Transferring to US office

Author
Discussion

SkinnyPete

Original Poster:

1,411 posts

148 months

Wednesday 12th April 2017
quotequote all
Due to the niche market that we work in employees have the opportunity to transfer between offices (EU and US) quite easily, the role that I do now in the UK office has just become available in the US office.

I have applied for it and my employer is entertaining it, before formal negotiations begin can anyone tell me what is the norm when it comes to relocating?

For example, is it reasonable to expect an employer to arrange or fund accommodation during the length of the arrangement (1 year at a time I believe)?

How many trips a year back to the UK is reasonable, 1 every 3 months?

V-spec

754 posts

250 months

Wednesday 12th April 2017
quotequote all
Can't say about the US, but from the UK to EU my company covers
- moving costs via a professional full service moving company
- temporary accommodation in a business flat while you find a place
- relocation agency (plus time off in work time) to visit potential places to live
- school costs for kids
- accommodation allowance
- 1 trip home per year
- language courses

Other things I have heard of companies doiing:-
- a one off relocation bonus
- cost of living adjustment (which can be negative!)

Good luck!

Jefferson Steelflex

1,428 posts

98 months

Thursday 13th April 2017
quotequote all
Whereabouts in US?

Firstly I'd be asking for a pre-assignment trip to see if you actually like it. Not a week in a hotel, but a longer period staying in an apartment or similar so you have to look after yourself. Parts of USA are lovely, others not so (It really is 50 different countries rolled into 1) and you may find, as I did, that you just couldn't live there once you have scratched the surface. I was looking at moving to Houston, got all excited about the new adventure, then lived there for 6 weeks while on assignment and found the politics, guns, healthcare and certain other issues drove me nuts.

I spent 5 weeks in San Diego last year and I absolutely could live there.

HD Adam

5,144 posts

183 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
I do this on an L1-A visa.

My company pays for a fully furnished apartment, utilities etc.

I get a car allowance & free fuel, tyres & servicing.

I am there 8 weeks at a time then 2 weeks back in the UK. They pay premium economy class flights.

I get an extra $54/day living allowance on top of my normal salary.

This is based in Houston.

Note: Other companies & ofers may vary.

HD Adam

5,144 posts

183 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
swerni said:
HD Adam said:
I do this on an L1-A visa.

My company pays for a fully furnished apartment, utilities etc.

I get a car allowance & free fuel, tyres & servicing.

I am there 8 weeks at a time then 2 weeks back in the UK. They pay premium economy class flights.

I get an extra $54/day living allowance on top of my normal salary.

This is based in Houston.

Note: Other companies & ofers may vary.
Bet they regret the free tyres wink
Only for the daily driver.

Not the race car or bike frown

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
The things you might want to think/ask about are:
- Which country will pay me?
- Do I /can I rent out my house?
- driving licence will be needed in the US, help for that
- Assistance on Social security number
- Visa support
- If you own your own home, any impact on capital gains
- Will they help with US taxes? (This is key, otherwise, go to HR Block in the US and get it done)
- 1 or 2 way ticket?

Many companies are not giving the benefits they once did with relocation

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Friday 14th April 2017
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You really need to find out what contract you would be on for this job - i.e. UK expat to US (in which case relocation and accommodation/provisions are almost guaranteed) or US local contract, which would have you paid/treated as any other US employee. From an employment protection point of view I would be holding out for a UK expat contract as US employment protection is very heavily stacked on the employer side of things, rather than the employees. Either way, they should assist you with the visa application process.

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
Relocation or fixed term secondment?

abzmike

8,243 posts

105 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
As noted there are a lot of things to consider. One point not mentioned, I thought I would add. A former colleague or mine transferred over onto a local contract, relocation assistance, paid transport of belongings and so on, got into an apartment, car etc all fine. Fast forward 18 months, redundancies fall, he is 'let go'. Of course being on a local contract and not entitled to any help with relocation assistance back to the UK, basically marooned with out a valid working visa, and having to pay thousands to exit the rental apartment and move stuff back to the UK. Still being resolved. US HR a departments can be brutal.

So, make sure you get in writing every detail of the arrangements and understand what will happen in all eventualities. Then you can get on with enjoying it - it I had the chance I would.

Trabi601

4,865 posts

94 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
The jiffle king said:
Many companies are not giving the benefits they once did with relocation
I have seen many companies move towards a model where, if it's voluntary relocation, there's nothing offered.

These days I'd only expect relocation expenses if the company were enforcing it due to office closure / relocation etc.

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Friday 14th April 2017
quotequote all
abzmike said:
As noted there are a lot of things to consider. One point not mentioned, I thought I would add. A former colleague or mine transferred over onto a local contract, relocation assistance, paid transport of belongings and so on, got into an apartment, car etc all fine. Fast forward 18 months, redundancies fall, he is 'let go'. Of course being on a local contract and not entitled to any help with relocation assistance back to the UK, basically marooned with out a valid working visa, and having to pay thousands to exit the rental apartment and move stuff back to the UK. Still being resolved. US HR a departments can be brutal.

So, make sure you get in writing every detail of the arrangements and understand what will happen in all eventualities. Then you can get on with enjoying it - it I had the chance I would.
Quite - switching to a US contract can mean being fired "at will" with minimal compensation, and no valid visa to work.

Polarbert

17,923 posts

230 months

Saturday 15th April 2017
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Jefferson Steelflex said:
Whereabouts in US?

Firstly I'd be asking for a pre-assignment trip to see if you actually like it. Not a week in a hotel, but a longer period staying in an apartment or similar so you have to look after yourself. Parts of USA are lovely, others not so (It really is 50 different countries rolled into 1) and you may find, as I did, that you just couldn't live there once you have scratched the surface. I was looking at moving to Houston, got all excited about the new adventure, then lived there for 6 weeks while on assignment and found the politics, guns, healthcare and certain other issues drove me nuts.

I spent 5 weeks in San Diego last year and I absolutely could live there.
Sweet! I live in San Diego, quite a nice place to live.

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Sunday 16th April 2017
quotequote all
Lucky man... never mind relocation expenses, I'd pay my company for the chance to relocate in the US (as long as they do officially with the correct visas etc)

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
SkinnyPete said:
Due to the niche market that we work in employees have the opportunity to transfer between offices (EU and US) quite easily, the role that I do now in the UK office has just become available in the US office.

I have applied for it and my employer is entertaining it, before formal negotiations begin can anyone tell me what is the norm when it comes to relocating?

For example, is it reasonable to expect an employer to arrange or fund accommodation during the length of the arrangement (1 year at a time I believe)?

How many trips a year back to the UK is reasonable, 1 every 3 months?
My first question would be - what visa is my employer petitioning?
Everything else is pretty academic until you know the means by which you will be relocated and consequently what restrictions and/or freedoms will be afforded to you.

Have they shared this information with you - nothing else matters until you have this bit squared-away.

Matt Harper

6,613 posts

200 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
abzmike said:
As noted there are a lot of things to consider. One point not mentioned, I thought I would add. A former colleague or mine transferred over onto a local contract, relocation assistance, paid transport of belongings and so on, got into an apartment, car etc all fine. Fast forward 18 months, redundancies fall, he is 'let go'. Of course being on a local contract and not entitled to any help with relocation assistance back to the UK, basically marooned with out a valid working visa, and having to pay thousands to exit the rental apartment and move stuff back to the UK. Still being resolved. US HR a departments can be brutal.

So, make sure you get in writing every detail of the arrangements and understand what will happen in all eventualities. Then you can get on with enjoying it - it I had the chance I would.
In the case of any employment based visa, the petitioner is obligated to repatriate the beneficiary if the petitioner terminates the employment, regardless of reason.

What is being transferred on a local contract? Whatever it is, if it involves work in the US, there will be a visa requirement and as such, a petitioner, who must pay to send an ex-employee home (assuming they fire the employee).

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
Matt Harper said:
In the case of any employment based visa, the petitioner is obligated to repatriate the beneficiary if the petitioner terminates the employment, regardless of reason.

What is being transferred on a local contract? Whatever it is, if it involves work in the US, there will be a visa requirement and as such, a petitioner, who must pay to send an ex-employee home (assuming they fire the employee).
I.e. moving to America and signing a US contract so that you are just like any other US national working there; this is instead of remaining on a UK* contract on expat secondment which entitles you to UK employment protection (which is significantly better than US). As far as I'm aware, there is no statute law in the US that employers need to provide relocation assistance to those on local contract, regardless of visa status; I stand to be corrected though.

*In some cases companies will use an International entity for employing expat staff, so maybe UK protection wouldn't be applied depending on company policy.

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
parabolica said:
I.e. moving to America and signing a US contract so that you are just like any other US national working there; this is instead of remaining on a UK* contract on expat secondment which entitles you to UK employment protection (which is significantly better than US). As far as I'm aware, there is no statute law in the US that employers need to provide relocation assistance to those on local contract, regardless of visa status; I stand to be corrected though.

*In some cases companies will use an International entity for employing expat staff, so maybe UK protection wouldn't be applied depending on company policy.
More company policy than anything else, and if you were signing a US contract and employed by the US entity then repatriation expenses could easily be negotiated into the contract?

parabolica

6,703 posts

183 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
No reason why they couldn't; just my experience of US companies (having worked for 2 of them) was they wouldn't give you an inch in negotiations. However OP's situation might be different as they mentioned it's a niche job so hopefully more accommodating!

Vaud

50,291 posts

154 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
parabolica said:
No reason why they couldn't; just my experience of US companies (having worked for 2 of them) was they wouldn't give you an inch in negotiations. However OP's situation might be different as they mentioned it's a niche job so hopefully more accommodating!
Mine were generous on the salary and costs, but there was no flex on the contract (essentially fire at will)

The jiffle king

6,894 posts

257 months

Monday 17th April 2017
quotequote all
There are the technical aspects to consider, but also the cultural ones which when you move are much more challenging. People in the US drive everywhere.... and I do mean everywhere as there are relatively few sidewalks outside of the major urban areas. If you live outside of a major city, you will likely be in a sub division where it will be some distance to any store.
Drink driving is much more common than in the UK as people have to drive to bars. Depending upon where you are, the hours of work and sleep can be very different e.g. in Wisconsin the people I work with are in the office by 7am at the very latest, but leave around 3pm and lunch is at 11am.
You will be tired in the first few months of being there as there are more decisions to make e.g. when in a supermarket, knowing which brand to buy or having to read the labels e.g. if you buy Salmon, they can write color added

Its a great place to live and work, but moving your life is hard but ultimately very rewarding