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Jessi+Rich

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Posts posted by Jessi+Rich

    cute, funny, unusual, interesting things sent with I-751

    in Removing Conditions on Residency General Discussion

    Posted

    For the cuteness factor, we sent a certificate of adoption of our lil love bug, Casey the bunny :) along with a letter from the HRS and a copy of our id in both our names as members. We volunteered in last year's rescue and were featured in the STL Post dispatch in an adoption of rescued bunnies event both in the printed issue as well as in the online edition. A copy of this went to USCIS :) Also, sent a picture from a st patricks party last year where my husband and I are wearing tiny (dog) irish customs, hat and all, really funny!!

    I hope the IO for our case at least gets a chuckle :)

    Good luck!

    Not Hiring Immigrants

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    This job market is complex and quite competitive. First thing you should do is to learn to sell yourself as successful americans (degree'd or not) do. Forget your home country resume formats. This is not your country. Read Resumes that knock 'em dead and Cover letters that knock 'em dead. Work on your resume before tossing it out from a plane.

    I hate wasting my time, thats why when I get contacted for a job first thing I ask is, Is there a citizenship requirement? Have you noticed my experience is related to this or that and not to this specific sector/area? Sometimes people get confused. I do want to work, I just don't want me or them wasting our time.

    Don't even think about discrimination, get yourself a winner attitude. Noone will be convinced on how valuable you are if you are not convinced either. Don't get scared by comments, ask as straight as you can what are the problems and offer reasons why they are not problems. Reference your strengths there where your interviewer is pointing out a weakness. If finally you don't get the job, ask for feedback. You have to learn something from that experience.

    I hope this helps someone here.

    Best luck

    Jess

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    It went great! 3.5 hrs interviewing with 4 people. Got the verbal offer next day for way up what I stated as expected. Went through a very extensive background check though. It took almost a month. I had to unearth contacts in jobs going 10 yrs back. I did a very close follow up on that, I was actually thinking if I don't get the job, boy I will open my own background check agency :devil: Oh! They DO have ways to check your experience. They DO call and/or fax previous employers and references no matter where they are or what language they speak.

    I start working next month. :dance::dance:

    Thanks for asking. Was it you who said his wife was expecting a phone call from a job interview? Did she get it? I hope so :)

    Best luck to all the job seekers.

    Jess

    Problems adjusting

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    To the gal who traveled to 17 states in 8 months....well, that is just plain crazy. I'm glad it worked out well for you. For me, that would be too much. I want him to get used to St. Louis (same as you, I see!) not be some entertainment coordinator. We have been to just 2 other states in the 15 months he has been here. We did a weekend trip to Chicago and he accompanied me on a business trip to Washington, D.C. Otherwise, there is plenty for him to see and do here for now.

    Yes, it was crazy, I totally agree. But boy we loved it. I suppose my husband felt the pressure when I said if I don't like it I am going back. He knows I really meant it. He now has a grin in his face when I say I like it here. He peeks at me everytime he says God bless America, and notices it doesnt bother me anymore. It will take longer to get me saying that tho...

    Saint Louis is a beautiful city. No doubt. One of the reasons we did all these trips was because he wants us to move out in about 2 or 3 years. So we saw what is it like in other places to have a better idea on where to relocate in the future. For him it is very important that we both like where we are.

    To Kameron: So you are trying to get your wife into being a country girl. I bet the change is shocking for her. Would you be willing to move closer to a bigger city if that is what she prefers? Have you talked about that with her?

    Best luck

    Jess

    Problems adjusting

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    I don't know if this can help you, or to what degree... When I arrived here, the top priority for my husband was to show me a new land and a new culture. In every single way. First he tried to get me into hobbies. I had some of my own, the internet is a hobby! But not the best one if you are trying to adjust to a new country. Don't argue with her about it, give her options, alternatives.

    Show her the city (I bet you did this one already), the places/activities that make your city especial and unique. In your area, I especially loved the Dallas arboretum, because I love flowers. First your city, then those lil towns that are nearby. Choose what town to show her by the history they have, or the procedence (e.g. german towns) or any special charasteristic. Go for weekend getaways. Problems with money? Go on a road trip and camp! Do you fish? Take her with you at least once. If she is like me, she will try it and tell you that she hated it. At least you are doing things together.

    Since I got here (8+ months already) I have been to 17 states, most times camping, some others staying in hotels. For him it is important for me to appreciate the different landscapes, weather conditions, amenities in cities, but especially to appreciate the outdoors and healthy activities that you can find almost everywhere here. I have learnt to fish, to shoot, to do sausages, by now you know I married a wild west guy. We have been trapped in an electric storm in Yosemite, lost in a deep Tennessee farm land, considered relocating to the outskirts of Boise, Idaho, cooked at 110 F crossing the arizona desert with a dead A/C, heard a bear roaming around in a campground by Lake Tahoe, raided Texas looking for kolaches, antique shops, etc etc. Everytime he saw (boy he has great eyesight) a bug or animal he thought was new to me, he would stop and show it to me. I have seen more new animals than in a zoo!!!! We would also stop to appreciate and take pictures of wildflowers.

    You have to awake a sense of admiration for the culture too. What cultural activities do they have in that city? Theaters? Museums? Do they have wine tasting? Spain is famous for their good wine, ask her to teach you to appreciate it. Add a tapas or paella treat and she will feel that you understand her better.

    Did you guys contacted her embassy yet? Thats one of the first things to do to start a "paisano" network. Look what I found: http://www.lacasadeespana.org/ . Casa de Espana is a organization aimed to spaniards abroad. They have one in Peru and also in the Dominican Republic. They have a list of activities there. It is in spanish tho.

    Last, my mother in law has 2 rabbits, everytime she goes to the Rabbit Society or to the vet I go with her, I love those lil furry balls.

    I hope I didnt get you tired. Just some ideas to help.

    Best luck

    Jess

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted · Edited by Jessi+Rich

    Nancy, sorry for having the names mixed up. Girl, get your MBA if that is what you want, and don't let anybody talk you out of it. It will certainly boost up your salary.

    About academia, I tried it some years ago. Left it behind with the overcast sky of my native city to try luck in the Dominican Republic. Worked well for me.

    Ok. The potential boss called again today. It seems they like me... or my below average salary expectations... :unsure:

    I have a face to face interview this week. :help:

    Wish me luck!

    Jess

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    Wow San Jose, I would like to live there!!! Housing is too freakn expensive tho. I always joke I want to live in a city where I can have the wages of CA (and the outdoors!), the views of ID (or any national forest for that matter), the taxes of NV and the weather of NM... Please let me know if you find a city like that!

    For my area, CA is the top payer (LA, silicon valley), CO the second (Denver-Aurora). Other metro cities pay very similar wages. Bigger cities, better salaries.

    Sid, if I had a History degree I would be pursuing academia as a top priority, even tho you have to invest to get there (a post graduate degree is required). Second, I would try to get involved with magazines, volunteering articles or blogging. It is surprising how much money a blogger can make if keeping up an interesting blog. I bet you have interesting things to write about.

    Remember, you will get where ever you think you can get.

    Best luck

    Jess

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    Jamie, you could be right. I was looking again on careerbuilder, not their salary calculator, but the job postings. I noticed some of them include the Base Pay range offered. I just found the same position I applied to, in other company of course, with the salary base in the range I found on engineersalary.com

    Do a search in careerbuilder for your position in your city. Maybe other companies are willing to pay you more or maybe you will find that the salaries for your position are really below what the salary websites say. Who knows.

    Best luck

    Jess

    According to salary.com, i should be making about 15K more than I am. The industry is not paying that. This is without the benefits added (base salary).

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    Meow, even though I agree that starting lower than the american counterparts is sad, I think it is the smart thing to do. I am looking for a position which is 1 to 2 levels lower than what I have already done abroad. My husband wants to kill me for this, but I think that it is better for at least a year to understand how everything works here, especially jobs. If I was younger I would even go for a position in Mac Donalds, I could learn to do hamburgers!!!

    About your hubby, I really hope that now that he has a GC, he enrolls in a college and get at least a 2 yrs degree.

    Cecy, very good idea. I will write it down for the future. Thanks!

    Jamie, if I take out 25% out of 62 that would be lower than what I originally asked, then it is not that bad huh?

    Health insurance or other benefits provided by the employer could be worth 25% of the salary.

    There is something I learned over the years, when negotiating your compensation package, you always try to negotiate your salary first, then the side benefits. And, you always pursue several job options. I love this especific job opportunity, but boy I am not selling me cheap!

    Thanks everybody and best luck!

    Jess

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    I am still in learning mode here. I thought an entry level position would be for someone that is right out of college, e.g. 0 job experience.

    The 62 figure is for someone with 0 experience for the specific position, in the specific sector. The 72 figure is for someone with 15 years experience for the specific position in the specific sector.

    BTW, my previous question remains unanswered. Are these salary websites reliable?

    Thanks for your input Reba.

    Jess

    they're not going to not hire you for saying your salary expectation is lower than what the maret currently pays! Besides, that $62,000 is probably what someone who has been working for some time is making, not an entry level position.

    I wouldn't sweat it at all.

    First Phone interview

    in Moving to the US and Your New Life In America

    Posted

    One month ago I started looking for a job, I have been using careerbuilder and monster. At first, I got very few responses and failed to follow up (we latin americans tend to be more on the passive side when job hunting).

    After having someone review my resume and getting to "work" on it using the knock 'em dead series of books, I landed my first phone interview. I feel very confident on the results, the guy who would be my boss was very nice. We talked for almost an hour and everything was excellent until he caught me off guard with the salary expectations question. According to the f*king book, they would ask me that later in the process, so I didnt do the research for the specific sector I was applying. I gave him the last number I had seen that was 50,000 dollars for a quality engineer with a BS. in a manufacturing company. When I realized that I may be screwing up, I told him that there are several websites that provide salary averages by cities, sector, education and experience background, that I would accept a fair salary according to the standards for this city and state, not idaho nor oklahoma. He laughed and said that the remark was perfectly stated and understood (or something like that).

    Ok, after the conversation, I checked on salaryengineer.com and it has salaries going from 62,000 to 72,000 dollars for that position, sector and metro city. My question is, how do I fix the 50,000 dollars as an expected salary? Is it possible? Are these salary websites (careerbuilder and monster have them too) reliable?

    Thanks a lot, and best luck to all the job hunters!

    Jess

    AOS/EAD March filers.

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hi guys

    2 weeks ago we departed to our little trip to see western US. One week after that I got notice that my green card arrived home. Today I have it in my hands !!! Hopefully, we will see a tip of Baja California after all.

    So far, I have seen some of Texas, New Mexico and California. We loved the Albuquerque area (Rio Rancho or something like that) and White Rock (near Los Alamos), so, most probably we will be moving there. The forests around Los Alamos are amazing. We still have to see Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming and South Dakota.

    I have enjoyed catching up with all the news over here. A big congratulations to all the fellows that got their approvals, and to the rest, hang in there, soon or later you guys will get your applications approved!

    Best luck!

    Jess

    I-864A (I have some questions on the form)

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Hi mona

    I-864A and I-864 are a little bit tricky when used together.

    As for your question on Part 1 Nbr 8, I would tick on parent, maybe you can clarify it by writing (step parent) beside it.

    Part 2, Nbr. 13, they are asking for the number of immigrants being sponsored, if its just you, then it is ONE, if you and your only child, then TWO, and so on.

    Don't forget that the sponsor is your husband, and the household member is his step father.

    If his mother is not working then she can't be used as a household member for I-864A purposes.

    On I-864 Part 5, Nbr 24, the size of the household must include you, your husband and his parents, along with anybody else who lives there and is a DEPENDENT of your husband OR his parents.

    I-864 Part 24 b. Has to be filled with the results on I-864A .

    Hope this helps.

    Good luck!

    Jess

    Just stared filing the AOS

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    As per a previous post, his wife entered with a tourist visa (B1/B2).

    The guides to understand the AOS process is here: http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=307

    Yes, you need to complete the medical exam BEFORE filing for AOS. The civil surgeon must be authorized by USCIS. To locate an authorized civil surgeon in your area see https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=of...office_type=CIV . After the exam the civil surgeon will give you a sealed envelop containing her medical results and vaccination record (I-693 and I-693A). Don't open it, just attach it to your AOS file.

    Yes, you need to file a I-864 Affidavit of support as her sponsor.

    Read the guides (link above) and the instructions on every single form you need, follow them and you will be fine.

    Best luck

    Jess

    AOS/EAD March filers.

    in Adjustment of Status (Green Card) from K1 and K3 Family Based Visas

    Posted

    Still no approved email. I got the Welcome notice today.

    We are going out on a road trip to see the wild west (south and north) and since the GC has been approved, we will include "Langostaville" in Mexico :dance: Now, I have to check what do I need to cross that border!

    Best luck guys :)

    Jess

    We got the Pending CSC E-mail, then the Approved e-mail, and then the Card Production E-mail.. then we got the Approved Letter in the mail .. and now we await physical GC in the mail.. Still waiting :)
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