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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 02:11 AM:
 
Hi all,

Can someone tell me what are usual benefits (and if you care to share - some avg. salary) for field support/service techs in USA? The thing is that I've worked in this field for years but in Europe and now i have an offer from an USA based company. Job is East Coast based (NJ, NY and PA).

I will appreciate any help. If you need more data, have any question so you can give me the best possible answer just ask.

Alex
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-19-2016, 11:34 AM:
 
I don't want this to turn into a political debate, and so I'm going to try to tread carefully here. Brad - feel free to close the thread if you feel things may be going in the wrong direction.

Alex - does the company that made you the offer propose to apply for an H-1B visa on your behalf? If so you should be aware that there is a controversy over this practice, with accusations having been made that this is being done primarily to cut costs. Therefore, I would suggest that you try to establish if the offer you're being made is worth significantly less than would be made to a US Citizen or legal permanent resident. If you establish that it is, or suspect that it is, you may want to think carefully about what you're getting in to.

The nearest I've ever gotten to Serbia is a visit to the Czech Republic in 2005, and so I may be out of date in speculating this, but my guess would be that the cost of living on the east coast of the USA would be an order of magnitude higher than it is in Belgrade. Again, I'd suggest researching this carefully, and keeping this in mind in weighing up any offer.

The cost of emigration itself is also not trivial. When I moved from the UK to California in 2013, I reckon that the total costs (including the legal costs and government application fees for permanent resident status following my marriage to a US Citizen, which you may not have if your employer is applying for an H1-B on your behalf) were not far short of $10k. And that was probably on the low side: for example, it was just me going, not a whole family, and I only shipped about a third of the contents of a small apartment.

This could be a wonderful opportunity for you, but I'd suggest doing as much due diligence as possible and having as many of the facts as possible before making a decision. My wife and I took a year and a half to make the final decision as to which one of us was going to emigrate and in which direction, and it was not an easy or straightforward one.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-19-2016, 12:31 PM:
 
In addition to Leo's points, note that most full-time jobs in the US will provide some form of the following benefits:

- health insurance (the cost is generally split between the employer and employee to various degrees, and the employee cost can very widely from employer to employer, as can the options for coverage)
- retirement benefits (generally in the form of employee contributions to a "401(k)" or similar account, sometimes with an employer match)--if you move out of the US at some point in the future, you may or may not be able to take this account with you
- paid vacation time (two weeks per year is typical for a new employee at many companies)

Also, consider if the employer can or will provide the following:

- training
- relocation costs

For a position like what you describe, travel will probably be a major factor as well. Will the company provide a car, or will you be expected to buy your own and keep track of mileage and seek reimbursement from the company (there is a standard figure for this, which is something around $.50/mile)? Some companies tend to nickel-and-dime their employees for travel expenses, while others are more generous.

I have no idea what the typical pay for a position like this would be, but perhaps someone else does. You will also need to research tax rates (the federal government and most states have an income tax, and most states have a sales tax on most retail items).

You will also need to consider exchange rates if you will be converting your existing currency into dollars.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 01:10 PM:
 
First of all... Leo & Scott thank you guy for those answers...

Basically, company offered me a job with some benefits like relocation plan, med insurance, reimbursements for car (which i have to buy) like gas, tolls, etc.
Company is NY based but area of work will be PA and NJ.

For the beginning I have planned to come alone and leave family behind for few months and then bring them to the USA. What should I expect when it comes to the regular expenses like rent and utilities?

Regarding visas i actually don't know what type will it be (probably in next 2-3 days i will have final offer details).

What should i ask employer in general? What I can ask for? What are salary deductions in general (how many % will be deducted from salary for taxes, med, etc.)? How much money do I need to sustain myself, and how much for the entire family (something like in song "Bear (Bare) necessities"?
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-19-2016, 01:20 PM:
 
If you are contemplating bringing your family over, you absolutely need to consult an attorney who specializes in US immigration law. My understanding - and I stress that I am not an immigration attorney, just an immigrant who needed the services of one! - is that an H-1B visa does not necessarily allow you to sponsor family members to live in the US with you, and even if yours does, they would not necessarily have the right to work: only permanent resident status (aka a "green card"), with conditions removed after the two-year probationary period, or full citizenship, allows that automatically. So it may be that were you to move here on a work visa, your family might not even be able to join you at all, except for brief visits.

Also, if you would be required to buy and maintain your own car, especially one that will be doing relatively high mileage, that will be a significant up-front cost, even if you do a lot of your own maintenance (as I know from personal experience, commuting 35k miles a year).

In terms of the specific cost of living in NYC, I can't answer that. But as a general rule, the cost of living in and around the larger coastal "metros" is higher than in the midwest, hence people like me having to live 75 miles from work, because that's the closest you'll find affordable housing. In my case it's not the only reason: we're within walking distance of my wife's workplace, and so we figure that one of us having a monster commute and the other almost none is the least worst option. But thanks to the cost of living, enough of us commute from this area to the LA metro to clog up the three, four-lane freeways running parallel to each other along the Inland Empire every rush hour.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 01:42 PM:
 
That's the main reason I have asked you guys for help. For the cars i have planned to sell one that i have here and then buy some used cars when i come. What is the regular price for some estate car or older pick-up truck (someone have to carry those tools and instruments) ? For example i own Alfa Romeo 156 Sportwagon (estate car) made in 2001. For how much money I can buy something similar in USA?

Regarding living... Does those (service/integrator) companies require from their staff to work in office or I can live somewhere else (like where job is)? I am asking this so I can plan costs of living and where to live (NYC is very expensive as far as I know).

Who pays taxes, insurances, etc. (in my country it is automatically deducted from salary before it comes to my bank account)?

401(k) and any other pension fund is obligatory or optional?
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-19-2016, 01:59 PM:
 
Be aware that NY and NJ are among the most expensive states in which to live in the US.

Some questions to ask an employer:

- why is this job available (is it a new position? did the previous employee quit or get fired?)
- if the pay is hourly, is there a minimum number of guaranteed hours per week?
- if the pay is by salary, is there a cap on the number of hours that you will be expected to work?
- is travel time counted as paid time on the job?
- what are the opportunities for advancement?
- would you be expected to be available as an "on call" employee? if so, how much notice would you be given before you would be expected to be available to work? is there an "on call" rotation, or would you need to be potentially available to work at all times? is extra pay made available for time spent "on call"?

As for monthly expenses, figure on (at least) the following:

- rent/mortgage
- renter's insurance/homeowner's insurance
- cost of car (lease/payment/depreciation)
- car maintenance
- gas for car
- car insurance
- car registration and excise tax (yearly)
- parking
- electricity
- heat (may be oil, gas, or electric, depending on building)
- phone/Internet service
- water/sewer
- food
- clothing/laundry
- health insurance
- health care
- entertainment
- contingency
- savings

As a very rough estimate, figure on taking home about 2/3 of your salary after taxes. Then, deduct health insurance premiums from that (they are typically deducted from one's pay by the employer).

Look for online listings for houses and apartments in the area where you want to live to see the approximate costs. Note that location has a huge effect on pricing here. A beautiful house in a bad neighborhood will be worth far less than a mediocre house in a great neighborhood. If buying, consider local property taxes, which will vary by town and city. If renting, find out if the rent includes utilities (electricity, heat, water, etc.) or not. Most rentals will require a commitment to rent for a minimum number of months.

Edit: for cars, look at craigslist and various car web sites to find out what is available. Figure on $20k and up for a new car. Used cars are generally a better deal. Insurance will be higher on some models than others. Also, some cars are easier to get serviced here. Cars from the US manufacturers (GM, Ford, Chrysler) and Honda and Toyota are common and easy to get serviced. It will be harder to find someone to work on some foreign brands and the work will typically be more expensive.

Employers will deduct "estimated tax" from your pay check. You may end up owing more or receiving a refund in the following year when you file your taxes. Retirement savings like 401(k) plans are optional, but generally a good deal if there is an employer match.

And take Leo's advice about meeting with a lawyer.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 02:21 PM:
 
Scott,

I have friends in NYC who live there for a long time and they will help me with finding an accommodation, to start it over, and with those legal stuff.

Like I use to say I'm a technician/engineer and not a lawyer. Lawyers pay us to repair things for them and we are paying them for legal problems/solutions.

Regarding payments...
Is it paid weekly, bi-weekly, monthly or it depends from employer? Should i negotiate gross or net salary?
What should i expect when it comes to numbers?
Do i need to get certified so i can work in this field of work? How much does it cost?
Is there a union which member i have to become?
Is there some minimum hourly wage and how much is it?
By law how many hours of work is the federal minimum?
Overtime rate is exact like hourly or different?
How much overtime is maximum? (From my experience, in this field there is a plenty of overtime and night work)

- Alex
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-19-2016, 02:33 PM:
 
Cars - I get the impression that used car prices vary a lot by region. Here in Southern California, cars tend to hold their value a lot more than I was used to in Britain, I suspect because the bodywork simply doesn't rust (very dry climate), and so if you take care of routine maintenance, running a car to half a million miles is entirely possible. For example, when our 1999 Honda Civic with 205k miles on the clock was stolen last year, the insurance company valued it at $4k. In Britain, you'd have trouble giving away a car of that age and mileage (unless it's a restored classic). As a starting point, why not look on autotrader.com for the kind of vehicle you had in mind, on sale within, say, a 50-mile radius of NYC?

As for tax, as Scott points out, there are at least three components: federal income tax (paid to the United States Government), state income tax (paid to the state in which your employer is located; most, but not all states have an income tax) and social security (effectively a government-run pension scheme).

On a regular salary, these are "withheld" (taken from your salary at source, like PAYE in Britain) at the payroll stage. However, unlike in most European countries (in Britain, for example, you only have to file a tax return if you have sources of income other than a regular salary), every "US person" (citizen, legal resident or foreign citizen with business interests in the US) has to file a tax return with the federal government (IRS) and the state in which they live each year. If you have assets in a foreign country, you also have to file a "FINCEN" form listing them. Some people do this themselves, often using software to help you prepare the tax return, e.g. TurboTax, while others hire a "tax preparer" to do it for them. The math is not too complicated if your affairs are relatively simple, but for peace of mind that it's been done right, I'm happy to pay the $150 each year for a professional to do this for me. In terms of my earning power per hour, it would cost me a lot more to figure out how to do it myself.

In terms of where you live, that's really a topic for negotiation between you and your boss. If the sites you'll be servicing are mainly nowhere near your home office, it might not make much sense to live nearby it.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-19-2016, 02:40 PM:
 
Employees usually get paid weekly, bi-weekly. or semi-monthly. This varies by employer and by state, I believe.

You would typically negotiate gross pay with your employer.

No idea on numbers.

Depending on locality, it is possible that you might need to be licensed as an electrician or to do low-voltage electrical work. NYC and PA require that projectionists be licensed, but that likely does not apply to technicians. Licenses are typically issued by individual states. Some states have reciprocity agreements that allow someone licensed in one state to work in another. There is probably a written and/or practical test for such a license, as well as a first-time and recurring annual fee to keep it.

Your work might fall under the electricians' union or the projectionists' union; you would need to find out from your employer if you would be required to join and/or pay for permission to work under the ausipces of either.

The US federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, which applies to all states. Some states have higher minimum wages set. The pay for a skilled position such as yours should be significantly higher than this.

There is no minimum number of hours per week set by law. By convention (and law in many areas), overtime starts at 40 hours per calendar week and is paid at 1.5x the regular rate. In general, this only applies if you are paid hourly. There may be differences here if your work is covered under a union contract, in which case you should find out what the contract requires. In general, there is no maximum amount of overtime specified by law (except in the case of safety-related jobs, like airline pilots and truck drivers), but employers generally try to limit it in order to control costs. Unless there is a union contract that requires it, there is generally no extra pay for non-overtime night and weekend work.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 02:47 PM:
 
Leo,

In general I've always tried to avoid big cities and I will try to do it also in this case. Pennsylvania and New Jersey are big enough so like you've said there is no point to choose location where to live based on job's especially in cases like mine (field operations). But like I've said this will depend on my future employer requirements.

Can you tell me something about climate? Is it cold, dry, rainy in those states (NY, PA, NJ)? How much is it different from continental (European)?
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-19-2016, 03:06 PM:
 
I've never lived on the east coast and so can't really answer that. I've made brief visits to Washington DC, Boston/Cambridge, Savannah and Bucksport, ME, and with the exception of Savannah (a lot more humid than I was used to), the weather struck me as very similar to what I'd expect in northern England (where I lived at the time) at the same time of year. Other than to change planes, I haven't managed to get to NYC yet.

During most of the year, the weather in Southern California is totally different from anything you'd find in Europe, except possibly in the extreme south-west, along the Mediterranean coast of Portugal, Spain and Italy. It's very warm and dry, with daytime temperatures in the high 40s of Celsius in August and early September. The winter nights can get surprisingly cold, though: frosts are not unusual, and an occupational hazard for citrus growers (I have three small grapefruit trees in large pots that we were having to haul into the garage overnight throughout much of January).
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 03:19 PM:
 
Are there opportunities for advancements in carrier for this type of work and what it can be?
Response times between service company/integrators are defined by contract or there is some regulation for this?
How annoying are customers?
What should I expect when i come on-site?
 

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Posted by Rick Raskin (Member # 1561) on 09-19-2016, 03:50 PM:
 
I've been to Belgrade and thought the climate there resembled that of state of Florida. You'll find the mid Atlantic states to be somewhat cooler and the New England states can be darn cold in the Winter. Summer temperatures can sometimes be in the 90s F (30s C) all over the East coast.

Something you'll have to get used to is the dreaded SNOW. Drivers go crazy when it snows and commuting can be a nightmare. The media plays up every potential snowstorm like its the end of civilization thus sending waves of panic throughout the populace. Runs on the stores for milk, bread and toilet paper are not uncommon. Of course, it never turns out as bad as the doom and gloom they predict, but just be aware.

In the New York City area you may also have to rent a parking place along with your residence. In some cases the cost of that rental can be very high.

I would also recommend you Google the median income for the area you are considering. That will give you an idea of how to negotiate salary with your prospective employer.
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-19-2016, 04:04 PM:
 
Just for a quick comparison, here's a map of the MEDIAN income in NYC(2012). As a skilled technician, you should be making much more than the median:
NYC Median Income

Jersey has a high Median income, and probably cost of living to go with it (Wikipedia):

quote:

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New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in the United States of America, with a per capita income of $35,928 (2012) and a personal per capita income of $50,781 (2010).[1][2] Its median household income is $71,637 (2012) and its median family income is $87,389 (2012), both the second highest in the country.[3]

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So, if you are going to be working as a skilled tech in those areas, you should at least be making more than the median.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 04:16 PM:
 
Hi Rick and thank you for your contribution in this matter. I've already done it (Google research), and also have checked NY Labor and *bla bla bla* website. Those searches are very rough as you can imagine. E.g. Google search gives me $17/Hr an up, NY Labor site gives minimum $11/Hr for Professional workers. Also i am not able to find does it required to get certified in this field of work and/or should i be a member of some Union (and which).

When it comes to accommodation rentals variations are big which depends on many factors. I have some friends in NYC who told me the same thing and promised to help me in finding accommodation, walk me thru the city, etc. if I come to the USA.

I have asked here for help because this forum is dedicated for people who work in this field (projectionists, cinema support, and other ground level) in hope that someone will give me more detailed answers to my questions like Leo and Scott already did. They also gave me some useful directions what should I ask employer during negotiations, where i can find useful data, etc.

Please, don't get me wrong and also forgive me for my ignorance about USA laws, customs, etc.

But, like it is written - Ask and you've should be answered.
 

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Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-19-2016, 04:17 PM:
 
Weird... That all sounds strangely familiar.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 09-19-2016, 04:19 PM:
 
Speaking as someone who lives in Northern New Jersey between NY and PA, this entire area is considered one of the more expensive regions (after southern California). You can not live on minimum wage, you will starve and be homeless. Small apartments in Northern NJ tend to rent for around $1500/month plus utilities, outside of the poorer inner cities. NYC is even more expensive, but it has some relatively inexpensive rent controlled apartments. Unfortunately they rarely hit the open market.

The weather in the summer is usually in the high 70's Fahrenheit to the high 90's. You will need to translate that to Centigrade yourself. In the winter, the temperature normally ranges from the high teens (Fahrenheit) to the low 40's (Fahrenheit). It snows here, some winters more than others. The road are not plowed very well in most of the area.

You can not bring your family over on an H1B visa. This is a special temporary work visa for instances where an employer can not find an American (or legal immigrant) qualified for the position. H1B visa's are tied to a specific employer, and when the employment ends, you probably will get booted out of the country unless you have found another employer to sponsor you.

Electricians do not have to join the union, but they do have to be licensed by whatever state they are working in. You need to verify with your employer if you are going to be doing electrical work. Most cinema field service techs are not doing electrical work, so this tends not to be an issue.

I would re-read everything Scott has posted, especially about finding out why they are willing to bring you over here when there are a lot of USA citizens who would want this job. Like Scott, I suspect that they plan on paying you a lot less than the job should pay, and working you to death, since you can not quit and take another job very easily.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-19-2016, 04:27 PM:
 
@Martin,
Thanks for this link. It shows me very valuable data. Just a question regarding this data. Can you tell me what are differences between median, personal and household income? According to this data and by the address of the employer median income is about $85k. It sounds to good to be true. Maybe it is for white collars

@Mitchell, been there done that. On my last job I've trashed my car to the tree (from the cliff) because of exhaustion/fatigue because i have worked around clock 24/7/365 . But, on the other side that's me. When i have obligations I will do anything to complete it on time and with all of my resources. Some people call it dedication but my wife calls it foolishness.

@Sean, Which part is familiar?

Alex
 

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Posted by Mark Ogden (Member # 43) on 09-19-2016, 05:01 PM:
 
Here in New Jersey, as in the entire Tri-State area, we have four distinct seasons, although the Spring and Fall seem to come and go very quickly of late. The average Summer temperature is about 82 - 85º Fahrenheit. In the Winter it usually stays 35 - 45º, you can expect one or two serious snow storms per year. If you live on Long island, especially along the southern shore, you can expect somewhat cooler temperatures in the summer and warmer in the winter. It is not especially rainy in the area, in fact we are in drought conditions at the moment, which is getting to be more and more the norm.

Rent in the area is very expensive. Manhattan is unaffordable for most, but some of the outer buros may be within your reach, especially portions of Queens. In New Jersey, the next town over from me has rent stabilized apartments that start at about US$1500 for a one-bedroom, but there is a long wait for such housing. Expect to pay at least $1800 for a one-bedroom, more for larger. The one saving grace for New Jersey is that gas for your car is cheap, the Union 76 station on the corner is down to $1.85 a gallon today. Ironically, NJ is one of only two states where there are no self-serve gas pumps, everything is full serve all the time. If you are going to have a car and do service work in the area, milage will be an issue, it's very easy to run up 20,000-25,000 miles a year on a company car.
 

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Posted by Sean McKinnon (Member # 612) on 09-19-2016, 05:06 PM:
 
Alecksandar I will send you a private message.

I can tell you when I worked as a service tech for a large national service company (now owned by a former manufacturer who was very strong in the film business and is now in the digital cinema business) in the New England region I was provided a company car and I worked out of my home. If I worked more than eight hours in a day I was reimbursed for meals and when traveling out of my area for installs or classes I was reimbursed for meals,hotel, etc... I was guaranteed 40 hours a week but eligible for overtime. I serviced locations in three states up to 3-4 hours away. I was expected to take calls from the answering service until 11pm

I was provided medical, 401k, Salary in the high 30's. I was provided a scope, multimeter, amp clamp, Rta and Mic's, and general consumable spare parts to carry. I provided my own hand tools but was reimbursed for any lost, stolen, or broken tools.

Mark, when I worked for the SVA Theatre on West 23rd I lived near Poughkeepsie and would drive home through NJ to get the cheap full service fuel. I paid 1,500 per month for a one bedroom condo 2 minutes from I-84 and 10 Minutes from the Beacon Metro North station.
 

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Posted by Martin McCaffery (Member # 37) on 09-19-2016, 05:35 PM:
 
Personal income is one person, or per-capita. Household is generally combined husband/wife income, though I guess it could also include working children living with parents, or a roommate situation. Combined income of everyone living under one roof.

If the median personal income is $85K , half the people will be making less than that, half will make more, so you want to be in the upper half. Not sure what the white collar/blue collar split is in those areas. Given that firefighters can make over $100k (with overtime), blue collar jobs can pay.
 

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Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 09-19-2016, 05:51 PM:
 
I would re-read everything Scott has posted, especially about finding out why they are willing to bring you over here when there are a lot of USA citizens who would want this job. Like Scott, I suspect that they plan on paying you a lot less than the job should pay, and working you to death, since you can not quit and take another job very easily.


Listen to Mitchell. This is a very tough business here and most of the cinemas are run by children and no real booth staff so you will get no help, so lots of wasted trips. Not much hope for career advancement.

Aside from any other advice, I would only consider a salaried position with a contract to make the move worth the effort. Otherwise you will be exploited and ultimately discarded. The only hope is you make a good name for yourself for your next job or you start your own service company.

There is phrase in Hollywood and cinemas in general that applies.
"They will never forgive you for carrying a screwdriver" That addresses the chances of career advancement to a "white collar" job.

Sorry to be bleak.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-19-2016, 08:47 PM:
 
One more point: immigration costs aside, you will need a good chunk of cash to get settled in the US.

As a foreigner, you will have no credit record and no credit score. These are used by creditors and lenders to determine whether or not your are likely to pay your bills on time. As such, the electric company, the phone company, and so on will want an up front deposit of several months' worth of bills before they will provide you with service. Landlords will typically want the first and last months' rent up front as well as a security deposit equal to one month's rent. You will get the deposits back eventually, but you need the cash up front in order to move into an apartment or house. Additionally, you will need or want furniture and other items (pots, pans, sheets, towels, etc.) for your home.

If you want to buy a house and do not have the full price of the house in cash, you will need excellent credit (which you will not have) and, typically, a 10-20% down payment.

It may even be difficult for you to get a bank account at first.

You might see if, as part of your relocation deal, your prospective employer will help by providing a credit reference as needed and perhaps provide you with a company credit card for business expenses, since it will be difficult for you to get credt without having credit.
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-19-2016, 09:18 PM:
 
Very, very good point, Scott, and one I completely forgot.

When I first arrived, I was entitled to membership of my wife's federal credit union simply by being married to her: without that, even getting a checking account would have been an issue. I also had to put $2K into a secured credit card to get my US FICO credit score off the ground. It's now in the mid-700s (I have the Clark Howard show to thank for alerting me to the secured credit card route to getting it there), but as a newly arrived immigrant, you've got to get from unknown to functioning in a way that natural born Americans who start to wrap their heads around these issues in their late teens very quickly.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-20-2016, 01:09 AM:
 
I knew that I will got some good answers here

During Google research I've made I've got same answers more or less accurate. But, regarding apartment rental I've already pointed that some of my Serbian friends will help me with this and also with households (where to buy them, how much to pay for them, etc.). Don't get me wrong and think that they will pay for me. I never asked that. Huge help for me is for example to find an apartment and landlord who will not ask for my credit score because of my friends who will explain situation. Heck, maybe I will be able to find some Serb to rent me a spare room if I have to come alone

Regarding services like phone, Internet, electricity/gas/HW I also hope that I will be able to find some workaround in similar matter.

About credit score... How much time does it take to bust it up to some average level?

Also one important question. What's the procedure to exchange foreign driver's license for USA one. For obvious reasons I am going to need one so i can do my job. Can I drive with International Driver's license in the beginning? I believe that you had to go through this Leo.

@Sam, there is no need to apologize. I am aware of those points and I appreciate any help and any word written here. Real life is the one that I am into and that's why I am talking to you guys. I have a family to feed (like many of us) and in my case (like in any other) day-dreaming is forbidden in today's economy. Fighting is everything and I am ready to fight (actually I'm doing this my entire life).

Hm... New questions arising...
How much free time does such personal have for themselves, family and friends?
Is it possible to find some freelance jobs which I will be able to work during my spare time (I am also C/C++ programmer, and very very familiar with embedded systems and electronics at service/repair levels)?

Alex
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-20-2016, 07:06 PM:
 
Driving is regulated at state level, so you'd need to check the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles) website for the state in which you'd be living to answer those questions.

In California, foreign license holders visiting temporarily are supposed to have an International Driving Permit, and can drive on their overseas license for up to six months. Car rental companies also tell you that you have to have the IDP. On the first visit to the US I made in which I'd be renting a car I got an IDP and carried it around with me, but I was never asked for it - I showed Hertz my UK driver's license and that was all they wanted to see.

Again, in CA, holders of a license from another US state can simply exchange it for a CA one, for a small fee, unless you have been convicted of any driving-related felonies, in which case you have to take the test. Holders of foreign licenses, though, have to take the test regardless, even if you have a flawless driving record for decades in your country of origin. Again, I don't know about NY, but the CA test really wasn't anything to worry about. The first part was a multiple choice question paper with questions like: "You are driving on a twisty, single track rural road in poor visibility. You come up behind a slow moving vehicle on the approach to a blind bend. Do you ... A - honk your horn and flash your headlights aggressively; B - put your foot down and pass him going into the bend; C - follow at a safe distance until you see that it's safe to pass, or D - point your .44 Magnum out of the driver's side window and take the f****r out?" The practical test involved driving around four or five blocks in light traffic in the middle of the day, and that was it. You'd have to work pretty hard to fail it. The NY test may be a bit more rigorous - I don't know.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 09-21-2016, 11:13 AM:
 
You should probably ask your Serbian friends about driving licenses in NY. In New Jersey, International Driving Permits are only valid for tourist visas. If you are working here and living in NJ, you must get a New Jersey drivers license.

Click Here for the NJ Department Of Motor Vehicles for the requirements. I assume NY has a similar web site.

A driver license issued by any USA state is valid in all the states.
 

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Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 09-21-2016, 12:07 PM:
 
Also note that cars need to be registered and insured in the state in which they are normally parked. Registration is normally a purfunctory and inexpensive procedure that gives you a printed certificate of registration as well as license plates to put on the car. Insurance costs vary widely based upon the amount of coverage, type of car, location, yearly mileage, and your driving record. Since you will not have a USA driving record, you will probably pay more for auto insurance than someone who has been a licensed driver for many years and who has had zero accidents. Auto insurance is required in all (or nearly all) states.

quote: Aleksandar Obradovic

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Is it possible to find some freelance jobs which I will be able to work during my spare time (I am also C/C++ programmer, and very very familiar with embedded systems and electronics at service/repair levels)?

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These are very marketable skills. Have you considered pursuing this type of work directly? You will likely find that these types of jobs will lead to more work, better pay, and more flexibility than cinema service, regardless of your location. Even if you pursue cinema service on a full-time basis, you can probably find a market for this sort of work in your spare time, either on your own or with another company. Be sure to clear this with your primary employer first, though, as some would see this as being a conflict of interest (which it really shouldn't be, unless you are doing work in the cinema industry).
 

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Posted by Leo Enticknap (Member # 534) on 09-21-2016, 01:01 PM:
 
Also, your annual mileage makes a difference to your insurance premium, too. Racking up 35k miles a year, I get hammered (around $700 per six-month premium), though this is inching down as I build up a US driving record. But given that my last auto insurance premium before leaving the UK was £165 for a whole year, that came as somewhat of a shock!

You also need to make sure that your insurance includes cover for driving on employer's business (as distinct from just commuting to and from a regular workplace), if you're going to be taking your own car on service calls, or that you're covered for that by your employer's policy.
 

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Posted by Mitchell Dvoskin (Member # 751) on 09-22-2016, 01:18 PM:
 
If you are here on a H1B Work Visa, you can only legally work for the company that sponsored you. For any side jobs, you would need each employer to separately sponsor you. That is not to say that there are not small employers who ignore the law, but in the IT field, most large companies will not risk getting fined by the government.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-25-2016, 03:18 AM:
 
Guys, i wish to thank you all for your help and let's say contribution to this topic. This helped me much to understand how this is working in USA but I am not hired. Employer actually recall his job offer because he's looking for entry-level technician who will be responsible for covering large area with numbers of cinemas.

What to say except that this is story of my life. I am either over-experienced or un-experienced. In 99% of cases, I am in opposite of what is looked for

Forgive me for my ignorance but I must ask YOU guys something. How is it possible to let "entry-level" tech alone (and unattended)to play around with $100k worth projector, highly hazardous currents and explosive bulbs? All of it without proper training and experience.

During "tape-times" I trained a lot of projectionists but I never left any of them unattended for quite of time. They never threaded tape without my supervision until I decided that they can do it alone in the middle of the sleep. Same was when digital equipment came in.

Also, I have to ask someone to describe me (or better depict me) what is "entry-level" because I am probably too stupid to cope with this term. Is it possible that "entry-level" tech can diagnose faults in different types of equipment (projector, amplifier, cinema processor, 3D system, server, automation, fire alarm, ventilation/exhaust systems, etc.) and actually repair them? IMHO this approach have high possibility to be a waste of both time and money.

Please note that I am not accusing anyone. I was "entry-level" years back. Anybody have to go thru this phase. I actually rant thru this phase. I am only expressing my opinion for this industry. Everyone are cutting their expenses but raising amounts on their invoices. For what? To make customers happier? I don't think so.

This food chain is deteriorating too fast. Everything goes so fast. New movies are hitting cinemas every month. Everyday have his own issues in cinemas from ground level to the booth. But 99% of them are technical in nature. Either IT or electronics/electrical. Tesla forgive me but God help us all.

Like someone said here "they will never forget you for carring a screwdriver". Now i understand why.

Maybe time have come to switch carrier path. For years I am thinkg of buying dosen of sheeps than go to the mountins and become a SHEPARD. Can you imagine someone who helds BSc to become a shepard? Who needs education? Who needs experience when you can buy sheeps and spend you entire life chewing a grass or leaf while petting your german sheppad who will do the job for you?

@Brad, if you think that I have done/wrote something agains forum rules please delete this post. But please don't delete enitre topic because this can be helpful to someone else who is persuing carrier in cinema support bussines in USA.

Best regards,
Alex
 

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Posted by Sam D. Chavez (Member # 1841) on 09-25-2016, 10:56 AM:
 

quote: Aleksandar Obradovic

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Forgive me for my ignorance but I must ask YOU guys something. How is it possible to let "entry-level" tech alone (and unattended)to play around with $100k worth projector, highly hazardous currents and explosive bulbs? All of it without proper training and experience.

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quote:

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quote: Aleksandar Obradovic

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quote:

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quote: Scott Norwood:

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These are very marketable skills. Have you considered pursuing this type of work directly? You will likely find that these types of jobs will lead to more work, better pay, and more flexibility than cinema service, regardless of your location.

I couldn't agree more with what Scott said. You would have no trouble finding gainful employment with those skills. You may even find a prospective employer willing to deal with the visa issues.

Many of us left the industry to pursue better pay and working conditions. While we still maintain a fondness for the industry, I doubt very many regret the decision to leave.
 

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Posted by Marco Giustini (Member # 4544) on 09-26-2016, 05:03 PM:
 
Aleksandar,

Cheer up! Better times will come!
As the entry-level technician, hopefully they need someone to do basic tasks such as HDD replacements, basic updates and basic maintenance tasks.
I agree with you that we shouldn't see 'entry level technicians' around those very expensive machine but hey, the customers will get what they pay for.
See the half-full glass: you did not invest time and money into relocating to the US to find out you were just a 'runner'.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-27-2016, 05:43 AM:
 
You are 100% right guys. Finding a job with my skills should'nt be a problem at all but every rule has it's own exceptions.

Currently I am making living in another field. Installation and maintenance of alarm systems (burglary, fire, early warning, name it) and some IT jobs (1000% returning customers). But situation is much worst in this field than in cinema. E.g If my price for labour is 50 euros/camera, students will do it for 50 euros/system. Same goes in every field.They will come, do the job and you will never see them again. Noone asks me what is the duration of warranty and what does it covers.

I am getting strange fealing that noone asks for quality but only for quantity.

I am eager to stay in this field of biz because it combines every aspect of my knowledge and fires up mu (like Scherlock Holmes would say) "little brain cells" to think and gears to run/rotate.

Maybe I should employ my above mentioned "little grey cells" with programming and create some complete TMS, or create some audio or automation system for a fraction of regular market price. Possibilites are endless by my opinion. Indiegogo here I come!

@Rick, problem with this is that kids from India and such countries are underbidding everything and there is no freaking way to get any job over freelancing sites. I am tring this for several years without any hit. And market in my country is under development for this (only few companies) and lot of competition. Like one saying said "little pond full of crocodiles".

BR
Alex
 

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Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 09-27-2016, 01:59 PM:
 
Do businesses and people around you know that you do custom programming? Do you also do system and network setup and administration?

I have never gone out to try to find a programming or sysadmin job around here, but occasionally things just kind of fall into my lap because someone needs something done and then they realize that they know someone who "does computers", so they come here or phone me and ask if I can do whatever it is that they need done.

You don't have to be doing work for IBM or Ford. Johnny's Corner Store & Plumbing sometimes need stuff like a custom invoicing system or employee scheduling software that isn't necessarily available off the shelf.

You don't necessarily have to do work by the hour either; since you're doing it yourself you can engage in any kind of creative payment that you wish. For example, I have one client who pays me an ongoing royalty based on sales volume of a particular product -- he couldn't afford the amount it would have cost to pay me by the hour to write his software and by paying me a royalty he also gets ongoing technical support and changes as needed. I get a monthly cheque, he gets software that does exactly what he wants it to do, and he didn't have to mortgage the business to pay me to write it.
 

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Posted by Aleksandar Obradovic (Member # 7266) on 09-27-2016, 05:28 PM:
 

quote:

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Frank Cox: Do businesses and people around you know that you do custom programming? Do you also do system and network setup and administration?

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