America

[expat]

Also, what is it being permie in the USA? AFAIK their employment laws are pretty much like divorce in Islam - you can be fired on the spot and you will be expected to work as a permie with 2 weeks (!) of holidays per year.

They don't call it permanent. They just call it having an employment contract; or even just having a contract.

As a foreigner you can't practicably do what we call contract work, even if the client will give you an employment contract, because the visa is employer-specific and it takes longer to get than contract clients/employers will wait.

2 weeks per year is classic standard, but it's possible to get more, and get it put in your contract. Or take unpaid leave. And many jobs have up to 10 days personal time too, for those things that you have to do for your personal life during working hours, but don't want to use up annual leave for. So it's not as bad as it looks: you should be able to use your vacation time for pure vacation.

[sunnysan]

Hmmm

Thats what I am thinking

I am not intending to sell my hovel in tower hamlets, but if I can live in a nice downtown loft apartment in Chicago for +/-$800 and save cash for two years, why not.

If I can rent it out (no problem) and basically get a UK salary and have US cost of living, for two years I think I can handle it

[snaw]

I loved living in the US, no matter what you might think of American's overall it's a fantastic place to live in, the standard of living is just higher than pretty much anywhere in the world, a couple of countries excepted, and definitely higher than here.

Fair point about the dollar's value, but that's a deliberate policy by the current administration, and it might well change - the currency experts here should put their money where their mouths are and speculate if they're so sure it'll crash, but in general the economy is on a major upturn at the moment. Kind of something I keep an eye on given I've got a US property and shares etc there.

In terms of employemnt contracts, you'll be full time same as here, with a chance of getting sacked, true - but they don't just go around firing people for no reason normally, and you have some breathing space to trabsfer your visa if that does happen. Holidays depends - 2 weeks is worse case, 3 weeks is normal and 4 or more isn't unheard of. Really depends on the company you work for, and if you can negotiate from here then negotiate your holidays as you'd expect. Forget contracting, it hardly exists over there and def not on a visa.

I lived in NY for a few years, but my firm had an office in Chicago so I was out there a fair bit (Several times a year) and I liked it, it's similar to NYC but on a slightly smaller scale - least it feels smaller, lot's of people I know preferred it for that reason. Think say London vs Manchester. For travel it's great cause you're right in the middle and America is amazingly diverse, you've no real idea until you've spent sometime there.

If you've got the chance I'd say take it, give it 6 months and if it doesn't work screw it, come home.

[expat]

If you've got the chance I'd say take it, give it 6 months and if it doesn't work screw it, come home.

I signed up for min 1 year, with mental reservations that I might quit after 6 months and pay my own fare home. Stayed 4 years.

[Forumbore]

I loved living in the US, no matter what you might think of American's overall it's a fantastic place to live in, the standard of living is just higher than pretty much anywhere in the world, a couple of countries excepted, and definitely higher than here.

Fair point about the dollar's value, but that's a deliberate policy by the current administration, and it might well change - the currency experts here should put their money where their mouths are and speculate if they're so sure it'll crash, but in general the economy is on a major upturn at the moment. Kind of something I keep an eye on given I've got a US property and shares etc there.

In terms of employemnt contracts, you'll be full time same as here, with a chance of getting sacked, true - but they don't just go around firing people for no reason normally, and you have some breathing space to trabsfer your visa if that does happen. Holidays depends - 2 weeks is worse case, 3 weeks is normal and 4 or more isn't unheard of. Really depends on the company you work for, and if you can negotiate from here then negotiate your holidays as you'd expect. Forget contracting, it hardly exists over there and def not on a visa.

I lived in NY for a few years, but my firm had an office in Chicago so I was out there a fair bit (Several times a year) and I liked it, it's similar to NYC but on a slightly smaller scale - least it feels smaller, lot's of people I know preferred it for that reason. Think say London vs Manchester. For travel it's great cause you're right in the middle and America is amazingly diverse, you've no real idea until you've spent sometime there.

If you've got the chance I'd say take it, give it 6 months and if it doesn't work screw it, come home.

First positive post on this site this year, well done snaw.

[lilelvis2000]

international experience always looks good on your CV.

Yeah right.

[lilelvis2000]

make sure you've got a good company health plan. Don't forget to lease a mustang while you're there. Lakeside is quite nice. Live on the north side of Chicago...definetly stay away from the south side.

Make your goodbyes...I doubt you'll be back.

[ratewhore]

I think you go abroad for the experience rather than the technical challenge or financials.

Go for it and remember to post back and tell us how wonderful your expat life is. We won't be jealous at all...

[expat]

Schoolgirl moves to the US to escape bullying at school Safer than here apparently.

[ratewhore]

yeah - she carries a gun now...