Starting Life/Work in US - Tips and Stories

[snowflakes]

hi khat! what is LPR?

what if hindi bibigyan ng insurance ang fiance ko? cheaper ba na kumuha kami ng sariling insurance before ako manganak?

dapat pala meron ka at least 1M peso kung kayo talaga magbabayad.

san state punta nyo sis? im here in east coast and pag walang insurance at nangangak ka or buntis ka automatic na medicaid yun. meaning may mga doctors and hospital na affiliated ng medicaid. sobrang mahal ng insurance dito sis kung hinde sagot ng employer ng hubby mo, mamumulubi kayo sa insurance pa lang. isa pa tama isa natin sis, kawawa ka pag wala kang katulong. ako nga wala ko pamilya, relatives and friends dito at kakapanganak ko pa lang. kaya eto dusa ko. ni hinde ko din maasahan si hubby kase he's working. ang hirap talaga. so think about it. career or family ba ang ipupunta nyo dito. mahirap pagsabayin sis. and i dont think pwede mo isama yaya mo. marami naman kase nanny dito at daycare na pwede mong puntahan. pero iba pa rin pag ikaw nag alaga sa baby mo.

[morbiedoll]

Hiring a nanny  will be a long and pricey process  my relatives thought of it din, but the lawyer said that they basically have to prove that their nanny can do something special that nannies here in the US can't. With the unemployment rate in the US creeping up, the government just can't afford to give local jobs to foreigners.

RE: Insurance, if you get one personally it's going to be expensive. We inquired once for my tita, but it's just damn expensive. What you do is go to the County hospital, explain that you just got to the country and you are unemployed bring your SSN and greencard id. They'll give you sort of like an insurance who can't afford it yet. They'll give you your healthcare card and you just present it to the hospital when you have an emergency (County hospitals lang ha not private ones). My younger cousins got themselves free everything when their parents did not have a job yet.

Once you get yourself a job (with Insurance benefits) you go to the county and surrender the healthcare card --- they will find out that you have a job thru your ssn anyway. hehe.

Most Fulltime jobs have medical/dental benefits anyway -- except registry jobs ata. Part time jobs and per diem jobs, not so much.

[cherry*coke]

Hi sissies! I'm currently pregnant and I'm a little worried about the possible hospital bills. We have insurance, but we would still probably pay something out of our pocket. Is it possible na I apply kO as medicaid yung remainder ng bill? Or once may insurance ka Hindi kana qualified as medicaid? it would be a big help kasi kung wala name kami babayaran, kasi wala naman ako magiging income while on maternity leave. Thanks!

And may nakapag try naba mag apply sa state ng temporary disability so you still get compensation while on maternity leave? Thanks again.

[mom_G]

^I don't think you will qualify for medicaid if you currently have medical insurance.  The eligibility criteria depend on the state where you live but usually, your annual family income should be below a certain amount.  You can use short-term disability while you are on maternity leave but you should enroll during the regular enrollment period for benefits in your company (for 2013, this should have been done end of 2012).  Ask your employer's benefits coordinator about it anyway.  Have a safe pregnancy!

[cherry*coke]

^thanks sis. Yeah the enrollment was held last year. And I didn't enroll in any sort of benefits cause under nako sa insurance in hubby. I kind of regret it kasi diko naman naisip that time na pwede ako mabuntis anytime. But I read somewhere that the state offer benefits for temporary disability, but I wasn't sure about it. So I thought I'd ask. Thanks again!

[snowflakes]

Kapag hmo insurance mo or galing sa employer usually may $500 copay pag nanganak ka. Medicaid lang talaga ang no fee at all. If mababa salary range ng asawa mo malay mo mag qualify ka sa medicaid. Try mo mag inquire.

[morbiedoll]

Hi sissies! I'm currently pregnant and I'm a little worried about the possible hospital bills. We have insurance, but we would still probably pay something out of our pocket. Is it possible na I apply kO as medicaid yung remainder ng bill? Or once may insurance ka Hindi kana qualified as medicaid? it would be a big help kasi kung wala name kami babayaran, kasi wala naman ako magiging income while on maternity leave. Thanks!

And may nakapag try naba mag apply sa state ng temporary disability so you still get compensation while on maternity leave? Thanks again.

I work in a hospital. no, medicaid are for people who are underserved or walang insurance, or mga homeless, or mga jail dudes. All the county hospital has to do is run your SSN and they would find out everything about you financially. I wouldn't risk it, since there's a hefty amount to pay if they find out you're above the poverty line (which you are seeing you have your own insurance) or if you own significant properties. However, when you're in labor, presenting in the ED, they couldn't refuse to give you service. Once you're stable they would transfer you out to your covering hospital.. although maybe talk to your current ob gyn about it to list your options.

yes, if you have disablity or unemployment (if you worked for a year or so) the state can provide you temporary insurance. although, pregnancy is not covered in the disablity criteria ha. hehe.

are you in california?

[cherry*coke]

^thanks sis.. Im in oregon btw.

[morbiedoll]

^ oh I'm not sure if the same rule applies in oregon. I work at a california county hospital kasi. congrats on your pregnancy! 

[rhed]

Hi mga sis! May I ask how much should be the salary range to have an average living in Rochester, NY? Hubby's employer is asking him to move to Rochester for work and kasama ako with dependent visa only. No kids yet, but we plan to have 2 kids in the near future Pls advise! TIA

[xthine]

Are you relocating from another state in the US?  I usually look at cost of living calculators, CNN has
a nice one and I've found it helpful.  I'm not sure how accurate this is:

http://www.salarylist.com/city/Rochester-NY-Salary.htm

[rhed]

Thank you sis! very helpful we're from manila

[gail_abby44]

sisters patulong nman, ang hirap hirap na kasi. baka may kakilala kayong may ari ng business na willing mag sponsor. kahit anong trabaho (pero syempre yung  mabibigyan ng visa, may justification baga) ako ang sasagot sa lahat ng gastos.  babayaran ko din sya syempre.  malapit na  kasing mag expire ang visa ko  naghahanap nga ako ng mapapakasalan, mahirap din makahanap. kung  masama ang naipost ko, paki delete na lang. bawal ba ang ganitong discussion dito?  paki pm na lang pls.  ayokong mag tnt so hanggang may magagawang paraan, gagawin ko. salamat

[xthine]

^ I was on an H1b visa.  If you're already in the US I would expect it would be easier to find H1b sponsoring jobs.  Have you tried volunteering somewhere? 
I agree, you wouldn't want to be an illegal..especially these days, states are cracking down on those who are undocumented.  I've read horrid stories about marriage based green card applications too (misrepresentation).

[gnela_21]

gail_abby44, sad to say, the H1B visa for this fiscal year (2013-2014) was already reached according to the USCIS. You can check this -> http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=5051f359827dd310VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=e7801c2c9be44210VgnVCM100000082ca60aRCRD

You can check for cap-exempt companies still willing to sponsor for H1B since they are not govern with the H1B visa cap.

[roxykarlo]

sis, or anyone who can answer my query,  will be very much  appreciated. Right now, my hubby works in  Alberta, Canada and soon, his 2-year work visa will expire. he is thinking of moving to the US kasi sobrang lamig sa Canada. He has a job offer in Jacksonville, Florida as asst. manager also in McD.. initially, the employer asked him if he is authorized to work in the US. what does that mean, mga sis? i am not familiar with the rules and policies sa work visa ng US kasi. skilled worker ba ang asst manager sa restaurant mga sis? under what type of visa ba siya under mga sis? thanks

[xthine]

^ US Citizenship, Permanent resident, H1b visa from what I know.

From USCIS website:  http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.eb1d4c2a3e5b9ac89243c6a7543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=74da83453d4a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD&vgnextchannel=74da83453d4a3210VgnVCM100000b92ca60aRCRD


Skilled Workers

You must be able to demonstrate at least 2 years of job experience or training
You must be performing work for which qualified workers are not available in the United States
Labor certification and a permanent, full-time job offer required.

[roxykarlo]

ok sis xthine. thanks so much. in that case, can we (with our son, eventually) come with him sa States? and one more thing sis, can he ask the employer if the job offered is permanent or not, kasi from what i know, diba dapat ang employer ang mag aapply ng visa for the worker, just like in Canada -- or is it the opposite? thanks. sorry i have a lot of queries..

[NC]

sis, or anyone who can answer my query,  will be very much  appreciated. Right now, my hubby works in  Alberta, Canada and soon, his 2-year work visa will expire. he is thinking of moving to the US kasi sobrang lamig sa Canada. He has a job offer in Jacksonville, Florida as asst. manager also in McD.. initially, the employer asked him if he is authorized to work in the US. what does that mean, mga sis? i am not familiar with the rules and policies sa work visa ng US kasi. skilled worker ba ang asst manager sa restaurant mga sis? under what type of visa ba siya under mga sis? thanks

I am sorry but an assist. manager. or manager job in a restaurant is not considered a field where  there is a shortage of workers in the US. He needs to have a green card or US citizenship to work legally in the US.

[xthine]

^^ I'm not sure how it works in Canada but as ar as I know job postings usually indicate if a position is part time or full time ie. by the time one interviews the applicant should know that detail about the position
From my experience the employer applies for the work visa.