Computer Consultants International is a global consulting organisation. We recruit people on a local, national and international basis to fill our requirements across the USA. Many of our positions are filled by people coming from Australia, England and other parts of Europe. This document sets out to answer questions that are frequently asked by people who are not familiar with the concept of living and working in the USA.

How do earnings and cost of living compare with England and Australia?
Your earnings will be driven by the prevailing market rate and job location. In terms of lifestyle, the sensible approach is to consider the relative cost of living in the USA. Compared to England for example, a U.S. dollar has the spending power of a pound in most cases and worth approx. $1.40 Australian. Apartment or house rental costs vary across the US. A quality one bedroom apartment is around $900 per month and a house would be about $1,800 per month. These figures could vary up or down by 25% depending on your location. It costs little to run a car in the US. Expect to buy a reliable used car for $5,000 upwards. Gas prices vary a lot. As little as $1.70 per gallon in the southern states. Gas prices in California are currently around $2.10 per gallon.

So how much can I expect to earn in the USA?
Again, it depends where you will be working. Rates are higher in some areas than others. In Northern California for example we typically pay a salary of around $90,000 - $140,000 per year for an experienced programmer/analyst. This would probably be at least 10% lower in such states as Oregon or Arizona and lower still in the mid-western and southern states. People with skills in short supply can expect more. Supply and demand determines the rates as always.

Are there any tax benefits of working in the USA?
Most definitely. As you will be working away from your normal tax home, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allow you to be paid part of your earnings as a "per diem" or living away from home allowance for up to a year in any one location. This can have a significant effect on your disposable income. For full information, talk to your account manager.

What about bringing my family over?
Generally speaking we advise people to come over without their family initially. This gives you the chance to find your way around, settle into a new working environment, organize somewhere to live etc. It is then relatively easy for you to arrange for your family's relocation.

What do I need to know about work visas?
CCI has an internal immigration specialist who is up to date on all issues relating to immigration and work visas. People coming to work in the USA need a valid work visa, usually an H1B. This is applied for by the employer (CCI) on behalf of the individual. The qualification requirement is based on a combination of experience and qualifications. For example a degree and 3 years experience or GCE 'A' Levels and 10 years experience would each be fully acceptable. CCI Account Managers can usually determine your ability to qualify. You will also need to obtain a Social Security number soon after you arrive in the USA This is used primarily as a form of identification and is also used in connection with your salary payments. For immigration purposes, we need proof of education - ie: records of classes taken and subjects passed, and copies of certificates. We will also require some proof of employment - ie: letters of reference and / or telephone numbers of referees.

Does CCI sponsor "green cards"?
We do sponsor people for permanent residency. There is a requirement that you have worked for CCI for at least 18 months before we do this because we have to be able to demonstrate to the Immigration and Naturalization Service that we will be able to provide you with continuity of employment.

Will I have any problems opening a bank account in the USA?
This is easily taken care of. You will need a bank account here and you will also find that credit cards are essential. The slight problem here is that you will find it difficult to obtain Mastercard or Visa cards until you have built up a credit history (usually about a year) so we advise people to make sure that they have an American Express card obtained in their country of origin. These can be quickly transferred while the other types of card cannot. The other option is to deposit a sum of money (typically $1,000) with a credit card company and they will issue you with a "secured" credit card.

Are rental properties difficult to find?
Rental properties are plentiful right across the USA. Many complexes are built specifically for renting. Most are rented unfurnished though (apart from basic necessities like washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, waste disposals, carpets and drapes). Most of the people who join us either rent furniture (there are plenty of stores who rent rather than sell furniture) or buy secondhand. Generally you will find that furniture, like most consumer goods, are very reasonably priced. You may wish to obtain a credit report from your country of origin before you arrive.

Are there any other points of which I should be aware?
Undoubtedly there are but it is difficult to cover everything. Different things are important to different people. The culture in the USA is quite different to England for example and it also varies from state to state. Suffice to say that your account manager and support team are always available to help with any questions you have and in most cases you will be working with other CCI employees who often go to great lengths to help people settle in.

If you have any questions now regarding working in the USA, send an Email to any of our US offices.