Give up business and move to USA with another company? 1

[Airforce2]

I am faced with a HUGE decision here and I need to make an informed decision fast...

For 4 years now (2003-present), I have operated my Mechanical Design (HVAC) business from home. It was a struggle in the early years, but this year I finally feel that all the hard work is paying off and my confidence and place in the market has grown. I love it and the projects are rewarding.

In 2001-2003 we lived in North Carolina and I worked for a good Consulting Engineering Firm. I didn't want to leave the US, but having a baby there and Visa issues forced us back to Australia.

I now have this opportunity to join a Firm in Denver with a wage of $65K. The Firm has also offered to pay for me to go back to College for further education as well. It is a very good opportunity and I would learn a lot. I have the Visa and everthing is ready to go...

The thing now is that I am having very big second thoughts. I am in my early 30's with a great wife and 2 great kids. My outlook is now different to what it was when I was 25. I know that a lot of pople may not know this, but the whole Visa thing means a life of uncertainty until you obtain permanent residency or leave the USA. Basically, you are at the mercy of the US Government and the Company that you are employed by. The other large factor to consider is that if employment ceases, you have 10 days to leave the USA as the Visa is terminated.

I LOVE the USA. I love the industry there. I see the benefits of going back.

However, I am frozen like a deer in the headlights and am not sure what to do. I do understand this is a decision that I must make, but I am hoping that there are some Engineers out there a little further down the road in life than I with the wonderful thing called "Hind-Sight".

It is a tough call giving up a successful business with a life that is familiar and comfortable to go back to the USA where things will be "uncertain" for a minimum of 4-5 years...

 

[GregLamberson]

Airforce2

Everyone's situation is different, I have learned from experience that uprooting a family and moving to a new location causes allot of stress.

Careers come & go and opportunities will also come & go like the tide, but family is a constant. I would counsel on making the decision based on what is in the best interests of the family. If they are eager to make the change and all are excited - go for it. If there is apprehension - forget it.

I've found when I make decisions not based on selfish reasons, they always turn out for the best. Good luck on your decision.

Greg Lamberson, BS, MBA
Consultant - Upstream Energy
Website:

http://www.oil-gas-consulting.com

 

[PSE]

I would agree with Greg on getting input from your family. In my case, my wife would be adamant about not moving away from her aging mother and my son is in elementary school. If your kids are either in school or approaching school age, that could be a big factor as well. Try to do a Cost of Living comparison and find out if 65K is sufficent for your family (Off hand in the Denver area I would suspect not).

You are becoming successful in your business. How do you feel about giving up that feeling and working for someone else?

I applaud you for the serious consideration(s) you are giving this opportunity. The US does have a lot to offer, so does (I would expect), Australia.

Regards,

 

[Airforce2]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated! I value talking to someone with more life experience than I.

My kids are 4 and 2, so they don't really understand of care... Wife is keen to go. We came back for family and it was not the best reason.

Up-rooting is harder the second time, that is for sure.

 

[Gymmeh]

First off,
I have a lot of respect, its a big tuff decision.

Make sure your getting what your worth in that region of the US, with 6 yrs, 4 yr running your own business... 65k in Denver, check the Department of Labor for Colorado to make sure you’re an a good range, most of the “calculator” programs have a lot of useless info and don’t give good numbers.(you may live off your income for awhile…as you will read)

(I will try to stay to the point because I am going through this… could rant all day)
My wife is currently stuck in the US immigration process and basically we are living off my income, and paying crap loads of money to the US. Things have been changing a lot for just the basic paperwork price increased to about 2500 USD since July; I used a lawyer once for a half hour just to check things over. We hopefully will have everything done after 5 or 6 month. I am personally annoyed because my wife is a engineer and also has her PhD in chemistry, and she (is not even supposed to volunteer) volunteers for something to do for the last 4 months!... I promised my wife that if her paperwork was not done by Christmas, >6 month, we would move to Europe. That time is quickly approaching. I have started replaying and apply to jobs in Europe (My wife is from Europe), where the immigration is a lot easier because we are married. In her country we just have to show we are legally married, take language classes and reside there to get a job.

We had the perfect situation for the US, we were in the University in Europe together, and knew each other and dated for 4 years. Both of us are very educated, legally married to a US citizen and this is our situation.

The move for her has put a lot of stress on our life… she is a PhD engineer volunteering is one of the biggest issues…that and the cultural difference is another issue… I can’t give you the full story as we are in the middle and have not finished…hopefully everything works out in the US and I will be able to give you an update.

Hopefully the reward is worth it; I can’t speak for your situation, but if you have a good amount of money set aside (min of 2500USD per person) and/or earning to live off your income, good wits/patience about it (I don’t have kids, I imagine you need more patience), go for it.

My personal immigration philosophy has changed a lot after going through this for all of the Ultra Conservative US people. I say give everyone a work visa and just tax the crap out of them like everyone else, and if that don’t live by the rules, then kick them out and keep them out!

The one think I have learned in my travels and living places, is that there is no one “best” country, every place you go has its ups and downs.

 

[Gymmeh]

PS: thats my two cents, best of luck!

 

[csd72]

Airforce2,

What type of visa will they give you, an L1 or a H1B?

With the L1, you wife will automatically get the right to work BUT she will have to wait 6 months for them to give it to her.

With the H1B, as far as I know she is on her own with regards to getting permission to work.

65k is not a big salary in the US so make sure you are getting the going rate in that region. Also are you ready to settle for 2 wks of holidays a year?

Good luck!

csd

 

[swertel]

$65K in Denver to support a family of 4? I'd renegotiate before making the jump.

All other reasons aside, as they are already mentioned and are more important than money, but supporting a family of 4 on $65K / year in Denver, in a cut-throat industry like HVAC, putting in lots of over-time with no guarantee of a bonus or profit-sharing, after coming from a location with more holidays and self-decisions...

I'm still considering a move to Australia. I don't have any opportunities there, I just want to try it, and being there as a 2-week tourist just doesn't achieve the whole experience.

--Scott

http://wertel.eng.pro

 

[mechmama]

I would not even consider the job at less than $80K. I'm in the midwest US, and my city has a lower cost of living than Denver. I am not in HVAC, but I am a mechanical engr in power w/ 7 years exp. $65K seems too low for a move around the world, but I wonder if they have to offer you less because of visa expenses (I don't know how all that works).

Good luck!

 

[Airforce2]

HI Guys,

Thanks for the thoughts and advice.

I have obtained an E-3 Visa. This is similar to a Canadian T-N Visa, but just for Australians. I do not have a Bachelors Degree, but have 9 years work experience in Engineering + an equivalent to an Associates Degree in Engineering + a Trade.

The company will pay for my degree depending on my grades.

The company has put $4K toward Visa and relocation expences.

The company is providing full medical.

I am guessing the move will cost us around $20K (airfares, shipping etc).

I accepted the offer of $65K as I thought it was a good offer. I have since heard it is not so great...

 

[Airforce2]

Regardless of what we decide, I will be finishing off my degree...

 

[KENAT]

Actually, for the level of qualification you have it may not be too bad. Now to have a really standard of living...

I'd take a close look at costs where you'll be living. Also look at whether your wife will work etc.



KENAT, probably the least qualified checker you'll ever meet...

 

[mechmama]

I will retract my statement. . .didn't know you didn't have the BS degree yet. Based on the new info, I think you have a good offer. My industry makes a pretty big distinction between BS & AS degrees, and your offer would be good for an AS with your # years of experience. Hope that makes you feel a little better.

 

[jmw]

At first glance this is a question I hesitate long over posting to but you are the one to make the decision and will be the one to evaluate the answers here so for what it is worth:

Big question up front is why would you want to take a job in the US? Why do they want you? Is there a shortage of engineers in the US?
I mean, how did this opportunity arise? If you have something unique to offer then surely you should parley a better deal from the employer and one that offers you some long term protection.

If it is just another job where they can/will work around the visa requirements like usual, why do you want it?

Think about the business you have started back in Oz.

If your business is now establishing itself as a paying concern, what will you do with it? Sell it or just fold it?
What are the long term prospects for your business? does it have growth potential?

You now need to compare where you expect to be in a couple of years whichever route you follow.

Frankly, if your business is following a good start-up pattern, and has prospects, it would have to be a better long term bet than working for someone else unless that someone else was making an offer you couldn't refuse.

One message in all these threads is that engineering is a great job but it'd be nice if it paid better, if IT stayed their side of the fence, if managers could, or didn't and if everyone didn't expect you to do everything.

Working successfully for yourself you eliminate most of the crap.

OK, if after 4 years you are kidding yourself about the business, then sure, go get a job.
Why the US? Is it a liking for the UDS life style, nostalgia for some good times or something else that is influencing this decision?

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[Airforce2]

It is difficult to say what the pull is with the USA. It is such an awesome country with great people. We have lived there once before and loved it so much.

Giving up a business and all the Visa/Immigration hassles sure put a dampner on things though...

 

[cvg]

If you are doing well with your business and making ends meet, I would stick with that. Having a degree and working as an engineer for somebody else is not generally a way to get rich. $65K in Denver won't go very far. Housing cost and taxes will take most of that. The economy in Denver is probably not the hottest in the nation. There may be other places such as Phoenix or Las Vegas that have hotter economies than Denver. You can generate more wealth owning and operating a business than you ever can working for someone else. the hardest part is the startup which you have already succeeded in doing.

 

[civilperson]

Stay in the place where you are the boss. 65K is mediocre and the costs in Denver are not low. The views are magnificent and that is the reason for seemingly low salaries! Buy a few posters or Travelogues of the Rocky Mountains and stay where the economy is booming, (not the US, holding stable and losing value in the dollar daily).

 

[Sid7]

Airforce2

Given thought that you have struggled and pulled over that period and now enjoying the fruits, is very appreciable and should sustain very good returns in long run. Indeed why dont you consider making very handsome profits in Australia while being in control of what you do and then enjoy 1 or 2 months vacation in USA every year? Wouldnt that be worth it?

And regards to the best interest of your kids education and future, wouldnt it be pretty easy with the already growing successful business? Just think how grateful your kids will be in the long run.

I am working in UK and looking forward for USA. But living costs ( 1 Litre GAS=1£)and income tax in UK is very high and both of us (me and my wife) have to work to do some savings. Low cost of living (in comparison to UK) and good savings lure me to USA, but the holiday factor dampens that excitement.

And otherway round currently the US dollar rate is record low and I dont know how low compared to AUS $ but if worse comes to worse if you ahve to return after 5 years to AUS then what? Hotel U-Turn? How about starting everything from scratch?

There are IFS and BUTS in your visa situation. I would make my home base strong in case things wont work out in usa and have to return to home country.

Thats my 2 cents.
Good luck.

Siddharth
These are my personal views/opinions and not of my employer's.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Airforce2,

I feel some similarities here. I was in the USA for a few years in my late 20's and early 30's. Seemed like paradise (except for the crap TV and plastic cheese). What scared me most about giving up my roots and sinking new ones over there was the long term stuff. Look deep into the medical cover - how many limbs are you covered for? How many pints of blood in an emergency. What happens when the healthcare runs out (i.e. what's the maximum payout?). All this materialistic approach to my basic health was REALLY scary.

Also, education. The real stuff costs over there. Here we still have good schools and uni isn't too expensive (yet).

 

[SomptingGuy]

... sorry, by "here" I mean the UK. I have no idea what taxes pay for and guarantee in Australia, but based on the number of Brits who don't want to come back, I guess it can't be bad.