36 ms·

"The Gold Card does not provide for a work permit for dependents of the card holder. Your spouse should get their own work permit." Just like the TN visa. That

"The Gold Card does not provide for a work permit for dependents of the card holder. Your spouse should get their own work permit." Just like the TN visa. That's a deal breaker right there.

ashtonkem 6y ago
Same problem in a lot of countries. I looked into this for Germany as a backup option; my technical expertise and low level of German proficiency would get me and my wife easy residency, but she wouldn’t be allowed to work. Then again, given the right mix of COL and wages, that might be tolerable, especially in a situation where something makes me willing to follow through on that plan.
- owenwil 6y ago
  Interesting that this is not the case in Canada. My partner is the main visa-holder here, and is tied to her employer in the same way a H1B would in the US, but it also provides a full 'open' visa for her spouse, which allows me to work anywhere without restrictions. It seems like a smart move, as it definitely tipped the scales in Canada's favor for us.
  - digianarchist 6y ago
    When I moved to Canada we both got Canadian "Green Cards" as soon as we landed. Technically possible in the US but show me an employer that will sponsor an EB-2 unless you work for them already.
    - convivialdingo 6y ago
      A French friend of mine was recently denied a visa to Canada. His wife got a job there working in public policy, and he was going to work there in software (film industry). I figured it would be easy for him, but it's a mess!
    - mataug 6y ago
      Also don't be Indian in the US if you ever expect a EB-2/3 "Green Card"
- f6v 6y ago
  I worked in software in Germany, almost all of the technical people are on Blue Card, which gives a spouse a work permit from day one.
  - biztos 6y ago
    Also, depending on your level, you may be eligible for an immediate Permanent Residence permit. This gives you a lot more rights in Germany than the Blue Card, but ironically fewer rights in the rest of the EU.
- fluffything 6y ago
  In Germany, if your partner doesn't work, your income tax is essentially divided by 2 for taxation purposes, which is huge given that ~45% of your income will be paid in taxes otherwise, a big part of which are income taxes. Also, charitable donations, which includes working for charities for free, as well as voluntary work, are tax deductible for the "tax entity", which if you are married you can choose to be your marriage. So depending on what your partner does, and likes to do, if you are in a very high paying job, it might make more economic sense for your partner to "work for free" donating their work to a charity. This essentially would mean that you get 100% of your income, free of taxes. Example A: your salary 200k, your partner salary 50k. Combined taxes: 250k * 0.45 = 112k. Earnings: 250 - taxes = 138k. Example B: your salary 200k, your partner exercises a 50k job for a charity for free. Taxes: 200*0.45/2 - 50k = -10k = 0k. Earnings 200k > 138k. I'm not suggesting that your partner shouldn't work, only mentioning that if you are moving to Germany for a high-paying job, that is just one part of the equation. IANAL, nor a tax advisor, so I'd recommend you explore the options and evaluate the package "as a whole". For a lot of people, being able to work for a charity for free for a couple of years can be much more rewarding than a 8-5 office job at a FAANG.
vxNsr 6y ago
low COL usually means you don't both need to work.
- vxNsr 6y ago
  Is this controversial? to me that's one of the benefits of a LCOL areas, that one of the spouses doesn't need to be in the rat race.

"The Gold Card does not provide for a work permit for dependents of the card holder. Your spouse should get their own work permit." Just like the TN visa. That's a deal breaker right there.

ashtonkem 6y ago

Same problem in a lot of countries. I looked into this for Germany as a backup option; my technical expertise and low level of German proficiency would get me and my wife easy residency, but she wouldn’t be allowed to work. Then again, given the right mix of COL and wages, that might be tolerable, especially in a situation where something makes me willing to follow through on that plan.

owenwil 6y ago
Interesting that this is not the case in Canada. My partner is the main visa-holder here, and is tied to her employer in the same way a H1B would in the US, but it also provides a full 'open' visa for her spouse, which allows me to work anywhere without restrictions. It seems like a smart move, as it definitely tipped the scales in Canada's favor for us.
- digianarchist 6y ago
  When I moved to Canada we both got Canadian "Green Cards" as soon as we landed. Technically possible in the US but show me an employer that will sponsor an EB-2 unless you work for them already.
  - convivialdingo 6y ago
    A French friend of mine was recently denied a visa to Canada. His wife got a job there working in public policy, and he was going to work there in software (film industry). I figured it would be easy for him, but it's a mess!
  - mataug 6y ago
    Also don't be Indian in the US if you ever expect a EB-2/3 "Green Card"
f6v 6y ago
I worked in software in Germany, almost all of the technical people are on Blue Card, which gives a spouse a work permit from day one.
- biztos 6y ago
  Also, depending on your level, you may be eligible for an immediate Permanent Residence permit. This gives you a lot more rights in Germany than the Blue Card, but ironically fewer rights in the rest of the EU.
fluffything 6y ago
In Germany, if your partner doesn't work, your income tax is essentially divided by 2 for taxation purposes, which is huge given that ~45% of your income will be paid in taxes otherwise, a big part of which are income taxes. Also, charitable donations, which includes working for charities for free, as well as voluntary work, are tax deductible for the "tax entity", which if you are married you can choose to be your marriage. So depending on what your partner does, and likes to do, if you are in a very high paying job, it might make more economic sense for your partner to "work for free" donating their work to a charity. This essentially would mean that you get 100% of your income, free of taxes. Example A: your salary 200k, your partner salary 50k. Combined taxes: 250k * 0.45 = 112k. Earnings: 250 - taxes = 138k. Example B: your salary 200k, your partner exercises a 50k job for a charity for free. Taxes: 200*0.45/2 - 50k = -10k = 0k. Earnings 200k > 138k. I'm not suggesting that your partner shouldn't work, only mentioning that if you are moving to Germany for a high-paying job, that is just one part of the equation. IANAL, nor a tax advisor, so I'd recommend you explore the options and evaluate the package "as a whole". For a lot of people, being able to work for a charity for free for a couple of years can be much more rewarding than a 8-5 office job at a FAANG.

vxNsr 6y ago

low COL usually means you don't both need to work.

vxNsr 6y ago
Is this controversial? to me that's one of the benefits of a LCOL areas, that one of the spouses doesn't need to be in the rat race.