FAQs to a U.S. Immigrant - Question 1: " Can you use your international degree to find a job there in the U.S.?"

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(Note: I used to blog about immigrating here in the U.S. through the path of a spouse VISA. I have met (and somehow helped) some people who took their while to read my blogs and I am very happy because that is the main purpose of my blog - a firsthand information on things that are not addressed in other resources available online. But since I am no longer married and most of the stuff I have written there are no longer true for me, I decided to take it off. I still receive questions and emails regularly from them and some from friends. I figure I can share these on here and hopefully help a little those who are seeking answers to the same questions.) To answer the above question, yes and no. Yes in a sense that having a degree means understanding the English language, not necessarily a perfect grasp of it, but being able to comprehend and make sense of it which is very important. But there is a caveat - if one is seeking to practice their profession here, most organizations will require an evaluated course by course report of your transcript. Some organizations require a certain level of expertise for certain jobs when they require a degree. Also, there are instances that one needs to take up a few more courses (which can be taken at your local community college or university, either in classroom or online). Of course this is not the absolute rule, it's a case-to-case basis. In my opinion though, enrolling in a few classes will be beneficial; you have to acknowledge that the Philippine business system is different from that of the US. The immigrant, in my opinion, has the ultimate responsibility to adjust to the system here. I have been very lucky to be afforded the consideration while I adjust to this country and transition to the new way of living. And as always when in doubt, ask. The worst that can happen is for them to say that they do not know the answer. No, in a sense that the job you are trying to get is totally not related to your degree. And that is fine, I know some people who switched careers and made the 360 degree change when they got here as they found out that they do not want to do the same job that they used to do after they have finished their degrees in the Philippines. I know a guy who graduated with a mechanical engineering degree in MAPUA but he now works as a truck driver for Walmart because for him he prefers to travel and drive and have that flexibility. I also know a nice lady who is a midwife in the Philippines who prefer cleaning houses and established her own cleaning business here because she prefers to meet people this way and at the same time have her own schedule and choose the people that she will work with. And there is also another girl who is a physical therapist who ended up getting her PT license here as that is what she wants to do. And some people who never had any formal education in the Philippines who came here and started to work on their degree while working odd-jobs. It is never too late for one to do what he or she really wants in life. Ultimately, it's all about what you set your heart and mind to do. Sure, a degree will help and a US degree will help even more - but these are all contingent on how you are going to use the education and knowledge you have acquired.