scrubbedexpat083

Hi all,

Thought i would try posting on here to get a little feedback, advice and input.

I am in talks with a company based in Akron OH about a current job vacancy. I am a mechanical design engineer with quiet a niche area of expertise. My friend has already made the move over there. He has a degree so no issue. He says me coming over with my NVQ qualifications wont be a issue because its a specialised area i work in. Would this be the case? The company has seen my cv (sorry resume) anyway so i am assuming not a issue. I am trying to get my EngTech with the IMechE at the moment.

Im really excited about this opportunity. I've tried intercompany transfers in the past to get into the USA but all ways failed. Everything is crossed.

I currently have a non-compete clause in a contract from a previous employer. My potential new employer has lawyers looking into the validity of this. I have already seen a UK solicitor and they basically said its not worth the papers its written on. I am taking this as a good sign if the company is already spending money on lawyers? Sound promising to me. Cant see why they would entertain the idea otherwise.

With Covid going on at the moment we are due to have a interview in Jan over TEAMS. They have already asked if i will relocate on a H1B with a view to getting greencards for both me and my wife, of course this is a yes.

I'm struggling to find an average wage for a mechanical design engineer in Akron? I have around 20 years experience, proficient in Solidworks etc. My friend works in a different field so his salary will be different.

The company offer 100% health care cover, which is obviously a major thing.

How many holidays should i ask for? I know the UK is lagging behind most of the EU, but USA are behind the UK on entitlement also.

Whats the average cost of living? Nice 3/4 bed house , 1 maybe 2 cars, and eventually hopefully mini me. Would it be better to sell my UK house and buy a house once settled? Heard can be difficult getting credit. Also we obviously would be in rented accommodation initially. What are peoples views on pets? We have 4 french bulldogs, wife's idea. But theyve grown on me and couldn't bare to leave them or split them. A more substantial deposit isnt a issue.

What relocation package should i ask for? To be honest i just want to get in and working without pushing my luck to much. But if you don't ask you don't get.

Oh my wIfe is a british citizen, full uk passport, indefinite leave to remain, Russian born. Is this going to be a issue? She would be coming under my H1b anyway.

Thanks in advance. Im sure i have loads of other questions 🙂

scrubbedexpat099

well Hib does seem an obvious route, the lack of qualifications can be balanced by work experience but it is basically a lottery, 1 in 3 chance so I doubt the non compete would be relevant.

What time scale are they looking at, would you be working remotely in the UK in the mean time.

steveq

I don't think you ask for holidays, you get them. The Americans still build holiday time with length of employment. In your first six month, you will be unlikely to get ANY vacation, in a lot of places.

SanDiegogirl

While offering 100% health cover, doubt that would mean you won't have monthly premiums or co-pays so you need to budget for this in negotiations for salary
Can't advise on what a mechical design engineer gets in the way of income but nothing less than what you are getting now.
4 dogs? then you might struggle with renting or have to pay a big deposit.
A decent re-location package would consist of compan paying for flights over, a couple of months rent, maybe a rental car; however, if you have applied for the job as opposed to them approaching you then they might not be so generous.
If you wife has a British passport she does not have indefinit leave to remain.... she is a citizen.

steveq

Try looking on Glassdoor for representative jobs.

joto

Rather than an H1b, look into a L1A for you and a L1B, for your wife, or is it a L2?

steveq

I got the impression the OP wasn't already working for the outfit in Akron, so its either the H1B, or, an offchance, an O-1 ?

christmasoompa

British citizen or ILR? Can't be both! Either way it shouldn't be an issue, although assume you're aware she couldn't work as a dependent on your H1-B? Hopefully that's ok, if not then I'd look at other visas with the immigration lawyers and see if there is any other option.

Good luck.

scrubbedexpat083

Im assuming with having a full british passport she be a british citizen.

The company said H1B and that she wouldn't be able to work under that. Is their another type she could work under then? What typical visa costs are involved for the company?

christmasoompa

Yes, she's a citizen if she has a passport.

Most other visas would allow her to work, it depends what you qualify for - it's really a question for the lawyers. I've no idea what our move is costing in visa/lawyer fees as it's just part of our relocation package. But costs I've seen quoted on the forum are around $5-10k, yours may be more if they're prepared to sponsor green cards as well.

civilservant

You say that your 'friend' has already made the move over, are they working for this specific company? Has this company ever sponsored immigrants for work visas before?

Assuming it would be an H1-B, you'd be looking at a March application (opens in April) for an October start, with a 25% chance of actually being successful. I would not be going all in on this right now, the chances are not nothing, but slim.

I'm sure they don't. They contribute towards the premiums for group membership, that is no where near 100% coverage. You will 99% have monthly deductions from your check, along with co-pays and annual deductibles.

My view? I'm a cat person.

Trying to convince a landlord to allow you to keep 4 dogs might require you to throw a substantial wedge of cash at the issue. If landlords allow pets at all (a good number don't) it's usually max 1 and a pet deposit is required for potential damages.

scrubbedexpat083

Yeah they got my friend over 18 months ago. Their main concern is the non compete clause in my contract. But if i can't get in until next october potentially anyway thats not going to be an issue.

Yeah its definitely 100% paid, no deductions each month from salary.

Yea my concern is the dogs. Maybe sell up her buy a mobile home or something. Depending on rules etc. Cant leave the stupid things. They are all related to each other as well.

Lion in Winter

Indeed.

OP, while there are a very tiny handful of companies that pay 100% of the premium, this almost certainly wouldn't mean 100% of your costs even so. You would need to see the details of the policy from the insurer, like any other insurance policy. Read all the fine print carefully as to what is and what is not covered (and who, make sure your wife is included), deductibles, out of pocket costs, co-pays, etc.

Make sure you also budget for flying all those dogs across the Atlantic. Are they offering you a relocation package?

Lion in Winter

OP, check my post above re health insurance costs.

christmasoompa

I feel your pain. We have 3 dogs and 2 cats (although I think we're only taking 1 of the cats), and I have to say so far we haven't had any issue when enquiring about rentals - there are some that won't take any pets at all, but those that do are happy with the pets we have, although as said above, only with a very hefty deposit!

We're lucky enough that the company are paying for our housing which includes the rental deposit, so we don't have to find that money, it's certainly an eye watering amount. But if you are prepared to stump up cash as an extra deposit, hopefully you'll find somewhere prepared to take all dogs.

Best of luck.