British Expats

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-   -   Scottish Couple moving to Fresno (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/scottish-couple-moving-fresno-925913/)

laura257 Jun 21st 2019 7:18 pm

Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Hi guys!
My husband and I are moving to Fresno in a few months. Just looking for any general advice about moving to the states. I am a nurse practitioner here in the UK and understand my registration will be very challenging to convert and I probably won’t be able to work as a nurse, so also looking for any advice regarding entry level jobs in a healthcare setting or one that require a short course to do. I’ve been looking at phlebotomy courses.

And also if there are any brits in Fresno that would be keen to meet up at all that would be amazing!

Any advice appreciated.

Jerseygirl Jun 21st 2019 7:21 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Welcome to BE.

First of all what visa is your husband’s company applying for? This will determine whether you will be authorized to work or not.

laura257 Jun 21st 2019 7:35 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
I’m not sure of the exact visa but I will be able to work, that’s one of our stipulations. However I believe it takes 12 weeks after I register in the US for me to get a work permit.

Thanks!

Pulaski Jun 21st 2019 7:45 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by laura257 (Post 12701171)
I’m not sure of the exact visa ...

OK, so is he being transferred by his employer within the company?

Sorry to keep asking but BE members are reluctant to invest a lot of time in posting advice when we have been burned in the past and people either aren't permitted to work, or worse, don't even move in the end.

A transfer would imply an L-1, with an L-2 for you, or perhaps an E-2, within an E-2 for you. You can work on both an L-2 and an E-2 so long as you have an EAD (Employment Authorization Document, which takes about 12 weeks, as you apparently already know - but bear in mind the 12 weeks isn't fixed, it's just an estimate of how long it takes, and sometimes it takes four or five months. :nod:

laura257 Jun 21st 2019 7:52 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Yes he’s being transferred within his current company.

So sorry I’m a bit naive with all the different visas but as his company and their lawyers are sorting it all I’m a bit oblivious 🙈 Sounds like we’ll be going on one of those visas... someone else in his company has already been transferred and her husband is now able to work. But as you say it’s taken a few months for that to go through, which I’m aware will be the case for me and I’m prepared for that.

Thanks!

civilservant Jun 21st 2019 9:22 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Can always do a Certified Nursing Assistant position, usually a few weeks training to get certified. Pretty low wage though.

petitefrancaise Jun 22nd 2019 2:50 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
I think we've had a few nurses on the forum. Why not post a separate thread asking specifically about that with "nurse moving from UK to USA" as a title to get their interest

Jerseygirl Jun 22nd 2019 2:53 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
We also have a forum for nurses.,,

https://britishexpats.com/forum/nurs...ccupations-72/

Pulaski Jun 22nd 2019 2:58 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by civilservant (Post 12701224)
Can always do a Certified Nursing Assistant position, usually a few weeks training to get certified. Pretty low wage though.

I doubt a phlebotomist would get any more. I know someone who went into that field, having previously worked as a "child care professional", which I don't think was a role she was massively overqualified for, or indeed overqualified for at all.

Giantaxe Jun 22nd 2019 4:47 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Have you been to Fresno? It would be quite a culture shock moving there from the UK.

Intrigued to know what kind of company is based both there and in the UK.

laura257 Jun 22nd 2019 6:24 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 
Thanks for everyone’s replies so far 😊
I have briefly looked into certified nursing assistant courses too, definitely an option to look at when we get there.
My husband is there this week for the first time, he’s stopped for the night in Livermore on the way from San Francisco. He grew up in the Middle East and says it’s like a greener Oman! I haven’t been yet, I’m visiting next month. In what way is it going to be a big culture shock? He works for an American company that makes food production equipment and has offices internationally. His new office will be in Madera.

Thanks!

Cape Blue Jun 22nd 2019 10:54 am

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by laura257 (Post 12701315)
Thanks for everyone’s replies so far 😊
I have briefly looked into certified nursing assistant courses too, definitely an option to look at when we get there.
My husband is there this week for the first time, he’s stopped for the night in Livermore on the way from San Francisco. He grew up in the Middle East and says it’s like a greener Oman! I haven’t been yet, I’m visiting next month. In what way is it going to be a big culture shock? He works for an American company that makes food production equipment and has offices internationally. His new office will be in Madera.

Thanks!

The Central Valley can be a bit redneck, some parts of it are quite poor, but doubtless it will be fine.

Pulaski Jun 22nd 2019 1:57 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by Cape Blue (Post 12701377)
The Central Valley can be a bit redneck, some parts of it are quite poor, but doubtless it will be fine.

Most of America, beyond the suburbs of large cities, is "a bit redneck", with bits, or rather more than "bits" which are "a bit poor" whether you're in Oregon or Florida, California or Maine, or anywhere in between, or indeed especially the bits in between. And yes, they are just fine. :)

Giantaxe Jun 22nd 2019 4:51 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by laura257 (Post 12701315)
Thanks for everyone’s replies so far � ����
I have briefly looked into certified nursing assistant courses too, definitely an option to look at when we get there.
My husband is there this week for the first time, he’s stopped for the night in Livermore on the way from San Francisco. He grew up in the Middle East and says it’s like a greener Oman! I haven’t been yet, I’m visiting next month. In what way is it going to be a big culture shock? He works for an American company that makes food production equipment and has offices internationally. His new office will be in Madera.

The Central Valley is extremely hot for many months, although humidity is very low. The air quality is pretty much the worst in California because the valley is a huge bowl with nowhere for the pollution to escape. Culturally it's a mixture of long time residents who tend to be very conservative ("red neck", if you like...) and farm workers who are largely, but not completely, Hispanic. Crime rate is considerably above average for cities of its size. It's become a sprawling area that doesn't have much character. On the plus side, it's within close range of the Sierra Nevada, a quite magnificent mountain range if you're into hiking/skiing/snow shoeing etc.

If your husband is going to be working in Madera, I would give thought to living in Merced instead. It's a much smaller place, but houses a small University of California campus.

TexanScot Jun 24th 2019 1:23 pm

Re: Scottish Couple moving to Fresno
 

Originally Posted by laura257 (Post 12701315)
I’m visiting next month. In what way is it going to be a big culture shock?

It's referred to as the "armpit of California".

See when you think of California and think of Los Angeles, San Francisco, golden beaches, great surfing and everything that you saw on Berverly Hills 90210?

Yeah that's not Fresno, not in the slightest.


He works for an American company that makes food production equipment and has offices internationally.
That figures - the Central Valley has industrial agriculture on a scale that I've rarely seen anywhere else.

It's hot, humid, close-knit, conservative and a million miles away from all the stereotypes of the State - I've had people from Fresno tell me not to judge California by what San Francisco is like, with pained expressions on their faces.

Great Mexican food, that's for sure.


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