Gillymonkey

I get 15 days vacation plus 11 bank holidays. In addition I can have 5 days paid sick leave per year. I think this is pretty good for an American employer but then the company I work for is British. I only got this job over in the US though so it wasn't a transfer deal or anything like that.

LeeWillo

What can I say, I like Tahoe!

LeeWillo

I am going to be blunt too.

What a ridiculous thing to say. I am not considering moving to the US based solely on the time off from work I would receive. There are many places in Europe where in my profession I would get 8-10 weeks off per year during planned shutdown periods. But I do not want to experience life in Europe, I want to experience life in the US. But, in doing so, I also want to travel to different states and different cities. All of this travelling, even if only for long weekends eats into my working life. If I can't do any of this I will not come to the States. It is that simple.

As it happens, from the high number of responses to my query, it seems that there is a vast difference of holiday entitlements that people get. I am happy with anything over 20 days including bank/public holidays whatever they call them over there before someone gets all high and mighty and chooses to correct me even though they no doubt know exactly what I am talking about. It is just that I heard from a couple of sources, that people only get 2 weeks off a year including bank holidays. Which obviously is not the case, so I will therefore consider looking at coming.

LeeWillo

In addition, to all those questioning my Visa eligibility; I have done quite a lot of research, and then spoken to a guy at an agency, I won't mention the name of them as I think that is against the rules. I had a 5 minute conversation with him, gave him an outline of my experience and that of my wife's. He told me the avenue which he considers would be most likely to have a successful outcome for my requirements, which was the same as what we had discovered in our research thus confirming we weren't missing anything. I am not going to apply for a visa and the expense that comes with it before deciding if I want to go to the States or not. To me, and I seem to be in the minority I understand with this feeling, is that I decide whether I want to go or not before looking at a Visa.
For example, I know that I do not want to live in the War zone that is afghanistan so do not look at the visa requirements. If I followed the logic of some people on here, the first I would do would be to found out if I can have a visa there, and then make a decision on whether I want to go or not.
I am very determined and persistent, if I want to go and live in the States I WILL find a way to make it happen. It may not happen straight away but it will happen.
When I came to Australia, a large number of people told me I wouldn't find an employer to bring me over. Guess what, it took a while, but I found an employer to bring me over. That is simply the way I am made and the way I achieve what I desire!

Zen10

Hi Lee

I think the confusion on this thread has arisen because there is no such thing as a "visa" you apply directly for, only visas you get because someone has offered you a job, or this applies to the majority of visas allocated each year (there are others for very specialised people wit international reputations, etc.), and you haven't mentioned that you have a job offer (or you think you can get one). That's all.

As for the leave, the US has no statutory leave, and is one of the worst places in the developed world in terms of employee protections and rights. Your current location (I'm in Australia too) is about 250 years ahead of the US on this score. Worse, because of the way US politics works, plus the terrible state of the economy, it is highly unlikely this situation will ever improve.

However, if it is your wife's dream to experience life in America, then I say do everything you can do make it happen. Life is too short for regrets!

Pulaski

On that much we can agree, because work visas are applied for by employers not employees, and it is unlawful for the visa to be paid for by the immigrant. The rest of your manifesto, well, not so much!

And BTW, stop talking to a visa agent, that it is not an appropriate source of advice and assistance with respect to immigration into the US. A visa agent will just butter you up, take his fee, and then shrug his shoulders when no visa is available for you. You have been warned!

Zen10

Also - just noticed you're in Whyalla, Lee. I'm not being funny but just about any other place in Australia is going to be so much nicer than that. Why not try Melbourne - then you've got the skiing in the Aussie Alps and no visa misery to get there.

Bob

Aye, plenty of people get much less.

Also, some people find that they can't opt to take a day off on either a Friday/Monday to extend a weekend.

So it really is a piece of string question and meaning less if not compared to your industry and seniority.

Also, likely you won't be qualified to work here and need state qualifications and the other half as a teacher can forget it realistically unless in college level.

Good luck though!

Moonshadow_Girl

I work in California, for a government agency no less, and we have a "use it or lose it" policy for vacation. Our max we can carry is 400 hours a year.

Here are my Union days off benefits (full-time, part-time is pro-rated):

Everyone gets 15 days paid sick leave (self and family combined) a year (can be accrued, no limits)

Everyone gets 13 1/2 days paid holidays a year

Everyone gets 5 days paid bereavement leave a year (cannot be accrued)

Up to 3 years we get 10 days paid vacation days

At 4 years we get 12 1/2 days paid vacation

At 5 years, 15 days paid vacation

For each year after you get one more vacation day until you top out at 25 days a year at 15+ years service (I'm now close to 12 years completion)

On the other hand, DH used to work at a non profit where he got 5 days sick leave a year, 8 holidays, and 10 days vacation--5 of those had to be taken during the week between Christmas and New Years, but at least he got paid shite money for the privilege.

Luckily, DH got a job at the same agency as myself. While he has great benefits, he'll have to work some years to see the benefits of vacation. As it is, we're headed back to Blighty in November for 2 weeks and he is cutting it close. No days off whatsoever for him for the rest of the year so that his 2 weeks are fully funded (I have so much time right now, it's practically silly. We're only allowed to gift time/hours to co-workers for medical reasons, not vacationing in Blighty reasons. )

Leah326

Aye, you can place a cap on total holidays you are able to accrue but you can't operate a use it or lose it policy in CA. We don't currently have a cap (are considering it though) and some folks have 500- 1000 hours in their accrual pot - potentially huge liability that we'd have to pay out if they leave without taking it.

From reading the posts it seems I'm fairly lucky having 15 days (120 hours, increases with 5 and 10 yrs service) plus 7 bank hols and 4 personal days. I also get up to 10 sick days.

Mind you in the UK I used to get 33 days plus 8 bank hols and a very generous sickness policy in my previous company to the one I transferred with.

I do share some of the OP's thoughts that in making the move, you do want the time to be able to enjoy it and explore, so I guess I'm luckier than most with the VSP I was given.

scrubbedexpat099

I take a lot of this with a bucket of salt.

what I did notice was that at 5pm when I played Squash in Boulder FAC would be packed, whilst in the UK everybody would still be at work. By 7.30 pm the place was empty, everybody had gone home.

Having had the misfortune to go down to Denver today was stuck in the 4pm rush hour.

As far as the concept is concerned, well why not just pay the goeing hourly worked rate, any holiday both parties agree, why should that be paid? Just an accounting issue.

LeeWillo

I don't want to broadcast my whole life on here but I have had a verbal offer of employment where they said they would apply for a H1B visa or something. They have told me can't do it until next year as that is how it works, but it works well if the project they are wanting me for. I am just awaiting the official offer of employment to consider whether I want to take it or not. I don't know pay or leave details or much more than that as yet.

Skiing isn't the be all and all, it was said in jest more than anything although I do like skiing and would like to go when I can. I did it in europe 4/5 weekends in winter plus a full week. Obviously if I really wanted to stick with the skiing I wouldn't have come to Australia.

Zen10 I know whyalla is probably the worst place in Australia - work brought me here from Perth at a time when they made about 60 people redundant due to a downturn in work so it was either come here or join them. Being out of work with loads of other people when I am on a 457 and would have to be out of the country in 28 days didn't really appeal to me.

Sorry if I am getting a bit irate about the visa/green card question/lawful right to live and work in America whatever people want to call it as some are pulling me up on technicalities. I just asked one simple question, on something that is quite important to me in making any decisions. I have moved countries once and am well aware of the logistical nightmare that it is. I am not stupid enough to think I can get on a plane, land where I want and set up home there.

Zen10

If you are able to get the H1B, then you're quite right to dismiss the visa issue and focus on the other things like annual leave which as you have probably got from this thread is not very good in the US. Also, remember whatever wage they're offering you'll have to set aside a certain amount for healthcare, although you might choose to pay private in Australia as well. I guess many of us here are addicts - addicted to trying new countries. No amount of sense will prevail with us! We have wanderlust damn it and will not be told

LeeWillo

I can imagine that we will very much end up that way! Where do you live? Where have you lived?

Zen10

My tale is too boring to tell, but today I live in Adelaide, not too far from the aforementioned Whyalla. To be honest, we've started a family now and I can't see us going through another immigration process. If we move anywhere it'll be closer to family, and this means Britain, but I also have my eye on a few European locations because = no visa required... for now...