Expenses that can be negotiated with your US employer

angelito_g
New Member



Joined: 17 Jul 2008
Posts: 8
Location: BC

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:05 pm

 

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I would love to hear the extra deals you had with your employers in the States when you first moved.

Again, I am new to these and I have another chance to negotiate with my potential employer.

Could you let me know if the following expenses can be shouldered or can be negotiated to my potential employer?

1. Travel fare - relocation expenses (this should be a standard. right?)
2. First Month or Two rental expenses (as it is hard for newbies to secure a good apartment due to lack of US credit score).
3. Pre-approved car loan (Employer as your guarantor).
4. Lawyer's fee to obtain TN visa (this should be a standard).

Please let me know if the above are reasonable and non-eyebrows raising to the employer.

I appreaciate all your feedback. You guys have been so helpful.

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sagenhaft
New Member



Joined: 21 Jan 2008
Posts: 6

Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2008 7:28 pm

 

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I was able to negotiate the expense of shipping my horse as part of my package. No small feat, the bill was almost $3000!

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sannathan
New Member



Joined: 28 Jul 2008
Posts: 6
Location: Mississauga

Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 4:26 am

 

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Depending on the industry, you should get first month furnished apartment (with breakfast), relocation expense of $3,000.00 at least to move your goods within the continent, initial apartment lease form could be signed by the employer. The other two items mentioned are standard.

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SarniaGrl
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 45
Location: Tennessee

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 8:11 am

 

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I think they're reasonable requests, on top of the usual 1-3 week holdback of wages, it's expensive to get started down here.

Here's my experience (horticulture)

1. No relo

2. Promised housing assistance-it amounted to HR handing me a copy of the local rental ads they printed off the internet-no help in securing a place or help with first and last. The H2B's they brought in fared better than I, lol.

3. No

4. I've always had to 'eat' the lawyer expense, I agree it should be standard, but I've never been able to recoup any costs (have worked in three states) including my drive to and from the border, visa fees (TN & H1B), and lawyer fees.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1637
Location: Calgary

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 10:24 am

 

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By law they have to pay most of the immigration fees. TN-1 is a bit more iffy because it's so cheap. If they've done it before all they have to do really is alter the letter slightly and you claim the $50 as an expense. Big deal.
_________________
Steve.

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SarniaGrl
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 45
Location: Tennessee

Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 11:39 am

 

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Interesting. I didn't realize that. I had a former employer who 'loaned' me part of the H1B petition legal fees -then took it out of my cheque weekly. On top of that, my number didn't get picked in the lottery, so it was a big hit. We filed an expedited TN extension - then they had a drought-related layoff within 2 days of the application going in. I was stuck with a legal bill and no longer had a job. I was told the extension fees were not refundable by USCIS so it was a double whammy.

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Steven
CanuckAbroad VIP



Joined: 28 Sep 2007
Posts: 1637
Location: Calgary

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:36 am

 

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Well I'm sure what happens is that the employee agrees to pay the fee in order to secure the job, but technically it is illegal. USCIS get more snotty about it than back when I did it because of the new $500 "discouragement" fee or whatever it's called. Designed to stop US employers hiring aliens.
_________________
Steve.

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SarniaGrl
CanuckAbroad Regular



Joined: 18 Mar 2008
Posts: 45
Location: Tennessee

Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:14 pm

 

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I've noticed some of the larger, multi-national companies in my industry are starting to promote visa assistance as part of their 'perks', but it's not the norm with smaller, independent companies. In smaller companies, I've only known of one who offered to cover the extension after the employee obtained the TN visa, this company also handled H2-B processing for its' seasonal workers, unlike the many who use 'undocumented' workers.

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