to think this cannot possibly be true? Working in New York??

[BurningWingsOfFlame]

Out to dinner tonight with a friend and she says that her husband has been offered the chance to work in New York.

I said wow, how long would he be out there??

She replied that she wasn't sure, but it was mentioned in the work email that it would either be a weekend, a couple of weeks or a year - depending on how long the person was willing to be there fore.

I worked in the US many years ago, and had to get a visa for that (4 months), and it was a faff, going to the embassy, lots of paperwork, very strict on what I could and couldn't do etc

I'm assuming that everyone needs a visa to work there and who the hell would go through all of that for just a weekend???

His job isn't even a specialist job either. I don't think she's lying but surely this can't be true??

Because people read the op and answer they don't all read the whole thread first

Ah don't worry OP, I'd have been as sceptical as you.

I don't know what his job is but it sounds an incredibly airy fairy job offer for someone who is married, and who therefore presumably has a rented/mortgaged property to take into consideration, and who can't just pop over to New York for a weekend job that might turn into a year.

I suspect it's a very slim chance at this stage, he'd have to apply for the job etc, and they have just got themselves a bit excited.

My mate had to fly to NY for work for a few weeks a little while ago. It's no biggie.

Business isn't the same as working.

I was working in the US (with a work visa) and got sent to Canada to work for a week. I was told to say I was going for meetings and not to let on that I was actually going to be at a desk working. I refused since didn't fancy getting into trouble at customs so my work sorted out a work visa. That was Canada obviously but I think they have the same definition of "business"

DH is in and out of NY and Houston quite regularly, sometimes just for a day or two. If we were moved there we would need to sort out proper work visas.

It must be cost effective or I assume the company wouldn't do it.

Is nicely cost effective for me in frequent flyer points.

Oh yes, PickleSarnie - I went to Canada for two weeks for work, didn't think about needing a visa until I was halfway over the Atlantic. Had to say I was going to Quebec for a conference (which I was) and staying a few days with a friend for tourism in Montreal (which I was) and avoided the bit about working in the office in Montreal for the week after the conference.

Big companies often sort out all the visa faff too especially if he is in a senior role.

Perhaps they are staring with short periods working to see how he likes it and if things work out he could go for longer. That would be entirely reasonable. If he goes for longer then visa's etc would have to be sorted but no point doing this right now if that isn't going to work for either party.

works the other way too, we've had guys over from New York office and after a few weeks they've had to go to Paris for a few days, blantenly so they've left the UK then re entered the country.

India and Russia always throw me, I'm so used to just putting consultants/partners on flights to our other offices for a few days I keep forgetting you need time to sort visas for those country regardless of how short the visit is...

OP - were you thinking it sounded like an excuse for an affair or something?

It's odd you went for 4 months though, most companies only take over UK staff for 3 months because of it, or send you to canada for a week arround 2.5 months in order to restart the clock and not bother with the visa issues.