Petitioned by a New York Employer

dhel28 · Oct 28, 2008

Housing is just a temporary issue and should not be a big problem. Besides, I don't intend to stay in my employer's housing when I arrive because I will be bringing my husband and daughter. So that is not really a problem. As for work, I don't intend to start work immediately when I arrive. Infact I intend to ask the employer to give me a a month before I start work so I can still visit friends and relatives if the employer can wait. It is also in our contract that there could be a brief period between arriving to the US and starting work to allow for us to finish some trainings and get certifications like CPR and to allow us to get ourselves settled before starting work. The employer did not promise work immediately upon arrival. In fact they would not tell me now what facility I will be working since they have to wait for NVC to give me an interview sched so they can estimate when I will be able to start work and which facility will be needing nurses when the time comes.
The reason I started this thread is to find out if somebody here has the same employer so we may compare PD and status of our cases and who knows we might be on the same airplane going to the U.S. when our time comes. To other nurses, don't be discouraged by reports of poor housing as this is only temporary. Remember...this is free housing. If you stayed in a dormitory during your college days, then you should be used to having a lot of people in one room and bathroom so this should not really be an issue for you. You can find a place of your own if you don't like their housing arrangements specially if you are bringing your family. You have to think about your future not just the few months of arrival. Expect your first few months in the US to be difficult as this is a time for adjustment. No pain, no gain...

We have the same mentality when my wife went to NY. We thought that since it will just "a few months" of "inconvenience". I am also afraid for you that your employer is not telling where will you be working.I just hope that you have enough means to support yourself and your family during "in the first few months". I agree with you when you say you have to think about your future and not just the few months of arrival. We are still paying the price of our "first few months" with my wife NY employer. Looking back, if we opted a different employer, if we only double check the employment and housing condition, we could have started differently and avoided the "pain".

To everybody - Since this topic is very close to me and until now I am still paying the loan that we had just to bailout my wife from her employer in NY, I believe that it's my responsibility to share my experience.

The analogy of a dormitory during college days is not a good picture of the housing condition where my wife used to live. Dormitory living, 7-8 person in a room is the "norm" in the phil and it's not "illegal". Living in a room ,built for 1 person, with 4 other people with no heater in a NY winter nights is just downright illegal.And this is just one of the many problems

You have a choice here...this is not just pain, it will be torture. :madface:

dhel28 · Oct 28, 2008

Hi dhel28, could you PM me which agency? and what the problem was?

send you a pm. it's worst than what it seems.

suzanne4, RN · Oct 28, 2008

And please do not think that I am trying to be mean, but after being on this site for almost five years I have seen many things happen that many are probably not aware of what has been happening thru the years.

And I saw and remember quite well what the above poster went thru and is still going thru. Things are usually not what was promised to you and most of the time the recruiter has no say in anything, if it is not written in your original contract, then it does not exist.

In the US, there are limits as to how many people can live in one apt, you cannot have a studio apt and keep 8 cats in there, that would not be permitted. But one of these agencies thought noting of keeping 8 adult men in one studio apt and without paying for the heat either for the apt. They each had to get their own space heater.

Things are going to be about as different as they possibly can from what you are used to and you need to go into the situation with very open eyes, not thinking that you can just put up with something for several months and then things will be better.

And are you aware that most of the apts are going to charge you deposit and first and last months rent before they will permit you to move in and that can be over $5000 US as a start and does not include utilities or furniture. Things are not what they used to be here by any stretch of the imagination.

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

My daughter lives in NYC, it was a very difficult process to get an apartment.

One way is to employ a broker their fee is very high up to 3 months rent. The regular fees like my daughter had to pay. So for many this is a very high price to pay to find an apartment.

My daughter was lucky to find a one bedroom which she shares with a room mate.

You have to show income 9 times the rent. She had to put down 4 months rent and a security deposit. For her apartment it close ten thousand dollars she had to put upfront, this way due to her age and no credit. I had to co-sign.

There are many housing laws to bring your spouse and child you will have to pay for a two bedroom apartment. This would raise all the fees you have to pay.

May of her class mates choose to find an apartment without a doorman, her classmates never get their mail or packages. My daughter lives in a secure building with 24 hour security.

Living NYC is almost double in costs ( groceries, transportation, clothes) from my home state of MA.

Check out the New york boards, the new grads are having a hard time finding jobs.

dhel28 · Oct 28, 2008

There are things we do in the Philippines that is "okay"- crowded dormitory housing, reckless drivers, hospitals asking volunteers to pay so they can volunteer (irony dont you think?), urinating in the streets, and the list go on. Are these the same reasons why we are looking a life outside Philippines? So we can provide a better life for ourselves and our family?

We have a choice even if we have less options. Dont fall to greedy agencies and employers who take advantage of people. There are a lot of good employers out there. :madface:

dhel28 · Oct 28, 2008

My daughter lives in NYC, it was a very difficult process to get an apartment.
One way is to employ a broker their fee is very high up to 3 months rent. The regular fees like my daughter had to pay. So for many this is a very high price to pay to find an apartment.
My daughter was lucky to find a one bedroom which she shares with a room mate.
You have to show income 9 times the rent. She had to put down 4 months rent and a security deposit. For her apartment it close ten thousand dollars she had to put upfront, this way due to her age and no credit. I had to co-sign.
There are many housing laws to bring your spouse and child you will have to pay for a two bedroom apartment. This would raise all the fees you have to pay.
May of her class mates choose to find an apartment without a doorman, her classmates never get their mail or packages. My daughter lives in a secure building with 24 hour security.
Living NYC is almost double in costs ( groceries, transportation, clothes) from my home state of MA.
Check out the New york boards, the new grads are having a hard time finding jobs.

My wife agency provided a "shelter" for 3 months until they can find her a job. With or without a job, she needs to look for her own house/apt. She have to stay in a 1 room divided by 3 partition to house 4 people. No heater, no hot water, and you have to take a narrow staircase going to the 3rd floor. It's in the middle of Harlem. If she stays more than 3 months, even if her agency cannot find her a job, she needs to pay them.

Thinking about it again just makes me furious!

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Oct 28, 2008

I thought you had to have employment before you came over to the USA? I hope she is getting paid.

How is your wife going to find an apartment without the money for a deposit or co signer willing to sign?

Why doesn't she report the agency to board of public health? Sounds like a very bad situation.

suzanne4, RN · Oct 29, 2008

This happened a couple of years ago and the agency was reported.

Yes, they are supposed to guarantee that one has work, and that is the issue. They are supposed to be paying the nurse even if there is no work for them since they are their employee and this is what they stated in writing to the US government.

dhel28 · Oct 29, 2008

I thought you had to have employment before you came over to the USA? I hope she is getting paid.
How is your wife going to find an apartment without the money for a deposit or co signer willing to sign?
Why doesn't she report the agency to board of public health? Sounds like a very bad situation.

This happened a couple of years ago but I heard the agency is being active in recruiting again and raising the termination of contract to $45,000.

When the agency was recruiting in Philippines, they were really nice. They check you religiously thru email and phone calls. They paint a very good picture. They promised good accomodation, guaranteed jobs and they will put you in the best NY hospitals. They even provided a job offer to show during the consular interview on how much you get paid ,they will shoulder "everything" to make you comfortable and have an easy transition. As soon as my wife arrived, the one who picked her up in the airport warned her about the place. She told her to be careful and dont stay out late because the area is not safe. If you dont need to get out of the apt, dont. My wife to endure the sub par housing accomodation, they could not find her a job. They ask her if she can work as an aide until they can find her an RN job.

I came here via spousal visa a couple of years ago and have to go to CA where my parents is living because my wife cant afford to support us. I have to ask my Aunt for a loan just to bailout my wife, so she can come here in CA. Three years after, Im still paying the loan. My life is better now but we could have been more careful choosing an agency then.

I blame our mentality before...any agency is okay as long as they gave as a ticket to the US, even if it means selling our souls to the devil (agency). Again, even if you have less options, you still have a choice.

trezce · Nov 24, 2008

hi agp_ph

I'm sorry I can't yet send a PM so if you want to, you can pm me your email add, I'm online right now

confuzhn · Dec 7, 2008

agp_ph, can u please PM me the name of the agency? thankyou.