[Djuna]

I'm just looking for some support/advice/anything.

I am a New Zealand RN who has been working in Australia for just over 3 years. I am married to an American who wanted to go home so we started the whole process a year ago.

I passed NCLEX and then we found out DH had to go back to the US to get a job so he could sponsor me, as he has no family who could do this. So he leaves in 3 weeks, back to Maine and I will continue working while we wait for my visa to be issued.

I just feel so alone in this whole immigrating process. I realise that it's different for me because I don't have to wait for retrogression and all that, but moving so far away from home is just scary.

The ED position I was hoping for couldn't be held for me because I wasn't sure when I was arriving, so I have to start applying for jobs again. The uncertainty of not knowing when or where I can get a job is unsettling.

Anyway, I know there are quite a few English RNs who have moved to the US and I just wanted some reassurance that all will be well. Or that emigrating is just stressful for everyone and it passes as you settle down in your new country. Or being separated from your husband is hard but you cope.

Thanks in advance for anything you have to offer, I do appreciate it.

~D

[Sueilp]

Hi, sorry to hear of your story.
I have been in the USA for just over 2 years now from the UK and it is a stressful time getting over here and also when you first arrive.....so I understand where you are coming from there.
I dont doubt for a minute you will have any trouble getting a job...most hospitals are always looking for good nurses but it is stressful wondering if the hosptial you apply for is a good hospital or not...that is really difficult. i changed jobs after 5 months of being here becuase the hospital didnt do what they promised to do before we came out. However i did make a lot of friends there and keep in touch with them too.

I do feel settled now and am very happy as are my Husband and my 2 boys...so i dont regret it for a moment but boy it was stressful for a long while....

I never had to be seperated from any of my family during the process so i cant relate to you being away from your Husband but i do empathise with you...

if you need any support just PM me!

(())

[madwife2002]

Hi

You know when you moved to Austrailia you probably made the biggest move of your life, so in a way you have already experienced a huge change.
Each of us has a different experience to share I was only in the country for 8 weeks when we had a car accident so I took a little longer to settle in some ways because I was injured I wanted to return to my own country and lick my wounds, but I didnt and that was probably the hardest time for me. I didnt expect homesickness and was shocked when I felt a desperate urging to go home and have to rationalise my thoughts.
I did settle and I now have a good life, I am happy and dont regret the move.

I have just had surgery and was quite sick before hand-the difference 26 months on is that I did want to go home but to my AZ home I have no urge no compulsion and no desire to return to the UK. I consider AZ my home. I have excellent family,friends and co-workers. My hospital admission was second to none and I cannot complain.

I miss certain foods but even now the desire for them is no longer as strong, I can find most things here the main item being cadbury I home make anything else we miss, even Xmas puddings I made this year.

I know a lot of nurses on here have been through my journey with me on here, so know how I struggled but I came through and so will you. Good luck

[scattycarrot]

My situation is different from yours, in that , I have moved all my life really and am used to living in new places so I tend to adjust to that part of it quite well. Having said that, its still NEVER easy and it takes a while to adjust to a new enviroment and culture, but adjust you will. Especially, with a husband by your side who is from the area in which you will be living. You will have a ready made family and probably, some friends. Granted, they are his family and his friends but I am sure they will soon become your friends too and once you get yourself settled, you will soon make your own lifes for yourselves. It won't be what your used to and change can be hard, but that doens't mean its not going to be good. You will be homesick (I know I miss the UK terribly at times) but thats only to be expected. You just need to keep looking forward and focus on the fact that you and your husband are making your own future together.
As for being away from your husband, THAT i can understand. My husband is US Navy and is away on deployment right now and is going to miss the birth of our first child unfortantly. And, its a crappy situation but you cope and you get through the time apart. It will go alot more quickly than you think it will. And, we are lucky in this day and age, as we have email available to us. Make sure you get a Skype account so you can see each other every day and talk for free! My hubbie and I have only been able to Skype twice since he has been gone but it makes ALL the difference in the world!
As for the visa, the process is slow but it will happen! Its a very frustrating system but the wheels of the system are turning...just slowly. Have you filed all your paper work???

[Djuna]

Thank you all for your kind support.

All my paperwork is filed, the only thing I am waiting on is for my husband to return to the US and get a job and then he can provide US Immigration with the necessary paperwork to prove he can support me.

Once that is completed I will be issued with a visa, so we are hoping we will only be away from each other for 8 weeks or so.

I am still in the process of applying for jobs. My DH wants us to live in Vermont so that's where I will be looking.

I guess it was easier coming to Australia because I came alone and was provided with fully furnished accommodation while I was on contract. Although Australia differs in many ways from New Zealand, it is only a 3 hour plane ride back home, whereas Vermont is really on the other side of the world.

I have to say though, I am really looking forward to starting a new life and having a positive attitude about something makes it easier to cope with the hard aspects.

It's nice to know others have been in the same boat and understand the mixed emotions.

[madwife2002]

Originally Posted by Djuna

Thank you all for your kind support.

All my paperwork is filed, the only thing I am waiting on is for my husband to return to the US and get a job and then he can provide US Immigration with the necessary paperwork to prove he can support me.

Once that is completed I will be issued with a visa, so we are hoping we will only be away from each other for 8 weeks or so.

I am still in the process of applying for jobs. My DH wants us to live in Vermont so that's where I will be looking.

I guess it was easier coming to Australia because I came alone and was provided with fully furnished accommodation while I was on contract. Although Australia differs in many ways from New Zealand, it is only a 3 hour plane ride back home, whereas Vermont is really on the other side of the world.

I have to say though, I am really looking forward to starting a new life and having a positive attitude about something makes it easier to cope with the hard aspects.

It's nice to know others have been in the same boat and understand the mixed emotions.

Totally understand

[cariad]

even although its a stressful time for you, you are lucky to have an american spouse, that way you become eligible for a visa without going through a long drawn out retrogressed immigration process.
goodluck with your job hunting and I hope you like vermont, it sounds a nice place.

[Djuna]

I just wanted to update you all on progress. My husband left for the US almost 3 weeks ago, still no job and thus no visa.

I have no idea when anything will happen so I'm biding my time half way across the world. Who would have thought that even being married to a US citizen would make things so difficult?

The hospital I had lined up in Vermont won't telephone interview me because they don't know when I'll be available to start work.

Such a stressful experience all around. I wish he had of liked living in Australia, things were so much easier.

Anyway, I'm trying to stay positive.

[cariad]

stay positive and keep us updated with your progress. we will be here to support you.

[madwife2002]

It must be very difficult for you missing your husband so much