Starting from scratch

[joanamber 16]

Is it really hard to start a life in America from scratch? From your experiences, how long did it take for you to rent an apartment, get a car, etc. I have a 6yo kid and my husband is an undergrad so I'm not sure what kind of job and work time can we do to work to save for our finances.

I am good at English and I guess I can do office jobs and the like.

Want to learn from your experiences from starting with nothing esp with kids with you. Was it really that hard? I'm really getting discouraged.

I hope you can share some tips and experiences. Thank you!

[TBoneTX 47,605]

It depends.

Start planning way ahead of time. Make lists of goals, with alternative plans depending on events in life and the immigration process. Be resolute, but be flexible.

If you're already here, see this thread for ideas on how to make yourself known:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/449151-the-steveandtiff-stupremacy/page-60#entry6471637

Edited July 20, 2016 by TBoneTX

[mallafri76 1,012]

It depends on your circumstances, your previous work experience, financial resources etc. I rented an apartment while still in my home country, I purely went off of Internet reviews. Ordered furniture online and had them delivered. Changed my CV into an American resume before moving over.

Took me about a month to fully furnish my apartment, buy a car, get my driver's license (30 day residency requirement in Texas) and get a job I like. What helped me integrate so fast was the fact that I did a lot of planning and research BEFORE immigrating. I had a plan before even moving over and then I stuck to it once I was over in the US.

Office jobs can be hard to get with no US experience. If your goal is to earn money and get some US experience, focus on service jobs instead. Hotels, restaurants and stores are always looking for people with language skills and great personality. They're also flexible in hours, which helps when you have a kid.

[TBoneTX 47,605]

What helped me integrate so fast was the fact that I did a lot of planning and research BEFORE immigrating. I had a plan before even moving over and then I stuck to it once I was over in the US.

This is absolutely how every prospective immigrant should approach things -- have a plan, and hit the ground running. However, have contingency plans in mind: "If this happens, I should then do this or this," "If this aspect of things is delayed, I can do this and this in the meantime," etc.