A few questions

[EnglishMan]

Im not sure if this is in the right section, but here we goooo:

#1 Ok so im currently a jobseeking graduate and have a few options running at the moment, hopefully one of them will suit me and our relationship. Anyways, Im hoping to be able to visit my SO for both Easter and her graduation (the gap between the two wouldn't be huge so could combine maybe), would be nice to go shortly after the New Year too. Would this be possible in conjunction with work holidays? I should be looking at 21-25 paid holiday days, is there any way I can reasonably go over that limit? I wouldn't be expecting the additional time off to be paid, im more wondering if that's something an employer would not take kindly to. I figure it'll vary by company, so looking for experiences on how people have balanced work with visiting their SO.

#2 I would be travelling to the USA on the VWP with ESTA authorisation. As I mentioned there's the possibility of wanting to go at Easter and her graduation, which would be in quite close proximity. Is there a problem with the frequency of visits during the duration of the ESTA? I.e. while I have ESTA authorisation for those 2 years, is it a case of going whenever, or are there really restrictions on how frequent I could go?


None of those plans are set in stone, so just trying to get an idea of what the boundaries would be really.

[Lilly9886]

To your question 1: I think there exists something where you can take upaid holiday-days, but I'm not sure if a lot of companies like to give them... also, I think when you just start working, your "right" to take (the 5 weeks) holidays (that you get for a whole year) will be only after 6 months of working there! That's here, where I live, not sure about England thought, but I guess there would be similar rules. Also companies don't like when their workers take weeks off at a time I'd say, depends of course what you are working. I think students are very used to long holidays and it will take some time to realize and accept that now you only have 5 weeks in the whole year.

To question 2: I don't think it's smart to go to the United States often in a short time... as you say New Years, Easter and her graduation.. that would be like 3 times maybe in 4-5 months?
Not only the visa, also the money plays a role here, I'd think.. but you have to know if you can afford that.

What about her coming over for Easter or New Years for example?

I never had problems yet to go to the States, but I'm always worried, even if I don't go "very" frequently!

[nicole]

1) It would vary by company about unpaid holidays. I know one lady I worked with took so many holidays, she left OWING the company money because they'd paid too much holiday pay. You'd need to ask your employer how that works.

2) On the VWP, the general rule is, for how ever long you've stayed, you need to wait that amount of time before returning. Lots of small visits in a short place of time can be a no-no, but it depends on how much evidence you bring with you to show you will be returning home; if you visit a few times, more then likely they will take you for secondary questioning, but if you have rental agreements, bills, letters from employers, you should be let through ok. If you don't have all that then I'd be wary of going- you'll have paid so much for a return ticket just to be sent back home within an hour of entering the country.

[Moon]

No matter what country you're in, employers don't take very kindly to employees taking extra time off, especially new employees. Once you start working, those long, frequent visits are pretty much over, I'm sorry to say. You balance it by using the time you do have wisely, combine your vacation days to coincide with public holidays to get an extra day or two, some companies will let you save any extra hours you've worked for time off, etc. It's not easy, but there's not much choice, really. In the working world, you never get enough time off, so you just have to make the best of what you do have, and you'll eventually get used to it

[EnglishMan]

Yeah I guess these were more speculative than anything.

@ Lilly, you could be right, though the job adverts or further interviews have never mentioned anything about a 'loyalty phase' so to speak. Wouldn't be a big deal for the idea of visiting during Easter and later, but would rule our Christmas if thats the case. You are right about that money playing a role with so many trips too, but like I said these are just ideas and these 3 times would be the next 3 that would be best to visit. I would try and do Christmas and combine the Easter/Graduation one somehow rather than 3, but if all 3 were possible id give it a go.

As for her coming, that is possible but id rather be the one making the first trip over since im the older of the two and more used to doing things independently. Plus there is the possibility of her getting a trip over here as a present for graduating so maybe that could take place instead of me going there for that (though I'd love to be at her graduation ceremony tbh).

@ nicole, yeah I guess the employer is the variable here so it'll depend. Im not so bothered about getting paid for an 'overuse' of holiday days as it were (though that'd be great!) im more bothered about that time off getting me in hot water. I figure some companies wont be too bothered, some would just let you make it up through overtime, and others wouldn't let it go. And yeah, I kinda figured the short trips in succession thing would be troublesome, but had to ask. Seems weird to authorise you a 2-year period of travel and then get pissy if its too frequent. Especially when im only going to visit my girlfriend and have no intentions of playing the system or what have you. But im not surprised, nor can I much blame immigration for being tight atm.

I know all this sounds ambitious but that was the point, to see what's actually possible. Thanks for your answers guys .

How have people dealt with trips to see their SO's? Hear a few stories where people spend a month or two visitng, love to know how to work doing that out.

[EnglishMan]

Double post, my bad lol.

No matter what country you're in, employers don't take very kindly to employees taking extra time off, especially new employees. Once you start working, those long, frequent visits are pretty much over, I'm sorry to say. You balance it by using the time you do have wisely, combine your vacation days to coincide with public holidays to get an extra day or two, some companies will let you save any extra hours you've worked for time off, etc. It's not easy, but there's not much choice, really. In the working world, you never get enough time off, so you just have to make the best of what you do have, and you'll eventually get used to it

Yeah I guess, its just hard to think thats the case, so just seeing how far I can push the boundaries. Need the job for the money, then getting it doesn't give you the time to properly do the thing you wanted with it, vicious circle lol. We generally do well for holiday time in the UK though compared to some other countries so its not all bad. Its kinda nice to come up with these plans with her, so it's gunna be disappointing to realise it's not a walk in the park.

She will have a couple of years coming up in about a year where she'll have her own apartment and everything, so hopefully by then ill be in a financial position to find a way to live with her for an extended period of time, since I wouldn't be able to work for the duration of that.

[Moon]

Double post, my bad lol.


Yeah I guess, its just hard to think thats the case, so just seeing how far I can push the boundaries. Need the job for the money, then getting it doesn't give you the time to properly do the thing you wanted with it, vicious circle lol. We generally do well for holiday time in the UK though compared to some other countries so its not all bad. Its kinda nice to come up with these plans with her, so it's gunna be disappointing to realise it's not a walk in the park.

She will have a couple of years coming up in about a year where she'll have her own apartment and everything, so hopefully by then ill be in a financial position to find a way to live with her for an extended period of time, since I wouldn't be able to work for the duration of that.

Funny you should say that, go see what I just posted here....
There are ways to live together and work, it's just a little hard to find the right opportunity!

[EnglishMan]

Funny you should say that, go see what I just posted here....
There are ways to live together and work, it's just a little hard to find the right opportunity!

... and it's funny enough you should say that , cause that's actually something i've mentioned to her and something ive thought about too. Where she's shortly going to University its tough to gauge it cause that obviously means she wont be settled geographically so much. Plus finding companies who are based close-ish to where she is now and where she will be, hasn't been too fruitful as yet. But there is a huge multi-national company who you'll all have heard of not too far down the road, so maybe that's something to really push for. Like you say, tis a bit difficult!