To those of you in the US.
I’m thinking of moving to the US. The paperwork is taken care of, so all I need is a ticket. The things I’m worried about and need your opinion on:
I don’t have a lot of cash, so I’ll have to get a job as soon as get to the US. Any kind of job.
What are my chances of getting a job this quick?
I’m thinking of going to Houston, because I have relatives there who’ll let me stay with them for at least a month(haven’t talked to them about this yet).
So… What advice do you guys have for me?
Re: Moving to the US
firstly, change ur ID to "SaeedinUSA" :D
Re: Moving to the US
firstly, change ur ID to "SaeedinUSA" :D
Not quite there yet.
Re: Moving to the US
Make sure your relatives are really cool with your staying with them for a month.Usually it begins with them forgetting to pick you up at the airport.Just a heads up...!
Re: Moving to the US
economy's bad...another heads up.
Re: Moving to the US
economy's bad...another heads up.
How bad is it really? Can't let the bad economy scare me. I need some kind of temporary job to keep me afloat until I decide what I really want to do.
Re: Moving to the US
Make sure your relatives are really cool with your staying with them for a month.Usually it begins with them forgetting to pick you up at the airport.Just a heads up...!
HaHa. Better ask for their address before asking them to let me stay with them. Just in case the forget to pick me up.The odds of that happening are pretty slim though. You just don't do that to your only nephew.
Re: Moving to the US
First off you will have let us know which kind of visa are you coming here on since that matters the most when working. Secondly if you are open to working any kind of job and have the paperwork to show it shouldnt be that difficult to find work as a sales rep for any of the departmental stores across town. Also, which part of houston will you be in? Asking you since southwest houston has a very vast desi population and if your uncle's family has been here long they will have some contacts to get you a job.
Re: Moving to the US
First off you will have let us know which kind of visa are you coming here on since that matters the most when working. Secondly if you are open to working any kind of job and have the paperwork to show it shouldnt be that difficult to find work as a sales rep for any of the departmental stores across town. Also, which part of houston will you be in? Asking you since southwest houston has a very vast desi population and if your uncle's family has been here long they will have some contacts to get you a job.
Visa: I am a US citizen, and have my valid US passport.
Which part of Houston I'll be in: The relatives I mentioned earlier live near Lake Houston(North East). Don't know what kind of contacts they have in the Southwest of Houston.
Re: Moving to the US
Visa: I am a US citizen, and have my valid US passport. Which part of Houston I'll be in: The relatives I mentioned earlier live near Lake Houston(North East). Don't know what kind of contacts they have in the Southwest of Houston.
Doesnt matter if they dont have contacts in the southwest of houston....they might have contacts where they live. The biggest issue is the paperwork which you have getting a job in a store or a small business shouldnt be a problem. What is it that you do in Pakistan?
Re: Moving to the US
Doesnt matter if they dont have contacts in the southwest of houston....they might have contacts where they live. The biggest issue is the paperwork which you have getting a job in a store or a small business shouldnt be a problem. What is it that you do in Pakistan?
I'm a student(engineering) right now and will graduate this summer.
Re: Moving to the US
Which engineering if you don't mind me asking?
Re: Moving to the US
To those of you in the US. I'm thinking of moving to the US. The paperwork is taken care of, so all I need is a ticket. The things I'm worried about and need your opinion on: I don't have a lot of cash, so I'll have to get a job as soon as get to the US. Any kind of job. What are my chances of getting a job this quick? I'm thinking of going to Houston, because I have relatives there who'll let me stay with them for at least a month(haven't talked to them about this yet). So..... What advice do you guys have for me?
I am assuming you are coming on I-551, finding an odd job will not be a problem, few pointers:
secure a place to stay with friends or relatives for at least three months
apply for social security card as soon you land
take rest for a day or two, then start walking - look for Dunkin Donuts, Gas Stations, random stores just go inside and ask if any job is available. If you will not be a lazy ass, you will get it in two to three days..
500 to 1000$ will be enough for your random expenses if you can able to secure a place to live & eat.
in two weeks you will get your Social security card, open a bank account - its less then an hour process just walk-in any bank which doesn't charge any account maintenance fees
get your state ID from DMV or better is apply for Learner Permit for driving - same shyt - its will work as your picture id no need to carry passport/green card
Houston have viable desi population, never hesitate to ask for help - no one knows you, neither no one hates you.
you can make 1200 to 2000$ in any behind the counter job if work 12 hours a day
in the long run, stay away from luxuries like oh i can afford that car - no you don't - so better start working towards your rainy day & future fund.
no you can't visit Pakistan for next three years, no matter what apart from emergencies.
three years save at least 20 to 40k and then either start some business or invest.
i don't want to see you whine on this very forum after 3 or 4 years.. oh i am doomed.
Re: Moving to the US
Which engineering if you don't mind me asking?
Electrical Engineering.
Re: Moving to the US
I am assuming you are coming on I-551, finding an odd job will not be a problem, few pointers:
secure a place to stay with friends or relatives for at least three months
apply for social security card as soon you land...................
1) Three months is longs. Thanks for the warning.
2) Well I have my SS number, but can't find the card. Will have to apply for a new one.
3) Not being lazy. That's going to be hard.
4) Bank account, check.
5) It's save money and get myself a Masters degree.
About the whining......
Re: Moving to the US
If u are a citizen, I would suggest a different plan of action which is somewhat saner than suggested alternatives. you dont have to go through the gas station route if you dont want to.
apply to masters programs, look for graduate assistantships..if you get it great, it will pay for bulk of your expenses, and part time jobs will take care of the rest.
get in as good of a program as possible btw..
if you can't get an assistantship or have a gap in total costs vs stipends ..get a student loan..huge advantage of being a citizen
finish your masters asap, will take 2 years.
graduate, get a job in your field, starting salary will be decent and you can pay of college loans quick, otherwise the duration to pay is pretty generous in the event you want to build savings and pay off the student loan slowly.
Re: Moving to the US
another option..
look at good online engineering programs...some exist like penn state
get a student loan to cover fees, stay in pakistan and do your masters..
when the masters is done, come over ... get a part time job and a place
look for full-time jobs, engineering grads are doing pretty good overall
enjoy
Re: Moving to the US
If u are a citizen, I would suggest a different plan of action which is somewhat saner than suggested alternatives. you dont have to go through the gas station route if you dont want to.
apply to masters programs, look for graduate assistantships..if you get it great, it will pay for bulk of your expenses, and part time jobs will take care of the rest. get in as good of a program as possible btw.. if you can't get an assistantship or have a gap in total costs vs stipends ..get a student loan..huge advantage of being a citizen finish your masters asap, will take 2 years. graduate, get a job in your field, starting salary will be decent and you can pay of college loans quick, otherwise the duration to pay is pretty generous in the event you want to build savings and pay off the student loan slowly.
Enrolling in a Masters program in the US is my Plan A. But I'm not sure I'll be able to stick with the plan. Cause it means applying for college now(after I appear for my GRE and TOEFL). Waiting for the college to reply. That'll take at least 6 months. It would be easy to stick with Plan A if a find some sort of job here(in Karachi) during that period. Otherwise I'd go insane sitting at home doing nothing. That's the reason I'm asking around to formulate a Plan B, in case I start losing my sanity.
Re: Moving to the US
another option..
look at good online engineering programs...some exist like penn state get a student loan to cover fees, stay in pakistan and do your masters.. when the masters is done, come over ... get a part time job and a place look for full-time jobs, engineering grads are doing pretty good overall enjoy
Online programs aren't a match for the real on Campus programs. Are they?
Re: Moving to the US
Understood, although you dont need to come 6 months before your program starts to lose your mind, a few weeks before will work as well if you are going with the approach I suggested.
My point was less about you coming over before uni starts and getting settled in etc but more about what your next few years could look like.
while foreign students dont have loans and grants available to them so unless they have parents paying, they must work to pay the bills, but US citizens can get grants and loans, have a more relaxed grad school experience and then pay off loans after graduation.
if you do go with the plan to land here get a job for a few months until uni starts, dont sign long term rental apartment leases, because while u may be in houston for starters, what is the guarantee that you are going to a uni in houston...or you want to go to a uni in houston. keep your options open.