Russians in the US: work and life in immigration

Many associate America with a heavenly and carefree existence and think that if a person gets the opportunity to go there for permanent residence, then he gets the grand prize in his life. But at the same time, a large number of emigrants return to their homeland, since it is not so easy for a Russian to live in the United States. Some Slavs who have come in search of something better in this state, it is difficult to fit into the local lifestyle of Americans, while others say that they feel in America, like in their own home. How does it really live for our compatriots in this faraway country?

Years of active migration

The first Russians in the United States appeared even after the 1917 revolution, when people began to leave Russia en masse. Then the second migration wave came in 1947, mainly among the exiles were former prisoners of war with their families and representatives of the Jewish people.

In the early nineties of the last century, the emigration flow has changed significantly, since not only those who asked for political asylum, but many representatives of the Russian intelligentsia dreamed of becoming American citizens. During the years of perestroika, talented doctors, architects, engineers and various scientists tried to leave the expanses of the former USSR.

How many "Russian Americans"?

Already in 2004, more than twenty thousand scientific workers from the CIS countries worked in America . But the number of immigrants continued to grow every year. Since Russians in the United States come not only in search of work that requires special qualifications, many are arranged by various ancillaries in the hope of eventually finding something better.

According to the latest data, in 2010, more than three million Americans claimed their Russian origin. But if we calculate the number of illegal immigrants, the number of immigrants from the CIS countries living in America will increase significantly. Therefore, to say exactly how many Russians live in the US, no one can.

Who is attracted to life in America?

Freedom-loving citizens try to enter this state, as human rights are highly valued here. Also, those who are persecuted by the authorities in their homeland seek to emigrate.

In addition, many Russian businessmen and specialists with low qualifications often move to America, who receive a very small monthly salary for their work in Russia.

To date, the Russians in the United States have created several of their diasporas. The first years of the existence of immigrants in a foreign country, of course, can not be called easy. But the US authorities are trying to take an active part in the life of emigrants, developing for them special support programs.

In addition, in the territory of this state there is a holding company called "Russian America". Employees of this company are trying to make life easier for many immigrants from the post-Soviet countries, assisting them in many issues related to obtaining a residence permit and acquiring real estate. Even emigrants can get help from psychologists during the period of social adaptation.

Features of living in the United States

Judging by such a large number of emigrating people to America, it is not so bad there lives the settlers. Although immigrants from post-Soviet countries are faced with a lot of problems on arrival, they must learn the completely different style and rhythm of life in the shortest possible time, get acquainted with another's mentality, and also learn a new language and other manner of communication.

Russians in the United States, getting into the Western civilization, will have to adjust to a new way of life and learn to conduct their life in a completely different way. In this state, everything is done in order to make life of its citizens as easy as possible.

Here, almost all use only plastic cards, each of the shopping centers is equipped with a large parking lot, and for the convenience of motorists built in many cities multi-tiered motorways. Therefore, many things that any American citizen has known since childhood, Russian emigrants see for the first time. Of course, this standard of living is America's great advantage over the CIS countries, thanks to this, and Russians like living in the USA.

But there are also minuses in this emigration, as against the backdrop of the recent crises on the "island of Freedom" is also not easy to find work, especially for people who do not have a decent specialization.

Adaptation period

Often newly-born citizens of America embrace a sense of depression and nostalgia for their homeland. In addition to all the above difficulties, our compatriots face paid medicine. In this country, everyone has insurance, as without it there is not enough money even for the most common laboratory tests and various surveys, and operations can cost more than one hundred thousand dollars.

Also, having started living in the United States, a Russian person should be prepared to take constant loans, since without them an ordinary migrant can not survive here. Therefore, for many such adaptation is painful and causes a feeling of severe discomfort. In order to survive this period, many are advised to settle in those parts of America where most of the immigrants from the CIS countries live.

Where do they live?

So, in which state of the United States is it better to live Russian? Settlers from Russia are trying to settle in the South and Central Atlantic, as well as in the southeastern and central part of the country.

The largest number of emigrants is concentrated in such states as New York, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey. In addition, many Russians live in the counties of Bergen, Chicago, Brooklyn, Boston, Bronx, Seattle and Miami.

Employment

Settlers choose these states, because in their territory there is work in the US for Russians. But you need to take into account the fact that if an expatriate does not have a decent qualification, then he can only count on a vacancy rejected by American job seekers with a salary of five to seven dollars per hour.

Basically, local employers offer people from the post-Soviet countries to work forty hours a week and make sure that the person does not under any circumstances process, which is very surprising for Russian people. This is due to the fact that in America overtime is paid 1.5 times more. Thus, an immigrant who does not have special special skills, can receive a weekly salary of three hundred dollars.

Features of work

When an American employer takes an emigrant for a job, he first of all pays attention to how he speaks English. In addition, most often offered such a position, which takes into account the combination of several responsibilities at once.

Practically in all American firms and organizations, wages are paid once a week and issued to the employee by check, which can be easily exchanged for bills in any local bank.

What vacancies can I get?

Few can get a prestigious position in the United States. This option is available only to those emigrants who came here at the invitation of the employer, or those who receive education here. The rest of the settlers, in order to get a job for a well-paid job, will have to receive still different diplomas and certificates that will help them find a worthy place, and also eliminate the need to work for life guard or cashier.

In addition, in the United States you can always find a dishwasher in a restaurant, an assistant to a waiter, a maid, a loader, a salesman and other vacancies that do not require special abilities.

Visa application

In addition to all the difficulties in finding a job, an expatriate must still overcome the complicated procedure of the US visa regime, since illegal immigrants in the US can not get a normal job.

The applicant will have to go through many different instances and collect a large number of documents. After this person, wishing to go to America for permanent residence, expects a hard interview, during which it will be revealed - whether he can live in the US state.

Drawing the conclusion and all of the above, one can not give an unambiguous answer to the question: "How do Russians live in the US?" Only those who can successfully pass the adaptation period and adequately withstand all the tests of the first years of their emigration can succeed in this country.