Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi All,

I'm in negotiations with two companies offering me work in Plano, TX. One is offering more than the other, but the one offering less money is for a better company.

Anyway, the long and short of this is I need to agree figures with them in 24 hours, so if anyone can help me out with a few questions that would be good :)

I am looking to move over with my wife and two small children so need rough figures for these:

Rent of a 3 bed house in a nice area (monthly)
Gas for the month
Electricity for the month
Food for the month
TV / Phone / Internet for the month
Council Tax for the month

I've tried to find prices for these on the net, but no luck yet :(

TIA

Matt.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi Matt.
Welcome to BE. I've PM'd you. Hope it helps.:)

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

What is this Council Tax of which you speak?
Property taxes? Utilities? If you're renting you wont need to pay property taxes.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

I love how so many British people think every other country has council tax!

Good luck anyway Matt.
Have visas been discussed btw because it's all moot otherwise? And whether or not they will pay for green card sponsorship as with 2 kids that gets expensive (and of course impossible if they won't sponsor you at all). Relocation and repatriation costs should also be considered as part of your decision if they are not offering the same.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

what type of visa are you on?

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

He's not. He's still in negotiations to move to the US :rolleyes:

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Perhaps it should have been what kind of visa do you plan on being on...

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi Matt we are in Houston, so not sure how comparable it would be for Dallas.

Rent (we think its expensive) at 1400 a month for an oldish 3 bed house.
Gas (depending on the time of year) but around 50 a month
Elec (again more expensive with aircon) but around 80 a month
Food (we like to make a lot of fresh stuff, so it can be a lot cheaper) probably 500 (but thats just for 2 of us)
TV/phone/internet and cable I think is 140 a month

Hope this helps

Amanda

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Don't forget cars - you will likely need two, and insurance for a newly landed peep is waaaaay expensive.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Are you familiar with the way of life here at all before you make such a big move?

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

I also forgot - of course - health insurance.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Look on www.realtor.com and click on the rentals tab, and put in Plano. I had a quick scan looking for a 5 bed/3 bath place in Plano (Got to get a Mcmansion in Tx :)) and it turned back a good few listings - not sure if this link'll work but if not just do it manually as described above.

http://www.realtor.com/rentals/searc...6&bth=6&typ=40

3/2 even more plentiful and cheaper:

http://www.realtor.com/rentals/searc...4&bth=4&typ=40

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Personally, I would consider moving somewhere else.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

we loved Dallas the 3 years we were there - the costs really depend on where you live - gas will be a big expense as its a big city and you will be driving alot!

You are renting so no taxes - however we lived in a relatively posh area and taxes were $12k - but thats only if you own. You can get a nice apartment with pool etc for under $1500. plus you can live in a great area and buy a mansion for around $300k - peanuts compared to home.

If you have a house your utilities can top $500 or $600 a month when the aircon is going - smaller house or apartment will be much less.

Personally I would go for the better company but it depends what the difference is if its $10k pa no issue, if its $100k its an easier choice!

Good luck - and don't let people put you off Dallas - best 3 years of our lives!

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

If you ain't a USC or a LPR...and not currently employed by one of them for a company transfer, and unless it's for a university position, I wouldn't bother looking for further specifics because you ain't getting a visa...

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

what you on about, that's well cheap as was the rest of the list...

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Don't forget to add in all of your relocation costs - they should pay for those too. Ours are estimated at around £10k all in all, so make sure they pay for them or give you a lump sum to cover them.

It might also be an idea to tell people on here what the job is and what kind of salary they offering, as others in that area will be able to tell you how you will be able to survive on it.

Best of luck.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi All,

Wow, loads of responses - thanks to those of you that gave positive advice.

Well, in answer to some of your questions:

My visa is likely to be an E2 visa which I've been told will let me bring dependents out with me on (Wife and kids)

I'm not really familiar with the Dallas lifestyle, but this seems to be a once in a lifetime opportunity, that I don't want to turn down. Plus, if I don't like it, i'll go somewhere else or back home.

Cars and health insurance are taken into account - i've based this on renting from Dollar / Hertz - can anyone suggest anywhere better?

So far, I have worked out I need the following (monthly)

$2000 to send back home for my flat
$1500 for two cars
$300 for clothing
$600 for utilities (gas, electric, water, internet, phone, TV)
$300 for entertainment (eating out, cinema, kids stuff etc)
$500 for food
$630 for healthcare (to add my family to the corporate package from my employer)
$2000 for rent
$300 for petrol

The job is either with Ericsson for $111k or T-Mobile for $146k. I know i sound greedy pushing for the extra $30k, but I'll be on a 12 month rolling contract, so need to save some pennies for if my contract doesn't get renewed.

Hopefully this will answer a few of your questions and give you some idea about what I am trying to do, so that you can point me in the right direction :)

Thanks again
Matt

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

I thought the E2 was an investment visa, not an employment visa?? :confused:

I'm off to Google it now though, might be wrong!

Edited to add: I've Googled it and it's a visa for people buying a minimum of 50% of a business and investing at least $150,000 into it - so if you're buying 50% of T Mobile or Ericsson then you must be loaded!! Don't think you've got the right visa somehow, I'd go back to the immigration lawyers for the 2 companies involved and ask them again which visa they will be getting you.

P.S. Just done a search of the forums too and found this thread, which is the most recent about E2 (although there are loads there if you have the time) - http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...hlight=E2+visa

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi Matt,
I am working at T-Mobile as a contractor on an E2 visa in California. No idea about Plano, but if you need any general advice about the job or visa drop me a mail.
Good luck.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

It can't be an E2. L1? But not if you don't already work for them....H1b?

Confusing Visa situation....

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Employees of an E2 company can get an E2 visa aswell.
Presumably Ericcson and T-Mobile are the E2 treaty investor companies, and they can apply for E2 visas for managers or executives, or specially trained employees necessary for the development of their investments.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Thank you! That has cleared things up, I was thoroughly confused there for a while after the last post and hoping someone would be along soon to explain it to a numpty like me. I read a few articles on it through Google and nowhere did it mention it could be used in this way!

Just out of interest why is it not mentioned to people asking how to move to the US as it seems a much easier/less restrictive way than the H1B? I've only ever seen the H1B and the L1 given as options for getting employment in the US so I'm intrigued as to why the E2 used in this way is not mentioned? It's not even in the Wiki - shock, horror!!

And apologies to Matt - didn't mean to frighten the life out of you, seems the immigration lawyers have got the right one after all!!

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hmm, I didn't know that either........my bad in that case.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Found a link that explains it, about half way down the page http://www.workpermit.com/us/investor_e1_e2.htm

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Mainly, I guess, because you have to find an E2 treaty company to employ you, which narrows the choice even more. Plus, there's no direct route to a Green Card, which most folks are working towards.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Very interesting. I always typically associated the E2 with small businesses, didn't know it was further reaching than that.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi ExpatMatt


Forgive me for asking but what kind of job is it for?, in other words what is the Job description as it seems strange that they are only giving you a 12 months contract?, especially as they are asking you to relocate to a different country..

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Ah, I see. Thanks for that, and for the link explaining it a bit more. Can we add that link to the Wiki maybe as there is no mention of this route there? I know anyone can edit the Wiki but not sure if we're allowed to put external links on to it? :)

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

I believe the cost of living is quite reasonable in Texas so the salary should be OK. Treating it as a temporary move by keeping your flat sounds sensible, I don't think you could move within the US on that visa.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Matt, just PM'd ya about Plano.

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Just make sure they stump the tax on top or you'd be munted at tax time....

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

more...probably be looking at that for the AC in the summer for a decent sized gaff....

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

yes it can - treaty trader visa - foreign company sinks much moolah into the state and can bring over as many people on E2 as they want

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Just wanted to add a little more about the E2 from my perspective, as this is how I am currently employed in the US.
My employer is a UK company that has E2 status due to investment in the US. I have an E2 visa as an employee of that company as I am a UK citizen and fall into the specialist skills category that the company needs to continue/grow operation in the US. I then work as a consultant to whichever client my employer sends me to.
My E2 visa is good for 5 years. I believe it can be transferred to another E2 company, but am not certain on this.
Matt's situation is pretty common in the telecoms field. A lot of the work is contract work and with the H1B problems the E2 is the only decent chance of getting employment (provided you meet the criteria)

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi Lisa,

I'm a mobile phone network engineer. In the US they are just starting to roll out a new network that we completed some time ago. They are looking to the UK to help them out with our skills. Its a rolling 12 month contract, so I expect to be out there for a few years.

Regards,
Matt

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Spooky..My OH is in the same business..:)

Are you a Switch or Field based Engineer...?

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Matt,
Couldn't get your PM as I haven't made the 3 posts required to use the PM facility. Hopefully this posting will let me read your message!

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

Hi Lisa,

I can do both. Im an optimser, planner and BTS engineer :) Your OH doesnt know of any job opportunites by any chance?

Matt

Re: Moving to Dallas - a little urgent
 

I thought you had two offers on the table? Thats just greedy!