Harveyspecter

Haha, I try to keep some of my British roots

dj6372

I took my car for a service, and I asked them to check the front pads and discs...............................they gave me that WTF look.................................oh pads and rotors.........................

Harveyspecter

Service? You mean a 'Toon up' right?

Antihero

Well i am still in discussions and need to give a decision next week. They have adjusted the relocation package in line with the group so its a bit better . My only worry now is about Salary , i have made them aware the 90k doesnt seem enough for a single earner and possibility my wife wont work within the first year due to settling in and helping with kids etc......

What to do?

MidAtlantic

The real question on salary is, "Is the pay the right level in terms of comparability with others, in the same area, doing the same job"?

Only you can make the decision but, if it was me, I would go for it, rather than forever wondering, "what if"?

Crux

For me it would be heavily dependent on having your employer agreeing (in writing) that they will petition for your green card at an agreed point in time.

Yes that salary is not going to go far at all… but, don’t underestimate the sheer economic and lifestyle opportunity over the long term of living and working in the US (especially the west coast) for both you and your family.

There is never a guarantee of course and even when earning good money life in the US is no cake walk, but if you do get permanent residency then for me it would be worth a few years of being frugal just to open up that future opportunity.

Pulaski

I agree with MidAtlantic and Crux's posts immediately above, but would add, do you have any feel for what future career steps are possible? Is there a path to further promotion if you take the CA job, or is this a position that you might be doing for a very long period, say a decade or more, if you didn't leave to take another job?

Overall I would lean towards taking the offer, but without a commitment to a green card and/or future career development potential, there are some downside risks.

Antihero

With regards to the Green card they have written in the contract that they will support the costs and there is 1 year contract tie or i would have to repay the costs...legal wise in US i am not sure if that is something they can do?

i don't mind frugal but i dont want to count pennies....

Antihero

Looking at the data online Salary ranges from 90k to 120k , so i would be on the bottom end of the scale.

Long term possibility of a more senior role (well thats what i have been told) it will all depend on the business and how i perform

Hotscot

90k would have been just about ok 20 years ago.
It's a decent area. I'd do it for the life experience. However you have a family.
In any case, do plan for your wife working.
First two years will feel like you're on holiday.

Take about a third off for taxes though and do some research what housing you can afford.

Rent.
https://www.zillow.com/ventura-ca/rent-houses/

Buy
https://www.zillow.com/ventura-ca/

Giantaxe

It's both legal and legitimate. Similarly, many employers have a one year clause on repayment of relocation expenses. Always remember how at one employer, a coworker gave his notice in the day after his one year expired...

retzie

Keep in mind that the employer is the one to initiate the process, so we're not just talking about costs. We normally recommend getting a commitment in writing to starting the GC process by a specific date/after a certain amount of time elapses. That way, they can't just sit there saying "it is not strategically optimal to sponsor you right now".

As others have said, is it completely normal that you be required to repay costs if you leave withing a pre-agreed time period (which is often more like 3-5 years).

Antihero

Thanks everyone..... the wife has decieded that we will go....we always have the option if it doesn't work out to return to the UK..

bit nervous but let's shake it up

Hotscot

You'll be good.

Lots of great places within driving distance. Cities, desert, mountains, California Coast.
Mediterranean climate. Amazing restaurants.Tons of concerts. Hollywood Bowl. Theater. Getty Museum.
Martini's while watching the sunset over the Pacific.
(Our favorite, although tonight we'll be drinking martini's while watching the blood moon eclipse.)

It'll be like being on holiday.

sherbert

That's the spirit. Your kids are young, there's nothing to lose and you can always go home if you decide that the Cali life is not for you. A couple of tips: bring only stuff you really want to have around you. If you decide that you don't want to stay it's unlikely that you are going to have an allowance to ship stuff home again and shipping furniture is insanely expensive. Make sure you have a significant chunk of savings handy. You'll be paying upfront for a lot of things when you arrive (landlords usually demand first month, last month and deposit equal to one month rent, so that's going to be around $8-9,000 right there. On the bright side, appliances are usually included in CA so you won't need to run out and buy a fridge/washing machine etc). Utilities companies may want advance payments for services as you have no credit history.