Moving to Colorado from Iceland

[Gylfi]

Hello all.
I'm 22 year old Icelandic boy, looking for new place to live in, after the economy collapsed it is hard to be a snowmobiler in Iceland (specialy if i want to do some mods just want to try new things and since i'm a snowmobiler USA or Canada is my only intrests. Also i thing the culture is very similar specialy in the northen areas.
i have education to control and maintain engines in merchant and fishing vessels. I think it is called Marine Engineer but there is is no bacelor or master degree involved,
but any job will do.

I have few question for you locals aboat job finding and migrating

1. How hard is it to get job in Colorado?

2. Can I go there, get a job, and then get the green card, or do i have to get the green card first and is it hard?

3. If i get a decent job how is it to make ends meet in there, after rent, insurance, car, Snowmobile and ect. (no kids or wife ;D )


Thanx for any help

 

[Ex-Member]

Jobs are there, but there's a lot of people looking to fill those positions.

Being out-of-country, you might be interested in a larger business here. Something that may help pay moving expenses. There's a handful of aerospace companies out here; Lockheed Martin, Ball Aerospace, Northrop Grumman. However, being out-of-country may make a job there more difficult as they generally require security clearances. There's a lot of tech businesses up towards Boulder and Longmont- IBM, Sun, and a handful of gov't R&D offices.

 

[pernikm]

You might try Utah in any city along the Wasatch Front. Utah's economy is still not that bad with relatively low unemployment. I would expect with a mechanical engineering degree an entry level salary of around 75k with good benefits, with a bit of patience you should be able to afford a nice home, cars, snowmobiles get a good contribution to a 401k and have plenty of descretionary income.

 

[SledsWest]

There's a lot of tech businesses up towards Boulder and Longmont- IBM, Sun, and a handful of gov't R&D offices.

Sun Microsystems was recently purchased by Oracle and is waiting on the European Govt to OK the purchase. Most likely going to have layoffs with Sun before they begin hiring.....if they ever do.

With an engineering degree, you may want to try some of the Oil & Gas companies in Denver; Anadarko, Encana, El Paso, Questar, EOG Resources, Nobel Energy, Bill Barrett, Whiting, Williams. Those are the bigger companies around here, there are also a bunch of smaller private companies that always need engineers.

 

[Gylfi]

sorry guys i think i made some translating error of my education, i have education to control and maintain engines in merchant and fishing vessels. I think it is called Marine Engineer but ther is no bacelor or master degree involved. i also have the mechanic licence for welding, metal work, fixing hevy equipment and e.c.t.

 

[XC700116]

I would look toward a more coastal area like Washington or Alaska for that field. Lots of shipping there. Also Most any place will require you to have your documentation in order before you can start. I've been told it is not easy but where there's a will there's a way and I applaud you for going about it the right way. Other areas are still hiring with the skills you have outside the Marine area but you will most likely not be making the money you are capable of. All part of the trade off of location and lifestyle.

Real Estate is a buyers market right now for the most part in most areas so you have that on your side too.

You might want to talk to EricW on here about the marine industry in Washington as he is in that field.

 

[blackcloud2k]

IF you can weld and are certified and can run large equipment then oil and gas may be a good match for you. Also with your engine experience the oil industry is always looking for good qualified people to work. Good money as well. The industry as been down but they are starting to raise some of the rigs back up out of the weeds as we speak. I work in the oil industry as a geochemist and love it, but there are times it does suck.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Not too many sea going vessels in Colorado. The economy here sucks and I have been forced to look elsewhere. I went to Utah and I received an offer, now I just need to hash out some details.

Sucks, I don't wanna be away from my sons but I have to work and provide for them.

 

[Gylfi]

it sucks when people cant by with there families, i personaly wuld take colorado in font of any other place, sems like dremland with bad economy, but it cant be worse than here, im makin good mony here but still i need full monh salary to by single pipe kitt fot my sled

 

[Zachcreek]

Ski resorts would be your best bet right now. The season is coming up soon. You could probably get a j-1 Visa (?). It would get you here. don't expect high wages, but it would get your feet on the ground.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Ski resorts would be your best bet right now. The season is coming up soon. You could probably get a j-1 Visa (?). It would get you here. don't expect high wages, but it would get your feet on the ground.

Actually, Vail Resorts is cutting back on foreign workers, doing "their" part to help the US economy. Just a PR move IMO.

Vail Resorts controls: Vail, Beaver Creek, Bachelor Gulch, Arrowhead, Keystone, Breck, A-Basin

Loveland is independently owned??
Steamboat and Copper are controlled by Intrawest.
Winter Park is controlled by Denver

 

[backcountryislife]

Winter park is also intrawest now.

A job in lift maintenance would be a possibility from intrawest resorts, telluride, or any of the smaller resorts. These companies are used to bringing in foreign workers & will assist you in the paperwork side of things.

My other thought, maintaining diesels in a marine environment isn't that far off of the automotive side of things. I doubt you'll find a company that has the know how in the paperwork, but it would likely be a higher paying job.

You may need to settle for the pitiful pay of one of the resorts to get started, then look around & find something that would work for you & continue your visa there. I'm not sure how the contractual agreements work with companies like intrawest though, you may be obliged to stay with them for a fixed period of time, kind of an indentured slavery if you will.

 

[PJ-Hunter]

Try looking at CAT in Hayden, Colorado. They are always looking for mechanics

 

[Boston Racing]

You will have a blast here. I moved here from Keflavik 7 years ago. I lived there for 2 years while I was in the Air Force. The funny thing is the weather in Iceland is just like the weather here.