Obtain legal status to live in St. Thomas. If you are from the U.S., moving to St. Thomas is like moving to any other state in terms of immigration documents. You do not need to file any additional paperwork or apply for visas. All you need is legal U.S. resident status, like a social security card. It is also a good idea to obtain a passport and valid driver's license before you move.
If you are from outside the U.S., you will need to obtain legal status to move to St. Thomas as if you were immigrating anywhere else in the U.S. You can apply for a temporary visa as a trial run, and if you want to move to the island permanently, you will need to get approved as a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. It is helpful to have a U.S. resident family member or employer sponsor you when you apply for your green card. If you do not have anyone to sponsor you, you should hire a U.S. immigration attorney, as the process can be lengthy and confusing.
Visit the United States Citizenship and Immigration website, uscis.gov, to download and complete all required forms to apply for a temporary visa to live in the U.S. or to apply for your green card.
Visit St. Thomas for two weeks or more. This trip will give you a feel for life on the island, as well as give you time to explore the island, look for jobs, and speak to professionals in the St. Thomas housing market. Set up appointments with a realtor on St. Thomas to discuss housing options if you plan to buy a house, or look at available rental properties in your price range. Go grocery shopping to see how much regular items cost. Most everyday items are more expensive on St. Thomas than in the U.S. mainland--a gallon of milk can cost upwards of $7.
Pick up a few newspapers to look for available jobs. Visit sites like snagajob.com and career.vi to look for available jobs, and schedule as many interviews as you can. In St. Thomas, most things are still done face to face, as opposed to over the phone or through email, so visiting and meeting prospective employers in person is important.
Find a job. If you come back from your visit without a job, continue looking on the Internet on more general sites like craigslist.org and monster.com. Consider a career change if you are not finding anything in your field. Most of the best-paying and stable jobs in St. Thomas are in the tourism industry.
You might have to travel back to St. Thomas for more interviews. Once you accept an offer, choose a start date. You will focus the rest of your move around this date.
Find housing in St. Thomas. If you found places you liked on your initial visit, make an offer. Continue looking for available houses to buy or rent with the help of your realtor on St. Thomas, as well as sites like st-thomas.vi.house.info and rentmls.com. Once you find a place you like, schedule the move-in date to be about a week before you start your job.
Sell or donate any of your personal belongings that you do not need to bring to St. Thomas. If your furniture and other large items are not valuable or meaningful, do not bring them to St. Thomas, as it will only complicate your move and make it more expensive. You can purchase new furniture and household items once you arrive on the island.
Hire movers to help you move to St. Thomas. Companies like Gateway are international movers and are likely better equipped to handle a move over the ocean than a local moving company. Check intlmovers.com to get quotes from other companies. If you are bringing a car, the moving company will help you ship it to St. Thomas.
Pack your belongings to take with you. Pack everything in boxes well. The move will take several weeks and your boxes will likely be shipped via boat to St. Thomas. If you hired a moving company, coordinate with them so your items arrive at your new home the day after your scheduled move-in date. If you are shipping the items yourself, call your post office and ask how long it will take for the items to arrive, and coordinate the shipment to arrive the day after your scheduled move-in date. Pack and move everything except for a suitcase full of clothes and daily essentials.
Pets do not have to be quarantined, but you will need a health certificate from your veterinarian that states your animal is healthy and current on all vaccinations.
Purchase airfare to St. Thomas. Arrive a day or two before your move-in date. Make a hotel reservation if necessary. Arriving a day or two early gives you a chance to tie up any last minute loose ends or details. Move into your new house on St. Thomas on your scheduled move-in date.
