Im gona move to NY (New York, York: apartment, hotel, trip)

[Chemi]

right now i am in Sydney

Melc i need your help if your going to the US
i need help badly from any 1 in the oz leaving to the US
if you have anything, msn, e mail, aim, icq any thing! im willing to talk to you
please contact me on ch3mic4l_4l3x@hotmail.com
thanks alot!

[mdswines]

Good luck to you. You will love it, I'm sure. My sister lives in Queens - Ridgewood to be exact. She lives in a railroad style apt in a (relatively) safe, Polish neighborhood with 2 other girls. They split the rent ($1200/mo). This is pretty cheap for a decent 3 BR in a safe area. She has a 5-10 minute walk to the train and it takes her about 35 minutes to commute to work in Times Square - sometimes longer.

She has loved it but is getting a little worn out with the city life (constant crowds, walking, commuting, more walking, more crowds, high expectations, etc. ,etc.) She has lived there about 8 yrs and has been too busy to really enjoy the sights of the city though. Many NYers would probably tell you the same.

If you want to do it, do it while you're young. There's no place else like it in the world. Good luck!!!

Matt

[Goldy Oakley]

You must be very careful not to end up believing everything you hear from some people when you arrive. Your eagerness to come to USA, to cut your apron strings from your motherland [isn't there adventure there? the country is so big, can't you find someplace there with some excitement to explore to test your wings?] and take off to parts unknown without a blink. You may end up in prostitution by befriending someone who wants to "help" you and you seem nieve enough to believe them. If that happens, there is no way out of the mess you will get yourself into. Buy a around trip ticket, please and keep it safe. It think you should use more prudence and responsibility in seeking your good fortune. If you are willing to accept any job, you just might. If you are willing to accept any apartment, you just might. May I ask where do you think you will stay when you get off the airplane? How will you get from the airport to wherever your destination is? You need big bucks in NY. Your first night in a hotel may cost an entire months rent. It's none of my business, but I think you should have a little better plan....Best wishes,

[Chemi]

Thanks alot guys for the reply your replys are really really encouraging
thanks alot!

Originally Posted by Goldy Oakley

You must be very careful not to end up believing everything you hear from some people when you arrive. Your eagerness to come to USA, to cut your apron strings from your motherland [isn't there adventure there? the country is so big, can't you find someplace there with some excitement to explore to test your wings?] and take off to parts unknown without a blink. You may end up in prostitution by befriending someone who wants to "help" you and you seem nieve enough to believe them. If that happens, there is no way out of the mess you will get yourself into. Buy a around trip ticket, please and keep it safe. It think you should use more prudence and responsibility in seeking your good fortune. If you are willing to accept any job, you just might. If you are willing to accept any apartment, you just might. May I ask where do you think you will stay when you get off the airplane? How will you get from the airport to wherever your destination is? You need big bucks in NY. Your first night in a hotel may cost an entire months rent. It's none of my business, but I think you should have a little better plan....Best wishes,

I don’t think ill get into the prostitution business
I will hustle to live. Do any and every job/
This might seem dumb but I really have no idea where I am staying after I get off the airport.
Some options are
1. Rent a place before I actually get to NY through the net, I found some nice sites
2. Live on the streets for a week, im not really fussy about roaches and rats so ... but this is the last choice of course. I might end up in the salvation army for a day or two haha
In any way if you people suggest things to do after I land in the airport it will be excellent
and I think ill take a Taxi to the place I am staying or a bus, im not going to have 100 backs, just a little bag is enough

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Chemi

Thanks alot guys for the reply your replys are really really encouraging
thanks alot!






I don’t think ill get into the prostitution business
I will hustle to live. Do any and every job/
This might seem dumb but I really have no idea where I am staying after I get off the airport.
Some options are
1. Rent a place before I actually get to NY through the net, I found some nice sites
2. Live on the streets for a week, im not really fussy about roaches and rats so ... but this is the last choice of course. I might end up in the salvation army for a day or two haha
In any way if you people suggest things to do after I land in the airport it will be excellent
and I think ill take a Taxi to the place I am staying or a bus, im not going to have 100 backs, just a little bag is enough

I wouldn't take a taxi from the airport. Depending upon the airport you're flying into (I would assume JFK), it could cost you upwards of $50 (a conservative estimate) to get into Manhattan. There are shuttles to the nearest subway stations which will get you into the city for only a couple of bucks, although they'll take a bit of time, but still, worth it in my opinion rather than wasting so much money on a cab right off the bat, especially if you're going to be hard-pressed for cash.

I'd recommend finding a place to stay at least for the first handful of nights in New York, just so you can sort of get your bearings and feel somewhat comfortable. I just think it would be overwhelming and you'd feel completely lost to show up at the airport with not a clue of where to go next, particularly in a place like New York, so it's best to have some sort of destination in mind (not to mention, you'll probably be exhausted from the flight and need a good night's sleep). A hostel is a good place for that. I'm not sure how much they run in New York, but generally $20/night is the norm around the world. It's dorm-style living, where you basically just have a bed and that's it, sharing a room with a bunch of other budget travelers from all over the world, with usually one bathroom per floor. There's plenty of websites you can easily find via google to make hostel reservations beforehand. It's also a good place to make connections, both with the travelers and the staff, to ask around about job opportunities and such. The first several days will serve as sort of a guerilla crash course in New York for you, so I think after those few days, you'll be in a much better state of mind and be able to figure out a sort of direction you want to go in in terms of jobs, housing and such.

[Chemi]

^^^ now thats excellent!
i didnt know what hostel's are so thanks alot

i found some for 75 Aus $ to 28 Aus $ which is over excellent!
im not sure if i can acctually leave me stuff in there without being robbed


a question:
Where and how can i get a work permit? is it true i cannot work without a work permit???
and if i do need one then how long will it take to get one?

[dullnboring]

a question:
Where and how can i get a work permit? is it true i cannot work without a work permit???
and if i do need one then how long will it take to get one?

I could be wrong about any/everything I'm about to say so don't take my word as 100% fact on any of the following. It's best to research, perhaps contact the American Embassy in Australia or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

I'm not certain of the finer points of US Immigration Law but in theory, you can't simply just show up in the US from another country and find a job. I believe that if you haven't properly applied for residency from Australia, you would technically be an illegal immigrant if you plan to stay and work in the US. Illegal immigration is a hot-button issue in this country lately. There are some 12 million illegal immigrants (most from Mexico) living and working in the US. Some of them spend thousands of dollars to forge documents that give them the right to work in the US. Others work in the underground informal economy. Some employers, particularly of low-skill jobs are willing to look the other way when a person lacks proper work papers. However, there's been added pressure in recent months for employers to crack down on illegal immigrants, although I'm not sure if this added pressure has effectively translated into employers stopping to hire illegals, or if it's more media hype.

To work legally in the US, you need an Employment Authorization Document. These are chiefly granted to asylum seekers, refugees, the extremely wealthy, fiances of American citizens, dependents of foreign government officials, and international students. The US also routinely issues work visas for highly-skilled workers, people like nurses and computer technicians. I'm guessing however that as an 18 year old Australian, you don't fit into any of those categories.

I know that in the beaches frequented by people in the DC area on the Maryland and Delaware shore, some 50% of the staff along the boardwalks and restaurants are "summer immigrants", students from mostly Eastern European countries here on temporary three month work visas. I'm not sure how they get them (and it's possible the fact that they're students in their home countries has something to do with it) but they come from a diverse array of backgrounds and countries which makes me think that a temporary work visa shouldn't be that hard to get. It might require some wait though. The general wait time for any sort of governmental papers here is "within 90 days". If you're able to secure a temporary work visa, I would imagine that being IN the US then, you'll be able to make social/professional connections whereby you'll be able to figure out the proper network in terms of how to apply for a permanent work visa or, to find a work environment that would have no problem with the fact that you are staying here on an expired visa. Quite a few illegal immigrants come here on student or work visas and just simply don't leave when they expire. Many illegal immigrants are confined to low-skill, low-wage employment in sectors like construction, housecleaning, and takeout restaurants. You would have an added edge just be virtue of the fact that you speak English, but still, I can only imagine that the lack of proper documentation would hinder things.

It would be best if you make it to the US, or perhaps even better beforehand, for you to make contact with Australians who live or have lived and worked in the US legally or illegally who could give you advice on the proper legal forms that need to be filed, or tips on how to stay under the radar when here.

[dullnboring]

Originally Posted by Chemi

^^^ now thats excellent!
i didnt know what hostel's are so thanks alot

i found some for 75 Aus $ to 28 Aus $ which is over excellent!
im not sure if i can acctually leave me stuff in there without being robbed

While it's best to air on the side of precaution by not displaying valuable and attaching padlocks to your luggage, the truth of the matter is that you're unlikely to get robbed, and most likely everyone else is worried that YOU and going to rob THEM. Hostels would seemingly be a breeding ground for petty theft and perhaps they are, but I never experienced any problems firsthand, nor do I know of anyone who has. The majority of people who stay in hostels are young international travelers (usually around 20-25 years old) who are exploring a foreign country and were just looking to save some money on accomodation. People are generally perfectly harmless. Some hostels offer safes behind the front desk/lobby to keep valuables for a small fee. I stayed at hostels all over Europe and at three in the U.S. (Austin, San Francisco, and Los Angeles) and highly recommend them for those who can stomach dormitory living. You've basically just got a bed and that's it. Depending on the hostel, some have common areas where there's a TV, microwave, kitchen, and even internet access (though that's rare). Some even serve free breakfasts. I don't want to oversell hostels though because they do have drawbacks. They're not the most comfortable accomodations and can be quite loud and dirty. It all depends on the particular hostel and the guests in it on any given night. Most who stay in hostels are going on cross-country or cross-continental trips and will only be in town for a few days, but there's always a handful in every hostel who are actually staying there trying ot start out living in a new city.

[mhogan10010]

Dude,

Glad to hear you have chosen the Borough of Kings!!!
I just moved out to Brooklyn from Manhattan a couple of months ago. I love it. What part of Brooklyn are you going to??? Please don't tell me East New York Brooklyn. That's major rough, especially if you are a white boy.

A lot of kids who come to the city end up working at resturants and the like. Check out Boarders or Barnes & Noble BooK Stores for work. Clean and safe environment. Pay sucks, but then most of the stuff you will find without a degree or Union is pretty weak.

Good luck and keep up posted on your new adventure.

[Chemi]

Thank you very much dullnboring, excellent info

Originally Posted by mhogan10010

Dude,

Glad to hear you have chosen the Borough of Kings!!!
I just moved out to Brooklyn from Manhattan a couple of months ago. I love it. What part of Brooklyn are you going to??? Please don't tell me East New York Brooklyn. That's major rough, especially if you are a white boy.

but i am not a white boy
im north african/south american so i be safe
East Flatbush is a place i am not going near, i read about many shooting/murders there so its a no no

i have no idea what suburb ill be living really
about a month before i am ready to travel ill post what place i am renting/living it