Originally Posted by seanyg

Gosh I didn't know that. So even if we just got a secondment somewhere, we'd still have the same problem...

Would it be really dodgy to sublet our house to my mother-in-law (say if we went abroad for just a year or two) without telling the bank...? Sounds foolish just writing it - I don't like taking risks!

Originally Posted by Steve_

No IT occupation is currently on the skilled worker list for Canada, so US or Canada you'd be looking at a work permit and if the company goes bust (which is what happened to me when I lived in the US) then you're stuffed.

Getting a job in the US isn't just about who you know, IT security would be H-1B and there is a quota, it doesn't sound as though his job has any management element to it so he wouldn't qualify for intracompany transfer either, assuming that was even possible (his current employer would have to have a US office and he must have been with them at least a year).

He might get H-1B if he gets under the quota limit but no guarantee (plus usually you need to have a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience to get H-1B). My experience with US employers is they're really keen until they're faced with the paperwork.

Also the £ is extremely weak at the moment, so now may not be the best time to move.

Moving to the US has the problem of their high healthcare costs, so if any of your family has any health problems, not recommended. Also really high college/university tuition rates.

Housing costs in the US should be less than here. As for the state of the economy I would say in Canada it's flat but not as bad as the UK or the US. I get the impression the housing bubble in Vancouver is just about to burst though.

If I were in your situation I would leave it a few years to be honest, wait until the economy stabilizes.

Originally Posted by seanyg

His company opened an office in NYC a few months ago, and so far they keep sending people over for up to three months at a time (presumably to dodge the visa issue?). He's been with them since Feb but we wouldn't be looking to move at the moment anyway, it's too soon (we've just moved house). But we know how long these things take so even if we're not looking at going anywhere for another couple of years, we still need to make a decision within the next year and do research, etc.

No, I don't think his role involves any management (he'd hate that - he doesn't like telling people what to do, bless!). When you say really high college fees, do you mean they're higher than the £9k a term some UK universities intend on charging....? We don't have any health problems (touch wood) but I'm dental-phobic and have had to had sedation to have work done...

Thanks for your useful comments

Originally Posted by delsol79

Wow what a post and so full of questions that could never be answered unless you have a crystal ball however I can help a little with the work thing.

I have been an ethical hacker/penetration tester for over 5 years now and was UK CHECK Team Leader, the CREST forerunner. The market here in Canada is way behind UK in terms of demand as I have found very quickly. CREST/CHECK is of course not recognized here and 7 months experience puts you very much in junior category so I think would be hard pushed to get a work permit based on that.

My advice would be to stick with the UK until he is more senior in his role and can command a job/decent salary based on that. I am well aware of the money that can be made in UK as CREST (as in the full CREST not registered tester)/CHECK consultant and believe you me you will not make that money here in Canada.

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl

No it would not dodge the visa problem. If you think you're taxed to death in the UK...you'll be in for a huge surprise if you lived in the NY met area.

Originally Posted by seanyg

When you say really high college fees, do you mean they're higher than the £9k a term some UK universities intend on charging....?

Originally Posted by delsol79

"Physical pen testing" = social engineering

Tell him he can PM me if he wants any further info/questions.

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

Er, no. £9k a year, not a term. Cheap compared to the $50k or so a year at an equivalent US uni will cost you!

Originally Posted by christmasoompa

Er, no. £9k a year, not a term. Cheap compared to the $50k or so a year at an equivalent US uni will cost you!

Originally Posted by seanyg

Oops, that's what I meant! That's what you get when you're rushing to reply whilst you can smell your dinner burning downstairs!

Originally Posted by seanyg

Hi there,

Wow you're the first pen tester I've found on this website - are you alone here?! May I ask how you managed to emigrate to Calgary in this role, or were you already over there doing something else? (sorry, I've not had a chance to read your profile before writing this). CREST is the exam he's just started working towards. He's been at the Derby-Con in Louisville (KY) the past week, so when he gets home tomorrow I'll have to show him your post as he'll be interested in knowing about the market in Canada, particularly about the lower wages... (or do they tend to be lower for most jobs over there?).

Originally Posted by snowshoveller

US universities will definitely cost more than the current UK plans, I suspect the same in true of Canadian ones.

You should probably stop reading the daily Mail as your view of the UK with all the doom and gloom is probably tainted. You do know that there is no upfront cost with university education in the UK, it is in effect extra tax that graduates pay when they are working.

Originally Posted by snowshoveller

You do know that there is no upfront cost with university education in the UK, it is in effect extra tax that graduates pay when they are working.

Originally Posted by Miss Clinique

Can I ask where in Northampton you live? I lived there for a number of years.