But it's irrelevant to the OP whether America needs ten thousand new firefighters or has ten thousand too many. Similarly (previous post) it's irrelevant whether he gets his paramedic certification or not.

no offense either, but if my local council hired a foreign firefighter with 2 million people in ohio on the dole, it would be like committing political suicide.

Of all the countries in the English-speaking world, the greatest disparity between visiting and living in is to be found in America, as many here will tell you.

Where were you, your wife, your parents, and your wife's parents, born?

Wow! That's half the population of New Zealand!

Just in case you haven't seen it yet, here is the list of visa options for the US. http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Pulaski's_Ways%3A_How_to_Live_and_Work_in_the_USA

As you can see, neither a firefighter nor an electrician would qualify for any of those, so you'll need to think of a Plan B if you really want to move to the US.

Best of luck.

Not sure if you need to be a US citizen for a f fighters job, you might have a better chance in a smaller state than CA, openings come often as the retirement packages are so good many f fighters retire at an early age as they all have second jobs to work at, I think you have to pass a f fighter one course before even applying to get on the list.

The Fire Dept where I am is Volunteer, that does not mean money and goods do not change hands however.

You mean bribes ? Not where I live, knowing someone won't help either, the men can't even get their own kids on the job.

The flip side, many of those smaller towns, in those smaller states are all volunteer and the level of skill varies from a couple of properly trained people to the completely inept getting a volunteer position because they're popular in town.

One advantage though out in the sticks, being able to get fire fighter plates for your car. FIL hasn't been the town fire chief for 15 years now, but he still has his fire chief plates and hasn't gotten a speeding ticket because of them

Yes I can imagine volunteers haveing car plates, doubt you'd see paid guys having anything like that, some do have small stickers in the rear window, but never plates.

they don't need plates. the local dibble will know who the first responders are. They'll see them enough.

Around here and up in Maine, firefighter plates are needed for them to get the red lights on the grill, as they're volunteers, only a person or two man the fire truck.

Most drive straight out to a shout from where ever they're working in their own motor in the sticks, hence the need for the plates.

Free Gas for you and your Family is one of the biggies.

That's not bad going! Don't get that around here

Brush fires, earthquakes...