Let the Adventure Begin! A Week-by-Week Guide to Moving Abroad
17 Weeks Until Overseas Move: International Work Permits - Obtaining a Work Permit
Obtaining a Work Permit for an Overseas Job
Never assume your employer is taking care of this in the way that they should. I was once offered a job in Greece right out of graduate school and was so excited by the idea of living there. As the summer rolled by I started to wonder why I hadn't received any documents nor been asked to provide anything. However, I didn't want to be presumptuous with my new employers by assuming they needed reminders from me, so I waited. When enough time had passed without any news on the work permit, I contacted the person who had offered me the position. In the end it turned out that he thought someone else in the office had been handling it, and the other person thought he was responsible for getting it. When the mistake was realized and they applied for the permit, the government had filled its quota for that year and the job offer was rescinded.
So the lesson is be proactive. Before you even accept the job offer and start packing up your life, discuss the work permit with the employer. Ask them what documents they will need from you and who your contact person is at the company for any questions that you have. Whenever you send the contact documentation, follow up to make sure items were received. Because the work permit process is a lengthy one, ask for periodic updates on the status of the permit. Unless your move date is months out, do not buy a nonrefundable or unchangeable air ticket. Out of all the details involved in your move, this is the one to be the most concerned about.
"It's critical to be aware of the immigration policies in the host country, not only from the employee's point of view but also from the entire family's perspective. For instance, some countries like Singapore do not recognize unmarried/ defacto partners. These partners are therefore not automatically eligible for dependant immigration passes. Partners receive long term visit passes, which do not permit them to work. This situation of the partner being in limbo often causes tremendous stress, even causing the couple to return back to their home country. In order to reduce such risks companies must prepare assignees well in advance, and where possible have all relevant immigration passes and visa approved prior to leaving home," explains Griselle Cardozo of Reloglobe.com in her article entitled International Assignments in a Changing World.
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Kendra Redman is a well traveled writer with a B.S. in
Journalism and a Master's in Writing. She has lived in
six countries and draws on her experience to write
about her adventures and misadventures. One of her
greatest travel accomplishments was once returning
from a trip with two end tables and two lamps as her
"carry on luggage."
This is an excerpt of our free e-newsletter, Let the Adventure Begin!. For full access, please subscribe to the e-version of Let the Adventure Begin! (free). You'll receive (free) weekly e-newsletters starting 8 months before your approximate move date and running through your first four months abroad.
