few hoops to jump through to get that one.

My idea at this stage (and I say idea because I haven't yet nutted it all out, I'm not sure entirely what is required - still research to do), but I work for a company here that has distribution branches in the US. Many visas require you to have work with a US employer. So my thought is to find out if there's a way I can work for the US branch of the company I am with here, then work out the best way to go about it. If one of us has work with a US employer - the spouse can come too.

If all else fails you can get a working visa to work at Camp America, or do a TESOL course and teach English...they take anyone who speaks English as their native tongue...once you have that you can go anywhere. Although you have to complete the TESOL course here before you leave- and get your accreditation. You usually have to commit to 6-12 months in one spot. The company pays for your flights, medicals, accommodation etc, all you gotta do is buy food while you're there. It's a great stepping stone to SAVE funds while you're traveling -and as a bonus gives you extra skill that may help meet some criteria for other Visas.

So you see, there are endless options, you just gotta do A LOT of research, and figure out what's best for you.

Hope that helps...

[godsbluesman]

Originally Posted by iraasuup

Ok, I'm gonna try and answer everyones questions in this one post. So listen closely lol

The reason I chose 500 USD a week is because we're pretty much loving on 600ish AUD a week here (since only I am working). I chose that figure as an absolute bare minimum. If we go over to the US, the plan is we would both be working. So I guess you could probably double that amount. We would still plan on have little or no mortgage/rent. So best case scenario.. that 1000ish USD a week would be to cover things like food, gas, electricity, day-to-day bills, general living costs.

As for the green card thing: I'm not entirely sure what Visa we would go on yet. From my research there appears to be a few options. There's also the green card lottery (j/k- but seriously it exists..it's just risky). I have heard sometimes it's easy to just get temporary working visas and then organise upgrading/extentions etc once you're in your desired country.

I don't think there's any particular jobs - although having skills that are in shortage is beneficial. If you look it up online, it tells you all the visas available and the criteria you need to meet to be eligible to receive one. There's also a new visa out ONLY for Aussie's who want to immigrate to the USA. It is renewable without leaving the country, although there are a few hoops to jump through to get that one. still I would ask what you go for a living-right now it is an employer's market here-and many out of work will work for less than you are possibly expecting..as i said i only am concerned for your well being once here!

My idea at this stage (and I say idea because I haven't yet nutted it all out, I'm not sure entirely what is required - still research to do), but I work for a company here that has distribution branches in the US. Many visas require you to have work with a US employer. So my thought is to find out if there's a way I can work for the US branch of the company I am with here, then work out the best way to go about it. If one of us has work with a US employer - the spouse can come too.

If all else fails you can get a working visa to work at Camp America, or do a TESOL course and teach English...they take anyone who speaks English as their native tongue...once you have that you can go anywhere. Although you have to complete the TESOL course here before you leave- and get your accreditation. You usually have to commit to 6-12 months in one spot. The company pays for your flights, medicals, accommodation etc, all you gotta do is buy food while you're there. It's a great stepping stone to SAVE funds while you're traveling -and as a bonus gives you extra skill that may help meet some criteria for other Visas.

So you see, there are endless options, you just gotta do A LOT of research, and figure out what's best for you.

Hope that helps...

Ok,Then-4k is a much more viable income kevel for the us-mine wasnt a quesy=tion per se as much as concern for your well being here-god will move if it is His Will,We know this!

$2000.00/mo. is a decent wage where I live, but you can see the end of the world from here.

[BananaPie]

iraasuup, as for teaching in the US, all grade school teachers (K-12) require a teacher's licence issued by the state you'd be teaching in. That lic. is granted by passing 4-5 hr. long tests and a BA or BA degree is required.

A teacher's lic. is not required to teach at the college level, yet a BA or BS degree is required to teach part-time or a Master degree is required to teach full-time.

Also, neither a teacher's lic. nor a college degree is not required to work as a substitute teacher, but you can only work a max of 70 days for the same school in one school year. To stay employed full-time, you would need to work for several school districts. The wages for sub. teachers is quite low, US$60 to US$85 per diem (7 hours work) depending on the school district.

As for wait-your-turn on the visa que, it can be 7, 14, 18 or more years before your number comes up. Aussies are not the only ones wanting a visa

I think you're better off to get on a visa for Australians, or find a US employer (a hospital, or phone company, for example) willing to sponser you with a job. The bigger cities have more employers, but yes, higher crime rates go with the territory.

Tennessee is a relatively cheap state to live in. Alabama would also be a cheap state to live in, South Dakota, North Dakota.

Avoid California, New York, Florida. Granted Florida has no state income tax, but we make up for it by making housing expensive. Unless you plan on living in an apartment, you wouldn't want to move here. I think the job market is bad too.

About the crime thing, every big city will have a high crime rate compared to other smaller cities. That would be because there are more people there to commit crimes. Nashville is not that horrible a place. None of my friends who live there have ever complained about it.

[iraasuup]

Originally Posted by BananaPie

iraasuup, as for teaching in the US, all grade school teachers (K-12) require a teacher's licence issued by the state you'd be teaching in. That lic. is granted by passing 4-5 hr. long tests and a BA or BA degree is required.

A teacher's lic. is not required to teach at the college level, yet a BA or BS degree is required to teach part-time or a Master degree is required to teach full-time.

Also, neither a teacher's lic. nor a college degree is not required to work as a substitute teacher, but you can only work a max of 70 days for the same school in one school year. To stay employed full-time, you would need to work for several school districts. The wages for sub. teachers is quite low, US$60 to US$85 per diem (7 hours work) depending on the school district.

As for wait-your-turn on the visa que, it can be 7, 14, 18 or more years before your number comes up. Aussies are not the only ones wanting a visa

I think you're better off to get on a visa for Australians, or find a US employer (a hospital, or phone company, for example) willing to sponser you with a job. The bigger cities have more employers, but yes, higher crime rates go with the territory.

I'm not referring to teaching as in school teaching..but thanks anyway. I'm mos certainly NOT a teacher. I'd kill the kids lol.

[iraasuup]

Originally Posted by lil-rush

Tennessee is a relatively cheap state to live in. Alabama would also be a cheap state to live in, South Dakota, North Dakota.

Avoid California, New York, Florida. Granted Florida has no state income tax, but we make up for it by making housing expensive. Unless you plan on living in an apartment, you wouldn't want to move here. I think the job market is bad too.

About the crime thing, every big city will have a high crime rate compared to other smaller cities. That would be because there are more people there to commit crimes. Nashville is not that horrible a place. None of my friends who live there have ever complained about it.

Thanks so much, that's helpful. I like Tennessee, haven't thought of Alabama, but will look into it and the others you mentioned.
I will keep you all posted.

You do NOT want to live in Charlotte, NC. If I was you, you should move to Florida somewhere because it is a beautiful place. From what I have seen it is a very clean place, unlike Charlotte.

Originally Posted by godisdaman

You do NOT want to live in Charlotte, NC. If I was you, you should move to Florida somewhere because it is a beautiful place. From what I have seen it is a very clean place, unlike Charlotte.

I don't know that we have many job opportunities here in FL. We also just had the oil spill, which will hurt our economy, and probably drive up prices on things.

Speaking of, only the panhandle area(that would be Panama City Beach all the way over to Pensacola) has beaches affected by the oil spill. It is still safe to vacation to the rest of FL. Please come and support our economy.

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