Starting Life/Work in US - Tips and Stories

[misao]

^oh sa oregon ka ba. sa california kasi hindi nila nirerecognize yung idp alone, for translation lang din, not really required. if you will become a resident of that state, it will be better to get a license issued by dmv. have a safe trip.

[beck19]

^thanks sis.. yep sa oregon nga. 1st time kaya nervous much.. i hope i'll like it there.. ang hirap umalis lalo na yuletide season..

[dovey]

i also got a idl just to be sure... will be in c.a this nov.

[i_miss_sleep]

Btw, any idea how much ang income tax sa Austin Texas? And ano kaya visa applicable sa akin para makapagwork Jan?

Then, ano possible job sa bahay if ever work at home ako?

Sis, sa Texas walang State Income Tax. And to be able to work, dapat meron ka rin H1B visa. Pero yung mga friends ko na H4 visa before either nagbe-baby sit sila sa kapwa pinoy, catering, volunteers sa church, medical transcriptionist. meron din akong kilala na yung husband naghanap ng part-time job as work from home programmer, then pinapasa niya sa wife niya yung work since programmer din wife niya before.

you also had a question about salary, how much should one earn to make life comfortable. I recently read this: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/06/money-can-buy-happiness_n_706697.html

it's a good read. hope it helps.

[thelady]

is there anybody on h4 visa here?

[gnela_21]

is there anybody on h4 visa here?

I am! Been on H4 visa since Sept 2008. Although we have already received our EAD (employment authorization doc)last week kaya i'm actively looking for work!At last!

[Mai01]

hello mga sisses. di ko makita previous thread about appplying for tourist visa so dito na lang ako post. sensya na.

I am applying for tourist visa this march  pero June ko pa balak magbakasyon. Planning to spend it in NC. yung airfare ko sasagutin ng pinsan ko til Cali tapos bf ko na til NC.

So scared. First time to apply. Should i tell them i'm going to visit my bf? Some say kasi wag. Tapos how much show money should i present?

Any advice? TIA!

[gnela_21]

^hello Mai01, better check this instead:
http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,226474.0.html

[Inggay]

^^ Sis, the money has a little bearing especially that you have a cousin who will take care of your airfare (and maybe your accommodation, too?).  If you have family or relatives who will "sponsor" your stay here in the US, whatever you have in your bank account now should be fine. Sometimes they don't ask for proof of assets during the time of the interview... and if they do, even those who have millions in their bank account can still get denied.  Your appearance should convey who you are -- if you are a student, you should look like a student; if you're a professional, you should look like one.

Consular officers are very smart.  They can figure out your true intentions in the way you will answer their questions.  So if you prefer not to say anything about your visit to NC, make sure you avoid mentioning that you have a BF.

And yes, that link shared by sis gnela_21 will give you more tips.

Hope this helps and goodluck on your interview!

[Mai01]

ohhh... ty mga sis. Hindi ko kasi naeexplore ang ibang topics dito. Yes, my Dad's first cousins are living in Cali and second cousin ko yung sasagot ng airfare ko. Nagwowrok siya sa Delta Air and i will be staying with them for awhile before i'll head to NC.

Thanks again mga sis. Please pray for me. 

[shopaholic18]

^^ Sis, the money has a little bearing especially that you have a cousin who will take care of your airfare (and maybe your accommodation, too?).  If you have family or relatives who will "sponsor" your stay here in the US, whatever you have in your bank account now should be fine. Sometimes they don't ask for proof of assets during the time of the interview... and if they do, even those who have millions in their bank account can still get denied.  Your appearance should convey who you are -- if you are a student, you should look like a student; if you're a professional, you should look like one.

Consular officers are very smart.  They can figure out your true intentions in the way you will answer their questions.  So if you prefer not to say anything about your visit to NC, make sure you avoid mentioning that you have a BF.

And yes, that link shared by sis gnela_21 will give you more tips.

Hope this helps and goodluck on your interview!

reading this made me feel relieved...kala ko malaking show money pag pupunta dun eh...all my family will be there and gusto ko sana before sila mag apply ng petition for me apply na ako k2 or tourist visa by then...uunahan ko na kumbaga...thanks sa tip sis...

[Inggay]

^ Sis, I just want to clarify. If nobody will sponsor your vacation, you will need to show the Consul that you are capable of funding your trip.  But you need to be very careful with the deposits you will make to your bank account.  For example, kung biglang maging P500K ang P100K in a span of 2 months, it would arouse suspicion. I only said that money has little bearing in the case of Mai01 because her cousin will be funding her trip.

In my case several years ago, I was asked about how I was going to finance my trip but the Consul never asked me to present any bank statement or proof of assets -- but my documents were all handy.  I guess once you have proven that you have significant ties in the Philippines, they will not dwell too much on your finances.

^^ Mai01, there's one thing I failed to mention.  Since you will tell the Consul that your cousin will sponsor your trip, you might be asked to present a letter/invitation from her as proof.

[Mai01]

I've thought of that too. So I have to talk to my cousin. Sis, lalaki yung cousin ko na sasagot ng fare ko.

Thanks for the help sis.

[shopaholic18]

^^thanks sis...i can do that too...ako nalang kasi naiwan dito and all my relatives are there so walang prob sa funding ng trip or vacation...meron din naman ako accounts sa bank pero not in one account, kinalat ko kasi in different banks although meron din naman ibang assets here din kaya naisip ko kung isang account lang ba sila mag babase and all..actually risky pag pinaabot ko pa na ipepetition ako ng parents ko kung dun pa ako mag apply ng tourist kaya while wala pang petition apply na ako ng tourist...medyo naguguluhan pa ako kasi first time ko mag apply for a tourist visa...aged out lang kasi ako sa petition namin and i don't know pag sa interview itself ipahanap ako ng consul(hoping) since im only 24...others kasi as old as 26 daw nakapunta padin kaya pinagppray ko nalang na if meant to be na makasama ako then ok if not dami pading options...like applying for a tourist visa or k1...kaso like sis mai01 i will not mention nadin na may bf ako dun para maging smooth yung application ko for tourist if in case...hopefully maging ok since hawaii naman aapplyan ko...sana plus narin yun kasi tourist spot din ang hawaii...

[Inggay]

^ Sis, okay lang na several bank accounts.  Actually, mas realistic nga yon   Basta remember, you have to prove your ties in the Philippines because they see every applicant as a potential "TNT".

You'll find very informative and insightful posts about petitions here http://www.femalenetwork.com/girltalk/index.php/topic,168187.0.html

[mooncake and leaves]

Question: I'm filing for citizenship this month. How soon can I expect a response and a schedule for a test and interview? Also, can I leave the US after filing? A friend who works for the immigration says I could but I want to verify. TIA.

[babyboy_james]

hi mga sis!good thing i found this thread,i'm newbie here,ask lang sana ako about sa drivers license,nakapag back read ako ng konti,and sabi daw, once you pass the written exam they will give you temporary permit?ano yung looks nito,is it like the drivers license?or it's just like a piece of paper?nakapag take na kasi ako ng written exam and i passed it naman,and then i told them that i've been driving already back in the phil.and i have my drivers license with me,(baka sakali lang makatulong ito)and after that binigyan nila ako ng drivers license card which is exactly the same sa drivers license ng husband ko,i didn't take the driving test yet,i'm just confused,how come they gave me exactly the same card as my husband when i did not take my driving test yet,am i exempted from taking the driving test since i've been driving already in pinas?kaya i want to find out sana kung ano yung look nung permit na binibigay nila when you pass the written test,btw,dito pala kami naka stay sa louisiana

one more question,sorry for being ignorant mga sis ,what is credit scores or credit points?i'm only 24 kasi and i don't have any credit card sa pinas,i only have atm and passbook account back then,since i got here naman,si husband lahat nagbabayad ng bills and whatever payments dito sa house,utilities,car,insurance,banks etc..kaya i don't have any idea about this,i don't even have my own credit card as well,my husband just giving me spending cash monthly budget for groceries,shopping,eating outside,and my son stuff,so most of the time i used cash,pero sinama naman niya yung name ko sa mga bank accounts namin (checking acc.savings acc.etc..)i don't even know how to purchase a car or even get a credit card by myself kasi si hubby ang gumagawa nito lahat for me,binibigay na lang niya sakin naka ready na,kaya tuloy ayan super dependent tuloy ako sa kanya,although ok lang naman sakin since bago2 pa lang naman ako dito,gusto ko lang sana magkaroon kahit papano ng knowledge or idea man lang, :)thank's

[mooncake and leaves]

^Iba iba kasi per state eh but for CA, yep, it's a paper permit, the student permit.

As for credit score, that's the gauge of how well you can manage your debts. The higher your score, the better. You need a good score para mapautang ka ng mga bangko in case of big ticket purchases such as a house, car, etc. Mas makakapagnegotiate ka din ng price for your monthly payments.

I suggest that you open a bank account. Maoofferan ka din ng cc eventually lalo na kapag nakapangalan sa yo yung ibang bills. Try to apply for a cc but in my case before, 'di ako na-approve agad eh kasi 'di pa ako established. Huwag kang papatol dun sa mga cc na may annual fee. Wait for the regular cc. Get your own. Mahirap ang naka-depende dito sa iba, kahit pa asawa mo yan.

[seduce_me]

^^Iba-iba talaga, kasi dito sa NC, parang driver's license ang in-issue nila sa 'kin, it just show's Learner's permit on top.

As for credit score naman, ito yung binibigay nilang score sa'yo on how well you keep your credit in good standing. Your score depends if you have bills na nakapangalan sa'yo or credit card, or house mortgage/car payments under your name, and on-time ka magbayad ng bills and never missed a payment, and gaano katagal ka na katagal na may credit. Since bago ka pa lang, pwede ka i-add ng husband mo under his credit card, or you can a little while to apply. Ako I got my first cc sa bank namin, I waited 2 years, inantay ko muna na magka-trabaho ako before I applied. Mahirap na rin kung ma-deny ka, it hurts your credit score as well. Kapag mataas ang credit score mo, ikaw na hahabulin ng mga credit card companies to avail their offers, and madali ka na lang din makakuha ng loan if you wish to.

[huckleberry]

yun learner's permit ko paper lang din, valid for 180 days.

sis ask your hubby na i-add ka nya sa credit card nya para maka-establish ka ng credit history mo then saka ka na lang mag-apply ng sariling credit card pag may work ka na.