Bournemouth Girl

Hi,
I'm new to the forum but have read quite a lot of posts and a few of the wiki links. Everything so far has been so helpful so thank you but it's also terrifying everything I need to think about / consider.

I'm early 20s work for a US bank and have been offered a job in Delaware on a L1 visa expat contract. I put forward my aspirations to work in US after working for 3 months in Delaware / NY. I have so many questions - I'm in early stage of discussions salary offer just north of $60K is this a good offer / will I be able to live comfortably in DE? I will be living with my partner on a similar wage.

Company is also offering a relocation package - is anyone able to give me an idea of what i should expect / what would be a decent offer? Although I wanted to move to US DE wasn't my first choice and management want me to manage a team in DE.

Also last question for now - expat contract anyone know benefits / drawbacks of expat contract vs local?

Thanks in advance

Noorah101

What visa did you have that allowed you to work in the USA for 3 months?

Have you worked for the sponsoring employer for at least 1 year out of the past 3 years?

Is your partner a USC? Is marriage in the cards?

Rene

Bournemouth Girl

Hi Rene,

Thanks for the response, I was on ESTA visa as still paid in U.K. Just training for 3 months in US. Yes I've worked for company for 3 years. I know they are proposing a 7 year visa. Partner is a USC marriage on cards but not for a few years .

Any advice or what I need to consider / unexpected costs etc for moving to US? Company offers health insurance but includes deductibles and copay.

Noorah101

ESTA is not a visa. You were here under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP)..hopefully not for a full 3 months, but less than 90 days, as that's all that's allowed on the VWP.

There have been lots of threads, and probably a Wiki or 2, regarding your questions.

Visa- related discussions will be in the US Visa and Immigration forum. Discussions on relocation packages and general living in the USA will be in this forum.

Rene

Noorah101

Health insurance including deductable and copay is totally normal.

Rene

carcajou

$60k is an outstanding wage for someone in their early 20s.

If your partner is on the same wage, yes you will be fine.

Delaware is a tax haven which is why a lot of companies incorporate there. I wouldn't turn it down because it's "Delaware" - if you turn it down, do so for other reasons - as it is a foot in the US door for you - and then later down the track [especially if you get married and get a Green Card] you can go somewhere else.

Bournemouth Girl

Thanks - sorry I clearly have too much on mind I'm not early 20s any more..26 if that makes any difference. I've come round to DE definitely agree a foot in the US door .

Do you know any downfalls to being on an expat contract? Apologies if already posted haven't been able to find anything.

Also any idea on $ amount of relocation package - work asked me what my expectations were and I didn't have an answer.

Thanks

SanDiegogirl

Relocation package - usual expectations if company is asking you to move:

- Flights to new country
- Shipping of household goods and furniture
- Short term accommodation
- short term car rental
- 5K to 10K for incidental costs
- repatriation costs if things don't work out

Some others which are not common:

- flight home each year
- tax filing help for first year

What does your expat contract contain?

nun

I've spend a lot of time in DE and it's a good place to live and you'll be ok on $60k. The area around Wilmington and Newark can be a bit pricey because of DuPont and the university, but it's quite pretty. if you go south of Glasgow it gets rural very quickly and you are definitely in "The South" with all the good and the bad of that. Dewy Beach and Rehoboth Beach are fun places. It's definitely a bit off the beaten track, but that can be nice and you aren't far from Phily or even NYC and DC which are good fro weekend trips.

fbf2006

The South? Delaware is East of DC!

Anyway, you're close to Philly, DC and Baltimore. Also, who knows, you might find an opportunity at the bank in NYC, Chicago or another US city, if you don't end up liking DE. I think I know the bank. $60K should be good for DE.

tom169

Take a look on glass door to see how that salary stacks up against others.

ian-mstm

My wife and I were seriously considering a move to Delaware about 10 years ago but never followed through. Dover has a great non-smoking casino! We would have been in Rohoboth Beach. A modest 3-bed home in Dover runs about $250K... I expect Wilmington (you said you worked for a bank) to be about the same or more.

Can you live comfortably if you both make $60K? Yes... quite comfortably.

Ian

New Hampshire

Hi,

I'm from Christchurch but I've been living over near Boston for 10 years. I have a close friend who works at JP Morgan. He's worked there almost 20 years now and he's talked about job offers to move to their offices in Tampa or outside NYC.

His colleagues who have made the switch on a lot more money complain how expensive things are compared to the uk.

$60K is a great salary for a 26 year old, especially if you don't have kids.

Try and keep your UK holiday entitlement, American employees get 2-3 weeks quite often and that's a big deal.

Good luck!

Nutmegger

OP, are you talking about the town of Delaware in upstate New York, or the state of Delaware?

MsElui

would that bank be JMPC?

Thats how we came to the states, hubbie worked for them in London and came across on an L1A and L1B with then 10 years ago. Later converted to green cards. He no longfer works for them but now i do lol.