RoadWarriorFromLP

Please save some of that wall for me.

retzie

I lose track of all the unique special snowflakes

OP: I think you should definitely get in touch with your potential team on the ground. They can give you a sense of where people live, commutes, etc. You never know - if everyone is living on scraps, they may have some functional 'grown-up' sharehouses happening.

sherbert

Perfectly certain about the h4 rules. I just didn't know about this aspect for other visas and now it is clear thanks.

Ooh I love a good searcher! There's no 'apparently' about it. I volunteered 2 days a week for three months and then decided it was not for me. The entire organisation was run by volunteers which meant it was extremely disorganised. Plus they wanted me to join the board and actually pay for that privilege so I said seeya.

And I never said I was living on less than $50k. I said I lived on a little bit more than that. And also how is it a bold choice? I can't work here on my current visa so instead of 'drinking coffee under a palm tree all day', I'm doing stuff that might help my career in the long run.

Ok thanks, like I said I didn't know that. I thought it was just h4.

sherbert

Yes thank you - but I didn't realise it was the same situation for people on certain other visas. Now I know and you can all stop accusing me of breaking the law/inciting people to break the law etc

MoshiMoshi

I know this thread's been done to death and the OP's long-since run off screaming, but I just want to answer the 'how is it a bold choice' question.

If you're committed to a career path, it's an extremely bold choice to move to a country where you aren't legally able to work. I don't think any amount of 'just do it' or 'it's what you make of it' rhetoric should distract from the one huge, immovable point that until your circumstances change -- spouse gets a greencard; someone sponsors you for a visa -- you can't do the one single thing that maintains and advances your career, i.e. work in a properly recognised, compensated job.

It depends on the field, but IMO volunteering, networking, staying informed etc are more damage-limitation than progress, if you can't legally work. You're trying not to backslide, but you're not moving forward. You can't even work for free, if it's a role for which someone would normally be compensated.

If you're an L2 or J2 who can get an EAD, but really needs a job ASAP because the principle visa holder isn't earning a decent household income, then the chances are you're going to make some big compromises on the career front, too. You're going to take the job that's there, not wait for the right role to come up. And that's nothing a billion people aren't doing every day, but they didn't purposefully recolate several thousand miles for the privilege.

It's absolutely not impossible for a trailing spouse to maintain a career, but I think it's vital to go into it with your eyes open. You're interrupting or altering your own career path to prioritise an opportunity for your spouse. You're limited by your visa terms -- unless you want to push it and either slightly or totally flout them. Your spouse has a fixed income and is dependent on one employer until they gets a Green Card. There are some extremely fixed variables in play that are completely impervious to positive thinking and personal agendas. That's why it's a bold choice.

FinnDiego

Ah, games industry. Not a surprise - BTDT and there's not a chance they'd pay me enough to go back... However a lot of people want to work there, which means wages will be lower than a similar skill set just about everywhere else, at least on the engineering side of things.

All the noise aside, I think I'd stick with my earlier comment: Yes, you can live on $50k/year in San Diego, but no it won't be much fun, and I wouldn't take that deal. Different people have different priorities though. Some people make it sound like you'd be starving and abject poverty... Also, don't underestimate the startup costs from moving to a new country - make sure you have a buffer.

Can't comment on issues for "trailing spouses" - I haven't been one myself and didn't bring one along.

N1cky

What are you doing for them? At $50k it sounds like a QA type role? If there is a lot of demand, are you going to fit the L1 requirements of specialized knowledge?

fozzyb

More to the point, if there is a lot of people with your skills then getting the greencard is not going to be possible - if that was your plan.

N1cky

That's what I was thinking

fozzyb

Could probably blag almost anything for the L1 (specialist knowledge in the company's products and procedures etc) but not for PERM.

I guess we don't know if the OP was thinking of this being a permanent thing or just a one year adventure.

N1cky

He did edit an earlier post to say the company would file for his GC, so he must be thinking of a permanent move.

At that salary it's not going to be an L1A, so will have to go through the labor certification, which I think would be difficult, and even if it does go through could take years.

shained

Hey everyone!

Been a good while since I posted but once again thanks for all the previous advice.

I had my L1-B visa interview last week and was told there and then that it would be accepted. There has been a minor issue with a date on one of the forms which has held up the acceptance of the visa but they have the new forms so hopefully I will receive it this week.

The job offer was increased slightly $55k which is a bonus. I will also be getting 2 weeks salary as a miscellaneous expense account, flights paid for, possible freight for good (just waiting on confirmation), 60 days accommodation, car rental for 30 days and tax consultation.

I know its still going to be a bit of a struggle but I am excited!

username.exe

Congratulations!
Give me a shout if you need help getting settled in SD.

Ozzidoc

Great news - very exciting

bewildering

Great choice. San Diego is an amazing place. Good luck. Remember to use this pace for advice on areas to live etc.