LT.Nora

They have all kind of information related to job requirements, salaries, interviews and reviews not only about Bank of America but other companies too at www.glassdoor.com

I always check it before going on any interview..

Good luck

If you graduated from grammar school, it is sufficient to write "High School Diploma" and the year you graduated. Listing GSCEs or Levels is unnecessary, since most people won't understand it in here. Americans don't list their GPA scores (unless it is extremely high) on their resumes and neither should you.

Good websites to look for job are monster.com careerbuilder.com indeed.com (this one is particularly good, because it is like "google" for jobs). I try to stay away from craigslist because it is usually smaller, family owned companies that advertise there, not mentioning about all the scams...

As far as the resume goes... When I started looking for job, I applied everywhere and got no calls whatsoever. I have applied for a job through jobfox.com and one of their professional resume writers emailed me a critique on my resume (hoping I would pay for their services to professionally write me one). I didn't hire them to do my resume, but checked their samples, did lots of research and redid my resume myself that now at least gets me interviews.

Depending on your experience, resume shouldn't be longer than two pages. It has to include Professional Summary (like a summary of you being oh-so-wonderful and polished), Experience (beginning with most recent, also explain briefly your duties in sentences and bullet-point your achievements with specific numbers i.e. "Developed new advertising campaign and increased rental bookings by 200%"), Education (most recent first) and Key words (in my resume I put it as Core Competencies, and just put keywords such as - Accounts payable/receivable, excellent communication skills etc). Do not list your hobbies or interests. Also don't forget to put Page numbers (like "2 of 2")on every page, word "continued" on the bottom of first page and also on the second page there should be a header that has your name, email and phone number. The reason for page numbers and header with your information is that pages of your resume might get split in a pile of other resumes and if recruiter has only one page of your resume, he will still have your contact details at the top of the page. Also don't put any colors or fancy decorations on your resume, make it look professional, easy to read and simple.

You also need a cover letter. Cover letter should be in the same format as your resume. In the cover letter you should explain that you are applying for this-and-this position that you saw being advertised in there-and-there and just quickly summarize why are you a good fit and bullet point your strongest qualities (ideally it should mirror what their advertisement of what they are looking for).

If you have extra $300 or so to spend, I would definitely recommend having a good professional resume writer write your resume for you. Otherwise you can definitely check jobfox.com (that one seemed to have the best samples, after my extensive research!) for resume samples and also get ideas from other people's resumes!

Keep applying for jobs, and if you don't get any interviews that could mean: 1. Your resume isn't up to standard. 2. You may be under qualified for the position. 3. You may be over-qualified for the position.

I am looking for job myself and it really tough out there! And to top that, the whole resume-interview-job process is completely different than in England, and I am having deja vu as if I am applying for my first job all over again!

Good luck and let me know if you have more questions

Congratulations!!! Isn't it is so pretty lol?

Thanks! Yeah, I can't stop looking at it! Finally will be able to live like a normal human being

YEY!! I got my GC today! It hasn't sunk in quite yet

I guess, I will see you again in about year and a half, in Removing Conditions forums!!

I had three folders: 1. one with the copies of all documents that I submitted with AOS. 2. Originals of the evidence stacked in order and labeled. 3. Copies of the evidence documents labeled and stacked in the same order as the originals. I also had two picture albums: one with pictures with two of us throughout our relationship (2 years) and the other with our wedding pictures.

When immigration officer asked for the evidence, I just gave her the folder with copies and picture albums and told her she is welcome to keep anything she wants.

2 - In the form it states any dependents 18 or under and spouses need to be counted in the income requirement, so I take it that anyone else living with them doesn't need to be counted, that is as long as they aren't dependent on them financially (that according to their taxes/financial statements).

3 - As for how many joint sponsors you may have, I've heard from an immigration attorney that you can have up to 3 combine their incomes to meet the requirement, though no one else I've talked to seems to know about this. Now on the form it has a spot to add spouses income to meet the requirement (so I'm guessing you can combine your income at least with your spouse), but someone mentioned about if you need to combine your income with your spouse or anyone else to meet the requirement, they would need to fill out an I-864A (which is a form very similar to the I-864, just that it indicates that their income is being combined with yours to meet the requirement).

1. it is GROSS income.

2. Yes. If someone is listed on your sponsor's tax returns as a dependent, you count them in.

3. Let's say your spouse doesn't meet the requirement so you will be using your Uncle as your co-sponsor. Your uncle lives with his wife and they always file joint tax returns. That means that your spouse will be sponsor Nr 1, your uncle and aunt - sponsors Nr 2. And there will be contract signed between your uncle and aunt, that they are both, together, the sponsors.

USCIS website says: "There may be no more than two joint sponsors. A joint sponsor must be able to meet the income requirements for all the persons he or she is sponsoring without combining resources with the petitioning sponsor or a second joint sponsor."

Yeah i never lose anything either (knock on wood) so i am going to keep it in my wallet. Did you go back the next day to get the number for it? It is a piece of paper. I applied for jobs like crazy and have had 3 calls so exciting lol!

I have never lost anything either, but I will carry my EAD, and if someone wants to check my status, they are welcome to look up my A# it is just too risky...

I didn`t even know you could do that. Was told to mail it in to IL, I think. (wherever they deal with this paperwork)

Kittyfang, I think you are over-analyzing things... It is not your concern about IRS putting your tax return in "their system". You mailed your tax returns - your job is done.

I have never even thought of things like that, I would mail the tax return and use it whenever I need it.

Submit your AOS! By the time they cash the checks, go over the papers, issue NOA and etc IRS will have your tax return in "their system".

You need to focus on the proof of your relationship, not the proof of intent.

From my own experience: I got married on a tourist visa. Before leaving my home country to come here, I quit my job and terminated my apartment lease (I wasn't sure how long will I stay here out of my 6 months allowed before going back), I met my now-husband here and my intent never came up at the green card interview.

Don't you have to have it on you at all times? It says on the approval notice!? Yours should come soon since they are starting to send them out again!

but what if you lose it? Replacement isn't so fast and easy as to replace i.e. DL?

Me too!

Did you get the ridiculous little envelope to put it in as well? To stop them stealing your info using radio frequency or whatever. Pretty high-tech!

Wow congrats to you too! I hope mine will arrive soon too!

Will you guys carry it with you at all times like it is suggested or leave it at home?

I got my GC today!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Finally i have been only waiting a month. it is so pretty to hold in my hand and finally have it lol!

Wow, I am so happy for you!! How does it look like??? Does it come in a holder (heard rumors)

thanks for your reply. i m wondering if you / anyone has put the nickname under "other name used" can share the experience? (like how to proof you r the person of "the nickname". I just want to make sure i will not cause any problem n waste the money.

thanks!

I did more research and I actually take it back. You don't need to write your nickname in "Other names used". If only people around you call you that way, and you don't have any documentation in that name, you don't need to write it down.

Think of it as, if everybody called you "Pumpkin", but your name was Lisa, would you write it down in "other names used"? Probably not. "Other names Used" refers more to legal name change and to better run background check on you.

I used to have a different name for people who can't pronounce my name, and I never wrote it down anywhere.

I have question about "Other name(s) used," I use Briggi (for example) as my socially name because people can't really pronoun my real name. All the X'mas cards, wedding cards, e-mail, and etc, people including my husband call me Briggi, so I do not really have a lot of evidence showing the relationship I have with my husband with my real real name. There isn't any similarity between my real name & Briggi. So... what I should do with my name? Can I file my name as Briggi and hopefully USCIS let me change my name to Briggi, or should I add Briggi as other name used?

Thanks

No. You need to file all the paperwork with the name as it appears in your passport/birth certificate (legal name) unless you want to change your last name to your husband's last name. You cannot change your first name.

You should put Briggi as "other names used" as well as your full maiden name if you apply with your married last name.

When it is time for your naturalization, only then you can request a legal name change to Briggi and court may approve or deny your request.

Hope that helped!

Ok that was a huge help...thank you. She is 26, so we should be good on the shots. You said, "Immigration doesn't require series of shots to be completed (it is enough to get one shot out of two or three required)." Is that good enough for the AOS? She already immigrated to the US.

That website was a huge help. Thanks so much!

What I meant was that if it is required to get two shots of Varicella vaccine (to complete the series), it is enough to get just one shot and send the forms out to USCIS. So your fiance doesn't need to get the second varicella shot.

I don't know if you need to submit I-693 if you have DS-3025 (which cannot be older than one year, otherwise you definitely need I-693) or not, but you can read here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-693instr.pdf page 4 has FAQ section which defines it better.

Here are the schedules with clear definition for age appropriate vaccines:

http://www.cdc.gov/ImmigrantRefugeeHealth/pdf/2009-vaccination-technical-instructions.pdf

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/schedules/downloads/adult/2010/adult-schedule-11x17.pdf

HPV vaccine is no longer required.

Immigration doesn't require series of shots to be completed (it is enough to get one shot out of two or three required).

It depends how old your wife is, but if she is between 19-49 it would seem to me that she had all the required vaccines.

Hope that helped!

You are right about lots of Eastern Europeans living illegally in countries in Western Europe. My country is part of the European Union, so we can work and travel freely in any EU country. We are not, however, part of the Visa Waiver Program yet.

Polyanna, it would help greatly if you just told us what country are you from, as East Europe is quite big...

I changed my last name on marriage certificate to my husband's last name, but my passport (my only ID) and other things like bank account, bills, insurance had my maiden last name. When filing AOS I put my married last name as my current name and my maiden last name as my previous used names.

They just gave me trouble at biometrics, that apparently it has been 10 months after the marriage and I still haven't changed my passport and etc. But I just told them that I couldn't change it and they let me through.

I had no problems at the interview and my last name never came up. My green card will be issued in my married name and that's when I will change all my documents.

So yes, put your married name as your "Name" and your maiden name as "Previously used names" and carry your ID and marriage certificate when going to the biometrics appointment and interview. And you can change your SSN, DL and other stuff later, when you have your green card.

Good Luck!

I have the new design and my card does have my fingerprint. But I read somewhere that fingerprints are not necessary for EAD (otherwise they would have not issued you one).

Did you go to your biometrics appointment?

If you did, it might have been that your fingerprints were not registered or available at the time of the EAD production.

I don't think you need to worry about anything, but you can call USCIS and double check.

Yeah i am not really thrilled about the chips they put in it either. I watch to many conspiracy theory shows!!! They say it is for faster border control mmhhmm how are they going to scan me when i am so many feet away and take care of the person that is in front of them? Haha! Yeah i knew it was because of the new GC's that mine was delayed but now it is sent out!! I keep staring at my EAD too. Horrible picture i might add lol!

I went to take pictures to photo studio, did my hair all nice and everything, and sent those pictures with the AOS package. But then they took pictures of me again at the biometrics appointment when I wasn't so good looking :DD... So that's what I have on my EAD :DD

Good that it has all the security features on top of the picture, so the face isn't so clear :DDD LOL

I think the new green card is probably almost impossible to counterfeit or dodge. Good thing if you think, but on the other hand, as you say, another way to track everybody! :DDD That's called American Freedom LOL

I have just been receiving mail from USCIS almost everyday this week

It kind of doesn't make sense that you guys had interviews like almost three weeks before me and you are still waiting for your cards...

I think all it is, is that they redesigned it, and probably didn't make any old style cards and new ones were still not ready so that's what caused the delay. But hey, we all will be getting the new ones! I read on USCIS that the new card has a security feature that it can be read from a distance with a laser reader That's messed up!

I still keep looking at my EAD, as it is my first American form of ID It just feels so official! And apparently it is a new design too!

Yes and Yes.

Your husband still needs to fill out the form and your friend too. I know my lawyer still submitted three years worth of tax returns with all the supplement forms for my husband and three years worth of tax returns with supplement forms for my joint sponsor.

*le sigh*

Received an email this morning;

Your application for permanent residence or to adjust status has been approved. The approval notice has been mailed to you on 27th May.

REALLY???? Shocker. Can I just have my green card now, pretty please?

I think that means that they mailed your green card! I got the same email about EAD and received the card in the mail two days later. So keep looking!

My EAD status on internet was changed from "Card Production" to "Approval letter" or something like that so now they are sending me the approval letter for EAD. Gosh.. I needed EAD like two months ago.. Just send me the Green Card now, will ya? :DD