Life in USA on a Dependent Visa - Do's and Don'ts

Hi,

So, you are getting married and relocating to USA, that's a great news....Congratulations!!!!!!

But my friends, here are the simple tips for how to survive on a dependent visa with a Positive attitude and the simple Do's and Don'ts that would help you to plan and relocate here to USA successfully and overall, survive here later!

To Begin with I am sure you are all good, smart beautiful ladies or handsome guys who are working in IT Field or any other job sectors - banking/ teaching/Administration/ Fashion or media industry etc. and doing great jobs! Now you have to prepare yourself so that you would not be working for at least a year or so....if you are unfortunate or if you manage to find jobs as quick as possible you surely can!

1) To begin with, try to find an internal transfer from your existing organisation, you have to surely try hard for that! It's the best way to get a job through your contacts and get on board quicker!

2) While starting your Visa processing, plan how you would be spending your time in USA. Plan your future even before coming here, for example : Job scene, further studies, spending time by exploring new activities, managing finances, managing all the leftover work from India i.e. the bank work or any other dealings.

3) Once visa processing is done, start by managing your banking work in India first. Lookout for finances and changing bank accounts to NRE/NRO or some other suitable options so that you have your own money handy that can be used independently.

4) Now next task is doing the Transcripts or Marksheet/ certificates related work - as you know the format in which marks/ grades are given in India is very different compared to USA, so watch out for this important step.

Please note: these transcripts are required for applying to Universities for Further studies or they even come handy while you are applying for H1B JOBS. Yes they require something called as "Credential Evaluation" so doing this complete process while you are in India is the most important task. While you are in India, you yourself can run around for all of this process and thus won't require your parents to run around once you are here.

Things to note: There are trusted Institutes like WES or Foreign Credential Service of America who do these credential evaluation for charges varying from $200 to $300 depending on your requirements.

Please note that WES requires attested set of marksheet from the Registrars of Universities in India or the Controllers of exams with a sealed Envelope, and that's the reason this step should be done, before you fly to USA. This is the most IMPORTANT Step for your H1B visa application and Job so please give priority for the same.

5) Now if you are unlucky and don't get transferred in the job, then you are left with option of finding a job or going back to your school. Please note, if you belong to the most recognised Institutes of India, then too, it becomes difficult to find jobs that are suited to your qualifications and expertise. This is my personal experience and direct hire companies are reluctant to sponsor you visa's even if you are a deserving candidate. I have personally experienced this behaviour where I have been offered thrice by direct hired companies and rejected a sponsorship for Visa, as there is a lot of "WAIT" time involved till a candidate gets on board.

6) For getting jobs in USA you have to have a deserving experience, right contacts in Industry or have to resume a Consultants Job. Be aware of these situations and plan and prepare for your career accordingly.  The complete H1B Scenario is that, you have to start applying from September of any year so that you give ample amount of interviews and find an employer's job or a consultant, once you do that and you are offered a job, your H1B would be filed starting 1st of April of that year and you can legally start working only from 1st October of that year, so don't forget these deadlines and even if you decide for a consultants job, please start following up from September it self.

7) If you are thinking of joining Universities, you still have to prepare a lot before you come to USA. You will have to give GRE and TOEFL exams required for applications with preparing for SOP's and recommendations, writing essays for applications at times, preparing your Portfolios's and other required material based on your backgrounds, shortlisting universities and applying. This too is a big enough task, and if you are a career oriented individual, you will have to keep a check on Timeline and prepare in advance before you come to USA. Definitely many things depend on your priorities in Life, but be serious and aware of these facts before hand.

8) Most importantly you will require tremendous support and information sharing/ giving from your and in laws family. After all being a FAMILY is all that matters and support and encouragement is all that you require in these times.

9) Planning for spending time and tasks in USA is also important : Once you land here, you dont have a social security number, so please get ITIN done asap, tax identification number and also a State ID would also help to give you an identity in this country.

10) Depending on how much you can afford, get a phone, laptop so that you can communicate well with others and also try to get a Bank account or a Joint Credit or Debit card so that you can individually shop for your basic needs.

11) Learn Driving - this is the most important thing... (I still haven't completed this step though....but believe me...I miss this step as I haven't done it still...and hoping would do it soon :) )

12) Connect with neighbours or people who are in same status like you are....on a dependent visa (friends on H4/F2 or any other dependent visa's)....this would help you to hang around with them...and share any possible good updates about job hunt or do any other activities together like volunteering or shopping or managing and organising any events.

13) Most importantly don't loose HOPE and keep yourself busy doing all the different activities - Crafts or creative stuff or exploring new cuisines/ gardening/ volunteering for any projects or doing freelance jobs/ blogging you can do it all .....and also work towards your goal.

Hope all these Tips would come handy for you.

Don't forget to add more Do's and Don'ts based on your experiences here in USA and I would be happy to read them!

Take care and Keep working towards your goal!

All I can say is - "Hope is a Rope that swings you through Life!!!" :) so be prepared and get going!!