Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
Aug 24th 2023, 10:15 am
#16
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Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
We were in a similar situation many moons ago but our children were only aged 4 and 6. A company paid move with rental support etc, etc was too good an opportunity to miss in our opinion so we went for the 2 year assignment in Houston, which was renewed for another 2 years in another city, Baton Rouge. It worked out so well that we ended up transferring permanently and it we all had a fantastic experience. The position I took had been filled by another colleague, who I knew well, and he had moved with his wife and 2 small children but his wife hated being away from home so after 2 years they came back. That cemented our decision to go because it was likely to be a great adventure but if it was bad for any of us, it was only 2 years.
We kept our lovely house in England and rented it out until we made the move permanent after 5 years in the USA.
We kept our lovely house in England and rented it out until we made the move permanent after 5 years in the USA.
Aug 24th 2023, 2:06 pm
#17
Deep in the woods of CT
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6,937
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
I know someone with more expertise will correct me, but I thought it was only possible for the dependent spouse to work if the visa holder had already applied for permanent residency?
Aug 24th 2023, 3:27 pm
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
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Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
Eligibility to work in the US as an H1B dependant
To be eligible for employment authorization as an H1B dependant:- You must be the spouse of an H1B non-immigrant worker.
- You must have applied for and been granted H-4 visa status.
- The H1B worker must be on track to attain a Green Card, that is they hold an approved Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker form I-140, or have been granted an extension to their H1B status under sections 106(a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21).
- As an H-4 visa holder, you must reside in the US at the time of your EAD application.
The OP said in his first post that his employer had offered him the job in the US; and he's getting a relocation package
Surely he would be moving on an L-1 ????
Then his wife could work from day one
Aug 24th 2023, 3:41 pm
#19
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,151
.... I misread the page that SDG cited.
Aug 24th 2023, 3:58 pm
#21
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,756
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
Thanks for all your comments.
I have been travelling to the US regularly for the last couple of years with trips often extending over a weekend so I have had time to do ‘normal’ activities (going to mall, walks in local area, colleagues house for BBQ) and not just going between the airport, hotel and office. We have also been on holiday a few times so we have a bit of an idea of what to expect.
Fortunately my company are covering house rental costs so we are not under pressure to sell our home but we may rent it out. Aside from the additional income renting would provide I feel that not having the convenience of an empty house to return to might help us focus on settling in the US.
My wife will have a working visa (we would be on H-1B) as part of the move so once the kids are settled she will probably look for some part time work,
We have decided that the best option for my eldest will be a British school so she can complete her GCSE’s and hopefully slot straight back into A Levels if we return to the UK. I am still in discussion with my company regarding private school for my youngest but if that doesn’t work out hopefully a top rated junior high school will provide a good enough standard of education that she is not too out of sync with the schools in the UK.
I’ve been given freedom to base myself wherever works best for the schools and our lifestyle so I have been looking at Charlotte and Houston as options. I think I am leaning towards Houston as despite the summer heat I like the idea of year round sun plus the schools look good if my youngest ends up at a public school.
The more I look into it all I feel it is a great opportunity to be able to experience life in another country for a couple of years without the commitment of a permanent move.
I have been travelling to the US regularly for the last couple of years with trips often extending over a weekend so I have had time to do ‘normal’ activities (going to mall, walks in local area, colleagues house for BBQ) and not just going between the airport, hotel and office. We have also been on holiday a few times so we have a bit of an idea of what to expect.
Fortunately my company are covering house rental costs so we are not under pressure to sell our home but we may rent it out. Aside from the additional income renting would provide I feel that not having the convenience of an empty house to return to might help us focus on settling in the US.
My wife will have a working visa (we would be on H-1B) as part of the move so once the kids are settled she will probably look for some part time work,
We have decided that the best option for my eldest will be a British school so she can complete her GCSE’s and hopefully slot straight back into A Levels if we return to the UK. I am still in discussion with my company regarding private school for my youngest but if that doesn’t work out hopefully a top rated junior high school will provide a good enough standard of education that she is not too out of sync with the schools in the UK.
I’ve been given freedom to base myself wherever works best for the schools and our lifestyle so I have been looking at Charlotte and Houston as options. I think I am leaning towards Houston as despite the summer heat I like the idea of year round sun plus the schools look good if my youngest ends up at a public school.
The more I look into it all I feel it is a great opportunity to be able to experience life in another country for a couple of years without the commitment of a permanent move.
Aug 24th 2023, 4:21 pm
#22
Just Joined
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Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
Aug 24th 2023, 4:45 pm
#23
DE-UK-NZ-IE-US... the TYP
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 2,756
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
Then your wife should get an L2S stamp on arrival (which is like an EAD) and be able to work from day 1 in theory and 2-3 weeks after arrival in practice (having her SSN in hand).
Aug 24th 2023, 5:05 pm
#24
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,151
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
And [1] that was a career job at a large corporation, not a cash-in-hand or low level service job, and [2] my employer had not sponsored a visa for me, I was a "local hire" equivalent to a USC in my employer's eyes, so they had no documentation in their files of my status - they knew I was a new immigrant, they just weren't part of the process.
Sep 4th 2023, 8:39 pm
#25
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 206
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
I live near Charlotte, it's a decent enough place to live but is a very bland city. The city center is very bland and corporate, and the rest of the area is just big suburban sprawl. The weather is definitely better than Texas or Florida though (summers are hot but not nearly as long and miserable as those two states).
I'm not too familiar with Boston but that would probably be my pick among the cities with official British schools. Though those inner suburban neighborhoods of Boston and adjacent suburban towns are renowned as being very expensive.
I'm not too familiar with Boston but that would probably be my pick among the cities with official British schools. Though those inner suburban neighborhoods of Boston and adjacent suburban towns are renowned as being very expensive.
Sep 5th 2023, 3:57 pm
#26
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,151
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
For children, teenagers, and the young at heart, the "Carowinds", local theme park is one of the better ones that isn't in Orlando.
Last edited by Pulaski; Sep 5th 2023 at 4:02 pm.
Sep 6th 2023, 4:11 pm
#27
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Joined: Oct 2007
Location: In a darkened room somewhere.............
Posts: 33,552
Re: Relocating for 2 Year Assignment
If they have a choice of cities then it might be worth them asking what the housing allowance for each would be, and the cost of living adjustment, as that may factor in to the decision as well.
