Your Guide to Working and
Living Overseas
Presented by the UTPB
CAREER CENTER
Before you consider accepting an offer
to work overseas, be informed:
Familiarize yourself
with the political,
security, cultural and
economic conditions
of the country in which
you plan to work.
Find out about local
health issues and
standards of medical
care.
Immunizations: Check with your
doctor and have a comprehensive
physical exam before you leave.
Security: Always check the U.S.
Department of State website for travel
warnings for American citizens. Go to
http://www.state.gov/ and select the
“travel warnings” link.
Record the address and telephone
number of the U.S. embassy in the
country you plan to visit. A list can be
found at http://usembassy.state.gov.
Once you arrive in the country, make a
point to register with the U.S. embassy
in your destination country.
If you are considering accepting work
in a country where English is not the
primary language, consider taking
classes before you reach your
destination country.
Documents
If you plan on working overseas for an
extended amount of time, it is a good idea
to take your personal records with you
including your certificates of birth,
citizenship, marriage and divorce. Keep
them in your hand luggage while you travel
and make sure to leave copies with family
and friends at home. Always keep your
passport on your person and make copies
of driver’s license, credit cards and
passport.
Documents……continued
Passports: All American citizens must
have a valid passport and maintain a valid
passport while overseas. Information about
passport information can be obtained at
http://travel.state.gov. Don’t wait to the
last minute to apply for a passport, as this
process can take up to 8 weeks.
Some countries may deny you entry if your
passport doesn’t have at least six months
validity. Check with your destination and
plan accordingly.
Documents……continued
Work VISAs: Normally the company you work for will sponsor your
work VISA. If you are required to procure your own work VISA, you
will need to contact the American based embassy of your
destination country. In addition to fees, you’ll normally be asked
to provide:
a) A letter from your employer
b) A letter from your doctor noting required immunizations
c) Your original passport, which will be stamped with your
work/entry VISA.
d) Passport size photos
There are some companies that will provide this service for
you (for a fee). Ex: Project VISA at http://projectvisa.com.
Documents…………..continued
Driving permits: Check with the embassy
(or work sponsor) of your country of
destination about driving permits.
Each country is different
Some will accept a U.S. issued driver’s
license, others require an international
driver’s permit and others require an in
country issued permit. If you decide that
you need to apply for an IDP, go to
http://drivers.com for local contacts within
your destination country.
Assessing Job Offers
Research the company before
accepting any job offer.
Speaking to a former employee or
current staff member will always give
you a better idea of what to expect.
Know up front if your employer will be
paying for accommodations, utilities,
telephone bills and transportation
to/from work.
Assessing Job Offers….Continued
If you’re going to a non-English speaking country,
find out if your employer will pay for language
training.
Check as to whether the employer offers different
or separate quarters for single and married
members of their staff and whether you’d be
expected to share accommodations with other
staff members.
Check to see if airfare, health and dental
coverage are available and extends to other
members of the family.
Confirm if the company will pay for relocation
costs, storage, school fees and residency
permits.
Salary Considerations
Are settling-in allowances offered?
What currency will I be paid in?
Will deposits be made directly to my
home country banking account or will
I be responsible for wiring money
home?
If you are staying overseas for an
extended period of time, you may
want open a local banking account.
Tax Issues
Will there be any local taxes due on
my earnings?
U.S. taxes: For tax year 2013, the
foreign income exclusion amount was
$97,600. To qualify for this exclusion
you must have been out of the U.S.
for 330 of the 365 days of the tax
year.
Financial Evaluation: Example employee is
making $40,000/yr and is offered working package
overseas with a 40% premium on salary plus
apartment, utilities and board:
Home Monthly Income/Expenses:
Overseas Monthly Income/Expenses:
Salary
Taxes*
Rent
Food
Utilities
Cable
Telephone
Internet
Car Insurance
Gas
Miscellaneous
$3333.33
-$933.33
-$600.00
-$300.00
-$150.00
-$50.00
-$45.00
-$20.00
-$60.00
-$100.00
-$200.00
Salary
40% Premium
Taxes*
Rent
Food
Utilities
Cable
Telephone
Internet
Car Insurance
Gas
Miscellaneous
Total Expenses
$2458.33
Monthly Savings:
$875.00
* Assuming 28% tax rate
Total Expenses
Monthly Savings
$3333.33
$1333.33
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
0.00
-$200.00
$200.00
$4466.67
Other helpful hints:
Read your employment contract very carefully. Make sure
all contingencies are noted if you fail to complete your
contract.
Establish an email address that you can access overseas.
Advise your family when they will hear from you and stick
to your word!
Know and obey the local laws. Don’t purchase, take or
travel with illicit drugs. Penalties overseas can be severe.
Be sensitive to local customs and dress codes. In some
cultures people are deeply offended by inappropriate or
revealing clothes.
Remember, YOU are the foreigner. Don’t try to change
people to do things the “American way.” As the old
saying goes, “when in Rome, do as the Romans do.”
Important Numbers
Overseas Citizens Services 1-888-407-4747
(from overseas: 202-501-4444) for answers
related to:
Death of an American citizen abroad
Arrest/detention of an American citizen
Robbery of an American citizen abroad
American citizens missing abroad
Crisis abroad involving American citizens
After-hours number for an emergency involving
an American citizen abroad.
Important numbers….continued
Office of Children’s Issues 1-888407-4747 (from overseas: 202-5014444) for answers concerning:
International parental child abduction
Inter-country adoption
Denial of passports to minors in
certain circumstances such as
abductions
The country of Yemen
Yemen goat herder taking his
flock to market (Sept 1990)
Adel Abdul, Yemen Hunt Oil
Driver: December 1990
Adel and three young boys at the “quat” market. Quat is a euphoric stimulant
used by 85% of the men in Yemen. It is purchased in large stalks and the stems
are broken off and the leaves are chewed like tobacco.
Jambiyah salesman in
downtown Sana’a at the “souq”
(Left) Spice vendor inside the souq. (Top Right) More businesses
inside the souq. (Bottom right) Worshipers leaving mosque
Camel relaxing by a furnace at one shop in the “souq”
This Yemeni approached me at the Souq one day
and asked if I would take his picture. He spoke
perfect English which was very rare for this country.
House built on top of a rock. Note servant’s quarter’s at the base
of the rock. This home was located about 5 miles south of Sana’a.
This picture was taken in October of 1990.
Pictured in the background is a memorial that was built by the
Yemeni government for all the Chinese workers who were
laborers on the highway built from Hodeidah to Sana’a. Some of
those workers were killed in the Revolutionary war 26 years prior
to this photo.
Yemen Hunt Oil Company employee housing inside
the company compound
(Left) Yemen Hunt Oil company offices. Center office
was accounting. (Right) View of Sana’a
London, England (Left) “Big Ben” on the Thames river, (Right)
London bridge (in the background on the Thames river)
(Top Left) Doubledecker bus near the theatre. (Top right) Tower of London. Guide said this
was where they used to chop convicted criminal’s heads off in the 17th century. (Bottom) two
policemen outside the gates of Buckingham Palace.
In front of Buckingham Palace
11/19/1990
Top (left) Buckingham Palace…the queen was too busy to come out
and chat with me. Top (right) Band leading guards in prior to the
changing of the guards at Buckingham Palace. (Bottom)….Carriage
trailing the procession prior to the changing of the guards.
(Left) Thames river..Big Ben in the background. (Right) Waterfall inside Hyde Park
(Left) Piccadilly circus, downtown London. (Right) Wimbley
stadium (center court) Wimbledon
The End!
Enjoy your time overseas! When time
permits, travel to safe places and
enjoy the culture and the people. An
overseas experience can be the
experience of a lifetime!