Settling in Oklahoma is a direction worth considering for those prioritizing low cost, as this state has a Vietnamese community and a cost of living among the lowest in the US. Understanding it helps with evaluation. This article introduces settling in Oklahoma.
Settling in Oklahoma: the Vietnamese community
Oklahoma is a state in the south-central United States, with Oklahoma City as its capital and largest city. The state has a Vietnamese community, concentrated in the Oklahoma City area. Settling in Oklahoma therefore offers closeness to a community of fellow Vietnamese in a state known for its affordable cost of living.
The Vietnamese community in Oklahoma City has a commercial district (such as the Asian District), markets, restaurants and Vietnamese services. This is an advantage for newcomers. Oklahoma is known for its low cost of living, especially affordable housing, helping newcomers settle more easily financially.
Jobs and opportunities
Oklahoma’s economy is tied to industries such as energy (oil and gas), aviation, agriculture, healthcare and services. A major draw of Oklahoma is that its cost of living is among the lowest in the US, especially affordable housing prices, helping wages go further than in expensive states.
With the EB-3 program – a federal skilled-worker immigrant visa based on employer sponsorship – workers can seek opportunities in Oklahoma if they have a sponsoring employer. Note that EB-3 is a federal program applied nationwide, so choosing Oklahoma depends on where the sponsoring employer is and where you want to live.
Considerations when choosing Oklahoma
To consider settling in Oklahoma, interested individuals should: make use of the Vietnamese community in Oklahoma City, research job opportunities and EB-3 sponsoring employers, take advantage of the low cost of living, and assess fit. Low cost is a strength that helps newcomers settle more easily financially.
You should refer to USCIS information on EB-3 and information from the U.S. Department of Labor about the skilled-worker immigration path in Oklahoma.
Summary
Settling in Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) offers a Vietnamese community (the Asian District) and a cost of living among the lowest in the US, especially affordable housing. The economy is tied to energy, aviation, agriculture and healthcare. EB-3 is a federal visa based on employer sponsorship. You should make use of the community, find a sponsoring employer, and take advantage of the low cost of living to settle more easily.
