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 differentSome 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:

Salary $3333.33Taxes* -$933.33Rent -$600.00Food -$300.00Utilities -$150.00Cable -$50.00Telephone -$45.00Internet -$20.00Car Insurance -$60.00Gas -$100.00Miscellaneous -$200.00

Total Expenses $2458.33

Monthly Savings: $875.00

* Assuming 28% tax rate

Overseas Monthly Income/Expenses:

Salary $3333.3340% Premium $1333.33Taxes* 0.00Rent 0.00Food 0.00Utilities 0.00 Cable 0.00Telephone 0.00 Internet 0.00Car Insurance 0.00Gas 0.00Miscellaneous -$200.00

Total Expenses $200.00

Monthly Savings $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 1-888-407-4747 (from overseas: 202-501-4444) 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 17 th 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 most (accidentally) offensive things that American travelers do when visiting overseas

Using the left handIn certain countries (mostly in the Middle East, India, and parts of Africa), the left hand is considered very dirty because, historically, that was the hand used for certain sanitary activities. So using it to initiate a handshake, touch food, touch someone else, or present a gift is considered pretty disgusting.

Accidentally disgusting thing #2Sitting in the back seat of a taxiWe all know the procedure: You hail a cab, wait until it stops, open the rear door, and climb into the back seat. Well, in Australia and New Zealand you’re doing OK — except for that last part. In those countries if you’re the sole passenger, some cabbies consider it extremely snobby for you to hop into the back seat as if they're your chauffeur (which, if you think about it, they kind of are, at least for a while).

These cabbies prefer you to ride up front with them, as if you’re pals. Still, some travel guides suggest that female passengers nonetheless ride in the back seat for safety reasons.

Accidentally disgusting #3TippingMany American travelers know that tipping isn’t expected in Europe. But not many know that in Japan, it could be taken as an insult. Before you go to any country, it’s a good practice to look up their tipping custom.

Accidentally disgusting #4Putting your hand in your pocketConsidered disrespectful in Turkey. Someone alert Alanis Morrisette

Accidentally disgusting #5"The Number Two"This doesn't mean "two" as it does in the U.S. In the U.K., Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand, holding up two fingers in a reverse peace sign (i.e., palm facing you) is an obscene gesture, the equivalent of what holding up half that gesture (i.e., just your middle finger) means here. Same gesture, just twice the number of fingers (is it because of the exchange rate?).

Accidentally Disgusting #7Showing the sole of your shoeIt’s something that men in the U.S. often do without a second thought: sit down and then cross a foot over the opposite knee, exposing the sole of their shoe. But in much of the Middle East, this is extremely offensive: In Arab cultures, the soles of your shoes are considered dirty and shouldn’t be displayed to anyone. Former U.S. Congressman Bill Richardson learned that lesson the hard way: On a delicate diplomatic mission to Iraq in 1995, Richardson crossed his leg in that fashion while talking to Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi leader was so offended, Richardson says, that he walked out of the room.

Accidentally disgusting #8Crossing Your FingersSay you’re standing in a Vietnamese airport, and, hoping that you can get a seat on standby, you cross your fingers for good luck. Don’t be surprised if people start staring at you. There, crossing the fingers is considered vulgar, as it’s said to resemble a certain female body part.

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!