Comiing to the US from Great Britain

We have written many articles about taking pets to the UK, however we often take for granted those coming the other way. We have indeed written about the requirements for coming into the US with pets.

However we thought we would include a great article from Shelter Offshore about considerations for taking posts in the US.


When most of us think of expatriating and working abroad we think of heading off to exotic destinations where the sun shines, the local language and culture will be as much of a learning experience as adapting to the new ways of working, and we see it all as something of an adventure. However, what about going to work abroad in America?

For professional and managerial level employees, the reality of an overseas assignment can indeed mean relocating State-side…so is such an adventure as exciting and challenging as a move abroad to somewhere like Dubai or Australia?

According to a new paper published by Human Resources Executive Online, the answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ In fact, according to their research and expert opinion, a relocation to America can be just as cross-culturally challenging as one to a nation where English is not the spoken language!

A relocation abroad for work purposes is often considered to be of mind expanding and career enhancing benefit to an individual, and advantageous in terms of international competitiveness for companies. Therefore it is very important that a relocation abroad actually works – which is why so much research and effort goes into understanding how expats adjust, and what level of HR support an individual and their family requires once they expatriate.

However, less thought is often given to those who expatriate from the UK and Ireland to go and live and work in America. It is assumed that because the language barrier is removed, there will be no other cross-cultural issues of major importance to address. According to Human Resources Executive Online that’s not actually the case. So, for companies thinking of sending staff to the US and for those actively contemplating a move to America, what is there to consider?

The level of social and workplace support required is high – adjustments are needed in everything from understanding and securing accommodation to travel, taxation and even the hours one is expected to work and the level of commitment one is expected to give to a job, a team, a manager and a company. Work-based performance can be measured differently in the US to how it is measured in the UK for example, therefore a company taking on an expatriate has an obligation to make its expectations clear. At the same time, an expat has the right to question and should not make broad assumptions about their new assignment. I.e., communication is key to an effective relocation to America.

Next up, according to the report from Human Resources Executive Online, there are three keys to a successful overseas assignment – whether that be in the US or elsewhere – and these three keys have to be understood and faced by both the prospective expat and their overseas employer. The three keys are work adjustment, social or general adjustment and family adjustment.

The first adjustment is probably the most straightforward, because in its simplest form the expat is just doing the same job in a new location. As mentioned, a certain amount of communication is still required to ensure performance expectations are articulated and regular reviews can usually address any issues that arise. When it comes to social or general adjustments this refers to getting to know and like living in America. Support can be given in the form of helping an expat find accommodation, introducing them to their new community and the facilities it has available, and being on hand to give advice and support for the day-to-day issues that can arise.

The last key to making an expat assignment successful is family adjustment – and in our opinion at Shelter Offshore it is actually this adjustment that is the make or break for most expatriates working abroad. It’s a fact that spousal adjustment will have more impact on the work performance of an expatriate employee than cultural adjustment, and therefore the most effort has to go into ensuring the family is integrated and settles well in America if an overseas assignment in the US is going to work.

How To Pack For Your Pets - Pet Travel

Many of us love to travel with our pets. Our friends over at Pets.com offer up a great article on how to effectively pack for your trip:

You can’t take your pet along every time you leave town and there’s not much you can do to lessen how much you'll miss your four-legged family members when you’re away. But making sure your pet and her caretaker have everything they need for a pleasurable and safe time together can help lessen how much you worry while you’re gone. Here are some suggestions on what to include in your pet's overnight bag:

Choose the right overnight bag. Chances are you have a bag you can use on hand, but make sure it’s something you don’t mind getting dirty and can dedicate strictly to pet use. Choose a roomy bag - one that’s washable is ideal. If you can find one with multiple pockets that make organizing a cinch, that’s even better.


Don’t forget food. Pack up enough of your pet’s regular food plus some extra. Be sure you pack the same food your pet has already been eating - this isn’t the time to be switching or transitioning foods and risking stomach upset.

If you’re packing dry food, put it in pest-safe containers or zip lock baggies that will keep it fresh and don’t forget to include detailed feeding instructions. Let your caretaker know how much food your pet eats, how many times a day he eats and what those times are. Keeping your pet on her normal feeding schedule to the best of your caretaker’s ability minimizes disruption to her daily routine. And don’t forget to include treats if they’re a normal part of your pet’s day but, just as you would with food, also include information for how much and when your pet should eat them.

Also, send your pet’s food and water dish along or consider investing in a travel set specifically for overnight stays. Your caretaker may not have an extra set of dog dishes lying around and you don’t want her to have to make an unnecessary trip to the store or dip into the family china to feed Fluffy.

Give your pet the comforts of home. Send your pet off with some items that will make him feel at home even though he’s not. This can be a bed, a crate or even just a blanket from the bed you share. Also clue your caretaker in on your pet’s sleeping habits. If your cat normally slumbers under the bed for the duration of the night, let the babysitter know. Or if your dog sleeps in the crate but the door is open, mention that. Most importantly, you and your babysitter shouldn’t worry if your pet doesn’t stick to his normal sleeping routine, but it’s a good idea to set the stage for it.

Include a few toys your pet likes in his overnight bag too. Let your caretaker know which ones are favorites and which ones can be taken the park, shared (or even destroyed in the midst of fun).

Don’t forget, safety first. Include any medications or supplements your pet is on in the overnight bag. And don’t just send enough for the time you’ll be gone - include extra doses. Also leave behind information on what each medication is for, tips for administering it and contact information for your regular veterinarian. A phone number and directions from your care giver’s house to an emergency vet are also good to pack. If your pet is allergic to any medications that you know of, write it down and include that information in your overnight bag.

You also need to send your pet’s current vaccinations (or a copy of them) along for an overnight stay. This is particularly important because if anything came up for your caretaker and she had to board your pet, she would need the vaccination records in order to do it. You should also leave information on your preferred boarding place closest to your caretaker. Just in case.

Let your caretaker know how to reach you. This seems obvious, but in the mayhem of planning for a vacation, the details are often forgotten. Be sure to provide contact information for you and for at least two other family friends or friends who would be willing take over the care of your pet in the event that your chosen caretaker had an emergency (and let these folks know they’re your pet’s emergency contacts too).

Pack a thank-you surprise for your caretaker. Consider packing something in your pet’s overnight bag that your caretaker can stumble upon and enjoy. This doesn’t have to be anything elaborate - just including a thank you card from your pet in the bag can add a thoughtful touch.