Moving to California... (Orange, Fortuna: apartment, rent, job market)

[Becky1984]

HI there

I am looking for some advice please.

I am currently studying a degree in Operating Department Practice here in the UK and am looking at moving with my O/H (no kids) to Orange County California after my course, so in the next three years (I am planning ahead). Once qualified I would be looking at getting a job as an Operating Room Technician paying on average $40,000 - $44,000 per annum.

I was wondering whether someone could let me know an average cost of living budget to give me an idea. We will certainly be renting, a one or two bedroom place, when we move there and whilst my O/H would like to live near the beach it will have to be affordable and I understand that it is quite an expensive place to live. I am thinking that an apartment would be the easiest option although I will stand correct if not.

Currently we live in the Maidstone area in Kent (south east England) and rent a 2 bed flat which costs us £625 ($964) in rent per month and our total outgoings amount to approximately £1400 ($2158) per month. We would be looking at similar costs although we would be able to stretch a little further as my salary would be higher once fully qualified.

Could you also suggest in your opinions the best areas to live and work within the area?

I am currently looking into the visa side of things and if anyone has any experience of this any advice would be gratefully received.

Thanks for your help.

Becky

[eureka1]

The "visa side of things" and the right-to- work paperwork is your FIRST concern. Without that, nothing happens. There is a recession going on and it's not as easy to be a "shortage category" as some medical folks used to be. You might check the US Dept of State website.
Sorry I can't wish you "good luck". There are just too many Americans who are out of work right now and seemingly, this is going to be a tough job market for the next several years.

[Brenda-by-the-sea]

Originally Posted by eureka1

The "visa side of things" and the right-to- work paperwork is your FIRST concern. Without that, nothing happens. There is a recession going on and it's not as easy to be a "shortage category" as some medical folks used to be. You might check the US Dept of State website.
Sorry I can't wish you "good luck". There are just too many Americans who are out of work right now and seemingly, this is going to be a tough job market for the next several years.

Very true. For years, employers of technical workers were suspected of hiring foreign nationals in order to undercut the prevailing local wages. Under policy new this year, employers who wish to hire foreigners under the H1B visa have to be able to prove that they have advertised the opening in local venues for several months and made a good faith attempt to fill the position with a domestic worker first. It can take several years to obtain an H1B these days even after you find an employer who's willing to sponsor you. If you want to be here in three years, you need to start NOW.

P.S. The H1B program has generated a lot of scam and spam on the internet. Don't trust any information that isn't posted directly on a URL with a ".state.gov" or "usa.gov" suffix.

[Becky1984]

Thank you both for your advice, I will start looking into it. I can understand your concerns with foreign workers as we have exactly the same problem here with European workers. Our government have just changed the immigration laws here but unfortunately too little too late for this country. They were all welcomed in with open arms putting enormous strain on our countries resources and it keeps going downhill.

Fortunately it has not really affected the role that I am doing as there is a shortage of qualified staff available (I just finished working in human resources for a Healthcare Company). I have been looking on hospital careers sites and each one that I have looked at seems to have a job vacancy going.

Fingers crossed things look up in the next three to four years.