Pulaski

All of those are potentially negotiable, though car plus insurance is probably the toughest as companies in the US do not commonly provide cars unless there is a genuine business need for one. Also be aware, unless you're planning on living right in the centre of Chicago, or planning to provide taxi service to and from work for your boyfriend, you will need two cars.

The thing about employer-provided health insurance is that it almost always involves some payment by the employee. The employer may subsidize it, often heavily, but the employee usually pays part of the insurance premiums, then when you have a medical expense the insurance usually requires (i) you pay a small (ish) point of service fee ("copay") - perhaps $25 or $30 for a GP ("family doctor") visit or $50-$100 for a specialist, and (ii) each year you have to pay the first $X before the insurance kicks in, known as the "deductible", it can be anything from $0 to $5,000 or more. I think my family deductible is about $8k, but then my premiums are peanuts. .... I have heard of occasions when an expat on a negotiated package gets to run the copays and deductibles back through the company expense account, but I would say that is rare.

It seems to me that housing AND a "strong basic salary" might be a tough sell - there is likely to be a trade off of one against the other.

ian-mstm

Since none of this is actually immigration-related, I suggest you post the questions in the general USA forum.


Yes - taxes, and a repatriation clause which covers costs!

Ian

Pulaski

By which you mean, presumably, "paying for an accountant experienced in international tax to prepare their tax returns".

Also, sponsorship for a green card, if that is what you want.

LaurenUSA

Thanks guys, the company already offered a specific car in the initial draft contract, as well as 6 months housing for initial relocation.

We are outside of CHicago, so i guess we will need two cars once the novelty of driving him to work and picking him up has worn off

Repatriation costs is a good one to remember

I know it sounds like we want the moon on a stick here, but we are still taking a net reduction in income to move over (but I wont have to work and can start a family at some point)

He has added green card to the list!

christmasoompa

Have you read the Wiki article about relocation packages? I know he's not being relocated, but it sounds like a lot of that should apply here if he wants to negotiate a great deal and the company needs him enough.

LaurenUSA

Thanks christmasoompa!

I am actually an international recruitment consultant and used to relocating people and negotiating packages - so that's not a worry - its more around the idiosyncrasies of the USA and elements we would not know about coming from the UK.