moving to arizona from UK

U.S.A. Arizona

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Hi all arizona nurses :)

Thought I would introduce myself I am at present a UK RN but am in the process of moving to USA, Phoenix Arizona to be more precise. Had an interview with St Joesephs last monday and recieved a start date of January 2006 :uhoh3: I know it seems a long way of, but all the immigration paper workd takes forever :rolleyes: .

Moving to arizona with my husband and two teenage girls :coollook: we are really excited and wondered if there are any nurses out there who would like to tell me of their experiences with living and working in Arizona.

Now come on on't be shy :idea: if your lke me carn't stop me talking once I start :rotfl: .

looking forward to reading all about you :)

Bettyboop

Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

Hi, I'm from London, England but I just spent 8 months working as an ICU RN in Phoenix AZ. I absolutely loved Arizona...I think it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen and there are so many things to do and places to see. The hospital system takes a lot of getting used to after the UK, and I can't say I preferred it, but the people I worked with were brilliant. I lived virtually next door to St Josephs, although I didn't work there, and I can recommend a fabulous apartment complex within walking distance if you like. I lived there for 8 months and it was bliss. Just drop me a PM for details.

Phoenix heat is unreal. However, I just did a cost of living check (salary.com) between Phoenix and Flastaff and Flagstaff is 6.3% more expensive to live, plus Phoenix salaries are substantially higher. Aside from that I'd much rather live in Flagstaff; on the otherhand, it's only a couple of hours away from the valley.

Unfortunately, Bullhead City didn't register in the cost of living database.

Specializes in Critical Care and ED.

I actually found Phoenix ridiculously cheap after living in London. I lived in a lovely apartment for only $500 which in English money is about £300...you couldn't rent a room in London for that. My amenities were about $30 a month and I bought a brand new car within the first month, something I could never have done in England. The only thing that was expensive was the car insurance, but I think you'll find that all over the US. In England I paid about £35 a month, and in the US I pay about $300 a month. The overtime pay is great and I could basically do overtime whenever I wanted.

I didn't find the heat a problem either. In fact it was really pleasant, even at 110 degrees because it's so dry there. It got a bit sticky around monsoon season but other than that the climate is gorgeous.

Hi! Would be interested in checking out that apartment - am planning to go there in next few mos...Pls PM me when you get a min!

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi Anna,

Have you been given a move date yet, things must be getting close. What part of town are you going to be living in. Are you going to rent an appartment in a complex. Things have started to move a long for us, our boys are sooo excited, and they need new bikes but they are having to wait untill the move. Are you shipping all your goods out, have you found a company and what is the cost?

Speak soon Belinda

I wish things where moving on. Filed for Immigration last month and from a web site we checked they are only processing applications from Feb 04 :angryfire If we were able to go through Vermont we would be raring ahead as they are quite fast unfortunatley we have to go through CA but someone I know is going through Texas and they are only processing last yrs.

We will be shipping some stuff out but haven't yet got any prices but a friend who moved out a couple of yrs ago recommended the company he used in Manchester but I can't think of the name. We are hoping to put the house up for sale in the new yr and might have to find a rental to tide us over til we go.

Glad things have picked up for you.

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
I live in Bolton Gtr Manchester not far from Preston so it really is a small world.

Bettyboop

My dad is from Bolton and spent some time there in my youth, Had my ears pierced in Prestons of Bolton :)

Hi, I cyberknow someone who lives in Phoenix and evidently, the heat is unreal.

ALSO the price of living (food, utilities, gas....in Phoenix is through the roof, according to her. They moved to Phoenix from up North and said they never would have moved there had they known the cost of living. Me, I would have checked it out first but that's just me...)

I was aiming for Flagstaff but got offered Bullhead City, at least you are by the river and looks like Laughlin is pretty nice. Gotta start somewhere, LOL.

Just a little F.Y.I. for you. Bullhead City gets hotter than Phoenix, and because it is next to the river, it is humid as #$@*!!! Drug use is real high there also. It's a good place to go if your bartending, but I would look into it more before moving there. True that Phoenix is a sweat box for 3 months, but the rest of the year is beautiful. Summer months you stay inside. There is bad weather anywhere. If you know of a place where it is perfect all year round, let me know! I do want to relocate to cooler climates after graduation.

hi to you all, I was registered on this site last year while we were waiting for immigration, all done thru OGRADY PEYTON I sat the nclex in savannah in june 2003, had phase one approval from immigration in january 2004, had the embassy interview in june and flew to my new job on july 1st. it was all a long haul, I was going to arizona at st joes, but eventually interviewed for the usvi, its all very different, I would advise that you get over your fear of flying and go to atlanta to sit the n-clex as immigration does not proceed until you do, I coudnt wait to get through each stage, and didnt know that it would all take so long. but it is certainly worth it. we sold our house and had to rent for a year not knowing when we would leave the uk. good luck to you

hi to you all, I was registered on this site last year while we were waiting for immigration, all done thru OGRADY PEYTON I sat the nclex in savannah in june 2003, had phase one approval from immigration in january 2004, had the embassy interview in june and flew to my new job on july 1st. it was all a long haul, I was going to arizona at st joes, but eventually interviewed for the usvi, its all very different, I would advise that you get over your fear of flying and go to atlanta to sit the n-clex as immigration does not proceed until you do, I coudnt wait to get through each stage, and didnt know that it would all take so long. but it is certainly worth it. we sold our house and had to rent for a year not knowing when we would leave the uk. good luck to you
Hi Cariad

Your immigration process sounds very similat to ours - we are with Ogrady also and was wandering if I could ask a couple of questions?

  • My wife has passed the NCLEX (September 2004), Visa screen are processing the details at the moment (we know this because the UK board of nursing wrote to us stating they had been asked for her details). Once the Visascreen certifacate is issued, do Ogrady start offering positions?
  • The Texas processing centre has one of the longest waits, did you go through that centre, or can Ogrady use which ever centre they choose as they are the sponsor I believe (not the Hospital you will be working at).
  • Are you still with Ogrady, or did the hospital buy you out of the contract? - (more money for you!!??)
  • Really looking forward to getting out there, it's difficult during this period (after passing NCLEX) because you have absolutely no idea how long it will all take, and I am trying to line up work with my company when I get out there.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.
Hi Cariad

Your immigration process sounds very similat to ours - we are with Ogrady also and was wandering if I could ask a couple of questions?

  • My wife has passed the NCLEX (September 2004), Visa screen are processing the details at the moment (we know this because the UK board of nursing wrote to us stating they had been asked for her details). Once the Visascreen certifacate is issued, do Ogrady start offering positions?
  • The Texas processing centre has one of the longest waits, did you go through that centre, or can Ogrady use which ever centre they choose as they are the sponsor I believe (not the Hospital you will be working at).
  • Are you still with Ogrady, or did the hospital buy you out of the contract? - (more money for you!!??)
  • Really looking forward to getting out there, it's difficult during this period (after passing NCLEX) because you have absolutely no idea how long it will all take, and I am trying to line up work with my company when I get out there.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

I am not with OGrady but just thought I would answer the one about which centre they use. From what I have gathered depending on the state depends on which centre you go through. I am going to AZ and have to go through California, I know someone who is going to Florida and she has to go through Texas.

It is a pain waiting, not sure when to put house up for sale, not sure when to pack in work (employer being very good about this) and everything else, just feel like in limbo :o

:balloons:

Hi Cariad

Your immigration process sounds very similat to ours - we are with Ogrady also and was wandering if I could ask a couple of questions?

  • My wife has passed the NCLEX (September 2004), Visa screen are processing the details at the moment (we know this because the UK board of nursing wrote to us stating they had been asked for her details). Once the Visascreen certifacate is issued, do Ogrady start offering positions?
  • The Texas processing centre has one of the longest waits, did you go through that centre, or can Ogrady use which ever centre they choose as they are the sponsor I believe (not the Hospital you will be working at).
  • Are you still with Ogrady, or did the hospital buy you out of the contract? - (more money for you!!??)
  • Really looking forward to getting out there, it's difficult during this period (after passing NCLEX) because you have absolutely no idea how long it will all take, and I am trying to line up work with my company when I get out there.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated

Hello,

Have just joined this site and I am interested in hearing from others who wish to move to Phoenix.

I am also with OGP and passed the NCLEX in August.Like you I am waiting for the first phase of the immigration process to be completed.

Can't believe how long it will take but must be patient I suppose.

I also want to know when OGP start talking about positions. Some people appear to have had discussions before sitting the NCLEX and others don't. Have you heard any more yet?

I rang OGP this week and they don't expect phase one approval for me before Christmas.

Any info appreciated.

Good luck.

hi, you seem to be in the same position that we were in this time last year. right at this moment I have got a memory block about which state my visa screen went through, but I was under the impression that it depends on where you are coming from as to where they like to send them to be processed. I work with nurses from jamaica and theres went through new mexico. my phase one approval was in january and we were told then to plan to leave in august, but it could take less or more. after the approval you then have to wait for the health care providers certificate, only when you have all these can you get your embassy interview, everything is so slow without you knowing what is going on, and then all of a sudden, its all approved and you get a date for the interview and at the same time OGP start trying to get you a post, we wanted to go to the south east and were offered arizona, it all depends what hospitals want nurses when all your immigration stuff is complete. hardly anyone at my hospital asked to be placed there, theres only one other uk nurse and she is from london. after immigration approval, you have to start some online courses and completing them and getting all your vaccinationa up to date, if you dont do this, then it costs you at the embassy medical. we flew here on july 1st. so it was about 6 weeks earlier than told. feel free to ask anything as I tried to get info before we came and found it difficult.

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