Torn between New Jersey and Seattle

[Snowflake]

My partner is an IT specialist who has been offered to work in the US on a HB1 visa via an agency, he's been offered work in New Jersey and Seattle, WA and we are torn between the two as both offer different things in terms of quality of life and raising a family. Does anyone have any experiences of these two places? All I seem to hear about them is NJ has trouble with the high property taxes and Seattle has mostly rain. Does anyone have any positive experiences as well as negative? I've been researching on sites such as city-data but it doesn't have that 'human' element that forums do, so hope you don't mind me enquiring here.

Also, I was thinking of applying for a work visa for myself as I'm a qualified registered social worker (child protection) with a masters, has anyone here heard of anywhere in the states (not just the above two) which need more social workers?

Thanks in advance!

[jmspringbok]

Seattle is real pretty and green and has mountains. I prefer Washington to New Jersey. I am sure social workers are needed eveywhere.

[Mamacats]

I am a born and raised Jersey Girl.
I know Washington is colder and wetter but more beautiful.
Jersey offers Mountains, Sea and Jobs.

Diane aka Mamacats
Ragdoll Breeder
Portugal

[Caelan]

I've spent a lot of time in both states, but I'm partial to the east coast so I'd pick New Jersey.

[synthia]

Have you figured out how you are going to accompany your partner if you don't qualify for a work visa on your own? Long term partnership isn't recognized in the US.

Social workers are employed by local governments and which are usually, I think, limited to employing only US citizens.

[Jackiefatenbread]

New Jersey is like Essex. It's not that pretty, lots of traffic, high property prices and taxes. It's basically a suburb of New York in the north and a suburb of Philly in the south. On the plus side, there's lots to do on the east coast, you'll be near New York City (or Philly), and the salaries are probably higher on average. The Jersey Shore down the east coast of the state is a decent stretch of beach as well.

Seattle is a very hilly town, where it rains a lot. The Pacific North-west is one of the most beautiful parts of the country. It is also near an Ocean. It's a higher quality of life in my opinion, though slower moving. There's loads to do there if you like the outdoors (esp. skiing). There's a pretty decent sized IT industry in Washington.

Both places are warm / hot in summer and freezing in winter.

I'd go for Washington between the two, assuming I was here for a long time, and had kids in tow.

[synthia]

None of which will matter to you if you can't find a way to move to the US. Marriage, perhaps? Oh, and if you do get married you will get a visa that allows you to live in the US, but you won't be allowed to work unless you can qualify for a work permit on your own.

[tilly]

Seattle has a lot of rainy days, but not a lot of rain. Many of the rainy days have a brief drizzle that barely wets your hair. Summers are pretty nice with plenty of sunny days. Seattle winters are very mild due to the warm ocean currents. You see a few snow days, but not many.

The cost of living is lower in Seattle than N.J.

You IT job depends on your expertise. Are you talented, or an also ran. You can get a job in any big city. But Seattle is very close to Microsoft. You should make some contacts with IT companies over the internet. Check out the job postings.