w3nderlust

Actually you get 30 days to move out of the US if you're on H1B and lose your job, unless you can find another employer quick enough during that period to transfer your H1B, so for the time being I guess it's not the biggest factor. In the long run, however, it can turn serious if they settle in the US

Hawkini

I think Moses2013 actually meant in terms of compensation. Obviously US Employers are not under any law to give you anything, apart from maybe senior people who they dont want to burn bridges with...

The only thing (unless this has changed since 2011) an Employer MUST give you is the primary petitioners cost of repatriation - i.e. one flight ticket and moving your stuff back. The rest of the family is your cost.

For L-1 visas (I found out AFTER I moved) there is nothing at all the employer has to do, so if it is NOT in your relocation offer make sure you get it in there in writing that they'll repatriate you if they decide to terminate your employment. You must as well ask as a H-1B holder the same thing for the rest of the family.

Moses2013

Yes, compensation and cost of a private health insurance for the whole family.

HartleyHare

Repatriation is a really important consideration. It's not just the cost of moving your family/stuff/pet home, but also the likelihood of having to break a lease agreement on your home and possibly car. I don't know about the rest of the US, but here in NJ home rental leases are typically signed for a year and if you break it the landlord can ask for rent to be paid for the remaining term. I don't how often this would happen though.

Also, if you have property back in the UK that you are renting out, you will need to give your tenants sufficient notice to vacate the property.

dlake02

90K in the East Bay ? No way. Maybe a house in some parts of Oakland

We were on $160k and found it a struggle in the middle of Silicon Valley. £100k/year is a bloody good salary in the UK (my brother is a GP on £66k year and does very nicely), but EVERYTHING is much more expensive. Usually not the "sticker price" but by the time you add on extras, it all adds up.

CAdreaming

I have just moved to the east bay area and boy it is expensive to rent!! We are paying twice as much for a smaller apartment than in Humboldt county....and I don't even have a washing machine in the flat

N1cky

I've got a washer and dryer for sale if you're interested

CAdreaming

Thank you....however the apartments are not built for them....no space or outlet..there's a laundry room onsite we use...ahhh apartment living US style. I have a pool tho!!!
Thanks again

bewildering

I believe you get three choices. One of which will take you, at least that was what i was told and appears to be confirmed on SDUSD website.

Bob

Not quite.

They are only responsible for the flight home of the primary, so they don't have to send your shit back with you, unless you negotiated that into your contract.

Sally Redux

Yes, postdocs often get subsidised housing and healthcare.

bewildering

Not in the UC system. Public. The UC accommodation is available for postdocs but they pay fair market value, a lot more than grad students. And the waiting list is 18 months the last time i tried to help a postdoc.

Certainly you do get help in CSHL, Rockefeller and NYU. But New York is a hard place for scientist.

Sally Redux

I'm talking about UCLA at least.

bewildering

Interesting, UCLA gave zero help to my friend. Though this could be lab specific. It probably requires the PI to care about the postdocs.

Pulaski

Isn't it all about the financing of whatever the research program is? A lucrative research project running in partnership with a for-profit business can have money to throw around.