Working long term overseas for SA based company

[Archer]

I've been offered to go to the USA to work for my current company for 1-2 years

What are the things I need to look out for when discussing all the financial goodness?
I'm updating the list as we go..

• Housing
• Transport (local)
• Taxes (where is my salary paid)
• Investigate cost of living and can I have the same standard there on whatever I'm offered (will be on the border of South/North Carolina)
• Annual leave
• Flights for visiting home
• Medical Aid/Insurance
• Work visa for wife possible? What will she do all day otherwise

 

[Drifter]

Medical and Dental as well. Will they sponsor return tickets every few months to visit home?

 

[blunomore]

As an aside, it sounds wonderful. Enjoy the opportunity to experience a different culture and enhance your spectrum.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

Allocations for retirement/savings? Do they offer it as a separate benefit now or do you pay out of your own salary?

Sounds great, btw.

 

[Archer]

I did not take the company RA/pension thingy, I'm making my own plans

As for sounding great, I think it is too until I hear the financial package on offer Will keep you guys updated

 

[OrbitalDawn]

I did not take the company RA/pension thingy, I'm making my own plans

As for sounding great, I think it is too until I hear the financial package on offer Will keep you guys updated

Cool, please do. Always like these kinds of stories.

 

[Pitbull]

I did not take the company RA/pension thingy, I'm making my own plans

As for sounding great, I think it is too until I hear the financial package on offer Will keep you guys updated

Are they setting you up with a place or do you need to go find a place yourself? If you need to find one yourself they should include a return ticket to the USA as well as accommodation for a week so you can get your affairs in order there before accepting the contract. That is what I would suggest anyway.

Congrats and make the best of it.

 

[cguy]

I've been offered to go to the USA to work for my current company for 1-2 years

What are the things I need to look out for when discussing all the financial goodness?
I'm updating the list as we go..

• Housing
• Transport (local)
• Taxes (where is my salary paid)
• Investigate cost of living and can I have the same standard there on whatever I'm offered (will be on the border of South/North Carolina)
• Annual leave
• Flights for visiting home
• Medical Aid/Insurance

You should check into whether or not you get a "matching 401k" (take it if it is a good match), and see how that will affect you when you're back in SA. You should check out the type of compensation offered (US is big on deferred (has to vest) stocks, deferred cash, etc. to work as "golden handcuffs"). You should see what happens to these if you get them, and then move back to the SA office. In terms of medical aid, where I've worked at least, dental coverage (currently $2500/year) and vision coverage (1-2 pair of glasses per year and/or contacts) is also covered, so you may want to account for that too.

Oh, yeah, and housing prices in South Carolina/North Carolina are usually quite reasonable, but this definitely falls into the category of the more sleepy parts of America (much more of a vibe in the big cities).

• Work visa for wife possible? What will she do all day otherwise

Unfortunately not (unless she can get an H1B independently). She can however work for a non-profit, or study. My wife did both (worked for the American Lung Association and did her Masters degree).

 

[Archer]

Feedback time...

So in essence I'll get my SA salary in dollars + $2750 which includes a housing allowance, car lease (without fuel) and must cover the increased medical aid etc that is the norm in the USA. Also technically my employment here ends and I get employed by our parent company who is based in the USA. Flight home to visit *may* be possible, but at least I get to keep my annual leave vs crummy USA leave which for most people is 10 days a year. I have a suspicion that between the medical aid and US taxes it becomes a zero sum

 

[gregmcc]

You will need to do some careful sums to make sure you are not going to be worse off financially.

Good luck - make the most of it.

 

[Pitbull]

Feedback time...

So in essence I'll get my SA salary in dollars + $2750 which includes a housing allowance, car lease (without fuel) and must cover the increased medical aid etc that is the norm in the USA. Also technically my employment here ends and I get employed by our parent company who is based in the USA. Flight home to visit *may* be possible, but at least I get to keep my annual leave vs crummy USA leave which for most people is 10 days a year. I have a suspicion that between the medical aid and US taxes it becomes a zero sum

So your wife can't work and you will only be paid around R 30k a month... Eish

 

[hondaboysa]

$2750 = a decent salary in USA.

 

[P924]

$2750 = a decent salary in USA.

What are you smoking?

House prices can vary as much as 10x depending on where in the US. So perhaps it is best to work out a complete budget with food, entertainment, housing etc and then figure out what you need to live the same as here and take it from there. It will also make negotiations easier. Plus you having worked in the US short term before should make the costing exercise much easier.

 

[Nerfherder]

So your wife can't work and you will only be paid around R 30k a month... Eish

So in essence I'll get my SA salary in dollars + $2750

Abit more than R 30k

 

[Archer]

I have coworkers on the forum, so dont feel comfortable disclosing my salary

But a 3 bedroom house close-ish to work is at least $1200 (more like 1500). Then we get given imo a crummy car (Nissan Sentra). I'm told buying a car cash is difficult for some reason (though I'll try confirm) so I cant even do that. A brief glance suggests its going to be one heck of an upheaval for not much financial gain.

And yes, without the wifes income it becomes more of a struggle

 

[abandonallhope]

Feedback time...

So in essence I'll get my SA salary in dollars + $2750 which includes a housing allowance, car lease (without fuel) and must cover the increased medical aid etc that is the norm in the USA. Also technically my employment here ends and I get employed by our parent company who is based in the USA. Flight home to visit *may* be possible, but at least I get to keep my annual leave vs crummy USA leave which for most people is 10 days a year. I have a suspicion that between the medical aid and US taxes it becomes a zero sum

Is that your SA Salary and then $2750 on top every month ?

If yes, that sounds pretty decent ?

Also, I thought in SA, with our 15 days per year, were pretty much at the bottom end of the annual leave category...

 

[Pitbull]

Abit more than R 30k

I have coworkers on the forum, so dont feel comfortable disclosing my salary

But a 3 bedroom house close-ish to work is at least $1200 (more like 1500). Then we get given imo a crummy car (Nissan Sentra). I'm told buying a car cash is difficult for some reason (though I'll try confirm) so I cant even do that. A brief glance suggests its going to be one heck of an upheaval for not much financial gain.

And yes, without the wifes income it becomes more of a struggle

Apologies, I thought it's just the $'s didn't see on top of your salary

Doesn't sound too bad then. And the crap about buying cars cash is not true. You can go down to the lot and buy a R 300 car if you want. They do have cheap cars there, I won't suggest you buy one, just saying it is possible. Registration is a mission but you can buy cars cash...