A guidebook for new immigrantsMay 16, 2005 10:00 AMMany immigrants come to the U.S. with little money or little education -- but not all. Of the 2.6 million people who immigrated to the U.S. between 2000 and 2003, 36 percent had a college education. Nearly 12 percent held advanced degrees. But still, many were not able to find work matching their education or skill levels.
Ecuador: Manuel MarcatomaMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMManuel Marcatoma, 42, arrived in Minnesota in 1998. He's from a rural area outside the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. He worked there in house construction as a carpenter.
Cambodia: Vannak TepMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMVannak Tep grew up in Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia. She came to the U.S. in 1998, when she was 20. Her family encouraged her to come to make a better life.
Guatemala: Pedro and Maria OchoaMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMPedro and Maria Ochoa, from Guatemala, have lived in Minneapolis 10 years.
Korea: Mi Sook KimMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMMi Sook Kim, 41, is originally from Seoul, Korea. She and her family moved to the United States in 1991, because her husband wanted to immigrate here.
The Philippines: Haide and Jay FlorentinoMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMHaide and Jay Florentino moved their family to Mounds View from Manila in October 2003. Haide, a registered nurse, was recruited to work in the U.S.
Ukraine: Romana VasylevychMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMRomana Vasylevych grew up in Lvov, Ukraine. She moved to the United States seven years ago.
Uzbekistan: Elena KlimenkoMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMElena Klimenko, 40, is an ethnic Russian who grew up in Uzbekistan. She moved to Minnesota in 1999 seeking a better life for herself and her two sons.
United Kingdom: Lindsey and Andy LeeMay 15, 2005 3:00 PMLindsey and Andy Lee moved to Minnesota from Stratham, Scotland three years ago -- mainly to experience a new culture while they were young enough to move freely.