Ged Classes
I met a German man last year and we have fallen in love. We are considering
marriage and the I-129F petition process. However, he is very reluctant to
move over to the US without a job lined-up and waiting for him. He is 34
years old and has training and experience as a wood technology
engineer/product manager for furniture. We would live in Washington state
to start. Does anyone have any words of encouragement for him regarding
finding a good job and being able to be a bread-winner for his new family?
What have been other's experiences with obtaining authorization to work and
a good job?
To obtain authorization to work, my best advice is for your fiance to
enter through a "friendly" POE (see the list, read the k-1 FAQ). As far
as job opportunities, I suggest that YOU see whether there are any
businesses in your area which would be potential employers. With
Washington State having trees/lumber as a major industry, are there any
furniture manufacturers there? If so, that would seem like a good place
to start. If you find some, then find out what qualifications they
require, and whether they are hiring.
We did have one poster to this group who had a trade that sounded
similar to your fiance's, but he was unfortunately located in Southern
IL, and he was not able to find employment in that area.
How much education does your husband have? How literate is he in
English? If necessary, he could have a lower-paying job and obtain more
education after arriving. My now-husband and I offered his son the
opportunity to enter on a k-2 (he's 20 yrs old) but I told Paulo (the
son) that IF he entered he would have to obtain a GED (he has only a
10th grade education). My husband and paulo have both been attending
GED classes for 3 months, and they are now scheduled to take the GED
test next Monday (wish them luck!). For anyone who has limited
education, I heartily suggest increasing the educational level, as it is
often the ticket to better-paying jobs in the US. I note also that IF
the immigrant spouse/child has good english skills, I •think• they would
be able to pass the GED pretty quickly. Arnaldo and Paulo said that the
main thing you have to learn is how to take a test, and that once you
figure out how to "read" test questions, you should be able to pass ok.
The questions on the GED test are ALL multiple choice except for an
essay you have to write.
That's not to say that your fiance would not be able to find a job in
this country with his current educational level, but his opportunities
MAY be limited, depending on what is available in your area and what the
employers require. However, in my experience, Germans are pretty smart
(I'm part German too..hehehe...) so if he is, remember that cream always
rises to the top!