Irish Family need some advice/moving to Long Island area (New York: apartment, rent) - City-Data Forum

TnaG · 04-04-2010, 06:09 PM

My husband is being hooked up with a job near La Guardia. He has been told that they will sort out his visa's (so we are at the moment assuming that me (his wife) and children will be included on that one. I am not nieve, I know the grass will not be greener on the other side as I have lived in the states previously. It has also been suggested to us that we should find an job as an Apartment Super so that way we would have a roof over our heads for the first year or so. The only thing is where. He has to work beside his job so Yonker - Wantagh - Long Island all of that area has been suggested. I am a little worried about schooling for my girls as I am told the Catholic Schools can be expensive there. We both have full irish driving licence's - do we need to have these changed etc ... do we need to do another driving test once we get there - how can we buy a car - what will a second hand one cost - what is the car insurance or tax costs there - all the day to day bills - what can we expect to payout.... We know this isnt going to be easy ... but believe me compaired to here ... it is looking so much better than having to stay and suffer here...

DawnSells · 04-04-2010, 07:32 PM

I see you have a lot to think about. My first question to you is, how far is he will to drive for his commute to work and what are you looking to spend on rent? All of Long Island is not an option because that could mean a 3 hour commute. May Catholic schools in Queens have closed, mine closed last year. If you choose public school your kids could atttend CCD classes once a week at the local Catholic school.

Walter Greenspan · 04-04-2010, 07:47 PM

TnaG, if you haven't already done so, you might want to post your query at the New York City forum: http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/

LaGuardia Airport is in the New York City Borough of Queens.

The western part of Long Island -- Kings County and Queens County -- are coterminous with the New York City Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, respectively.

TnaG · 04-05-2010, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DawnSells

I see you have a lot to think about. My first question to you is, how far is he will to drive for his commute to work and what are you looking to spend on rent? All of Long Island is not an option because that could mean a 3 hour commute. May Catholic schools in Queens have closed, mine closed last year. If you choose public school your kids could atttend CCD classes once a week at the local Catholic school.

Thanks for your response, we will have to get a car first, and he is hoping that either one of his work colleagues will be able to carpool or he will be able to get a train to work. He will be working on riker island so as we are not from the area we don't exactly know how far away we will be. He connections there live in Wantagh it was suggested that we live there. I don't mind the kids attending public school and then sunday school that is important to me ... Rent wise we were told that if he gets a job as an apartment super that our accommodation could be free but otherwise all we have is around $1,000 a month. Do you have any idea what that might get us.???

TnaG · 04-05-2010, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Walter Greenspan

TnaG, if you haven't already done so, you might want to post your query at the New York City forum: http://www.city-data.com/forum/new-york-city/

LaGuardia Airport is in the New York City Borough of Queens.

The western part of Long Island -- Kings County and Queens County -- are coterminous with the New York City Boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, respectively.

Thanks will do..

okaydorothy · 04-05-2010, 04:40 AM

There are unions that maybe your dh can get into and get a job as a super. I am from Cork and have been living here on the island for over 20 years. Its not cheap!! My kids do go to catholic school which runs about $5000 a year for two children (primary school ages). High school is a different kettle of fish.

If he is working in Rikers Island, maybe woodside(or sunnyside) would be a good place to initially set up shop. They used to be big irish enclaves, however it is changed now but you will still see people from home.Cars ; just pick up something cheap to start. Wantagh would be a bit far to live although it maybe good to begin with to get yourselves settled. I do know a few supers and they get their accomodation for free ; they mainly live in Manhatten and theirs is a fulltime job in high rises.
Good luck ; its a great country and so different from home. If you have any other questions, pm me. I will be happy to answer as many as I can.

I_Love_LI_but · 04-05-2010, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TnaG

My husband is being hooked up with a job near La Guardia. He has been told that they will sort out his visa's (so we are at the moment assuming that me (his wife) and children will be included on that one. I am not nieve, I know the grass will not be greener on the other side as I have lived in the states previously. It has also been suggested to us that we should find an job as an Apartment Super so that way we would have a roof over our heads for the first year or so. The only thing is where. He has to work beside his job so Yonker - Wantagh - Long Island all of that area has been suggested. I am a little worried about schooling for my girls as I am told the Catholic Schools can be expensive there. We both have full irish driving licence's - do we need to have these changed etc ... do we need to do another driving test once we get there - how can we buy a car - what will a second hand one cost - what is the car insurance or tax costs there - all the day to day bills - what can we expect to payout.... We know this isnt going to be easy ... but believe me compaired to here ... it is looking so much better than having to stay and suffer here...

Most building superintendent jobs require that it be the person's ONLY or MAIN job, not his secondary job (as you say he is coming here for a position). They are also not that easy to get right off the bat with no experience (unless your husband has super experience in Ireland?) because you need licenses (No. 6 Oil License, lots of others) first to show that you know how to take care of the building properly.

Just wanting to be a building superintendent because you don't want to pay rent won't cut it with property management companies and building owners around here. Maybe it's different in Ireland and you can get jobs just because you don't want to pay rent or don't want to commute and would rather live where you work?

Parliament · 04-09-2010, 01:49 PM

Contact the Hibernians, Ancient Order of Hibernians they will help you. I am Irish and I am very glad you are coming over to America. I wish you the best of luck.

WIHS2006 · 04-09-2010, 03:18 PM

Is your husband seeking to become a NYC Correction officer? If so you need at least a green card to even be considered for any law enforcement position here in the US.

As for driver's licenses, I have read somewhere that you can exchange them for NY State driver's licenses only if the requirements by the Irish licensing agency (Garda? Irish DMV?) are comparable to those of the NYS DMV.