jjmb

are you still a contractor with the company that from a previous post excludes you from an L1A visa? I wouldn't come over on an H1B visa with a 16 yr old. At least with an L1A, there is a good chance you will be able to get a GC for that child.

PetrifiedExPat

Agree with all, I would aim for the two suitcase job, forget the container!

Crux

Two things already mentioned that you should pay special attention to.

1. Have in writing that the company will sponsor & pay for a green card for the whole family & have a maximum agreed time frame for them to file for it. The child age out at 21 is no joke and time moves fast. If you cannot secure that - then proceed only on the basis of this USA move being a temporary life adventure, and at that point consider just how much that could screw up your kids.

2. Repatriation if it does not work out – this is the one thing I did not have in my agreement that lost me some sleep on occasion. My package included UK house selling costs and US house purchase closing costs. The cost of those things in reverse would have been far higher. Not to mention the stress of having to move your life out of the country on a tight time line.

A nice to have that I would try for if I had my time over - Yearly return flight costs back to the UK to see family and an agreement that I could work remote in the UK for a week each year. I don’t really sweat the cost anymore, but I don’t like the fact that something so essential as seeing parents burns through precious vacation time. On that same theme, make sure you get a healthy vacation allowance built into the deal.

Crux

Also beware the potential for hidden costs.

I lost roughly $50k in purchasing power bringing money over to establish in the US. Planned my decision pre Brexit at an exchange rate of 1.42, ended up transferring cash at a rate of 1.22 - may not be an issue for you, but the point is that the move can be expensive in surprising ways.

All that said it's been more than worth it.

skybaba

Thanks for the message.

No longer a contractor. I've been an employee with them for 4 years.

SanDiegogirl

Off the top of my head the things which are going to cost you immediately:

- flights to the US
-hotel accommodation prior to flights and when you get to US
- temporary rental costs for apartment/house prior to buying, deposits etc
- shipping your furniture/personal items
- rental car costs until such time as you buy
- purchasing kitchen 'stuff' until such time as your goods arrive unless you get a fully furnished/equipped apartment.

Most of the above you can research online(especially for flights/accommodation/rental car) and get a good picture of what it would cost.

-

SanDiegogirl

He's not likely to get any of this since he is undertaking this move himself (the company are not asking him to move, HE has). So far they have only said they would provide the visas. He does not have much negotiating flexibility.