The "been there done that" thread: life in the US after DV

[DV immigrant]

Hi there, I’m thinking to visit our home country, my wife, children and i GC holders, DV lottery, adjust of statues. I’m wondering if we can have a US passport to visit our home and back for 2 months?
Thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

 

[Sm1smom]

Hi there, I’m thinking to visit our home country, my wife, children and i GC holders, DV lottery, adjust of statues. I’m wondering if we can have a US passport to visit our home and back for 2 months?
Thoughts and ideas are appreciated.

You apply for naturalization, if you’re eligible for it, if approved you subsequently undertake the oath (swearing in), following which you apply for US passports.

I’m sure you already know this is the process going by some of your past posts, so am not sure why the need for a post that makes you sound like you don’t know what’s involved with getting a US passport.

 

[DV immigrant]

You apply for naturalization, if you’re eligible for it, if approved you subsequently undertake the oath (swearing in), following which you apply for US passports.

I’m sure you already know this is the process going by some of your past posts, so am not sure why the need for a post that makes you sound like you don’t know what’s involved with getting a US passport.

I can apply next yeart, Yes i understnd these process. but I want to visit my family and i don't want to use my current citizen passport. the quetion in other way, can the US give travel document to use if i don't want to use my current citizen passprt? to confirm im DV lottery not asylum. Thanks

 

[Sm1smom]

I can apply next yeart, Yes i understnd these process. but I want to visit my family and i don't want to use my current citizen passport. the quetion in other way, can the US give travel document to use if i don't want to use my current citizen passprt? to confirm im DV lottery not asylum. Thanks

The US cannot issue you with a travel document since your LPR status is not asylum based. You can either use your current country’s passport or wait until you become a USC which is when you’ll be eligible to apply for a US passport b

 

[DV immigrant]

The US cannot issue you with a travel document since your LPR status is not asylum based. You can either use your current country’s passport or wait until you become a USC which is when you’ll be eligible to apply for a US passport b

Thanks a lot. We appreciate your help & advise. Blessings

 

[Lucid]

Yep agreed - an overexaggeration.

Right on about what is needed (a couple of credit card accounts). Keeping low utilization and always paying the bill on time will soon have a decent score.

Susie you mention reward cards - exactly right on that too. I get well over $1000/year in rewards from cards which have ZERO annual fee and I pay no interest (because I pay the balance each time. Discover is good for that, and I have a Costco card that is doing VERY well on rebates.

So no need to have 21 accounts or a lot of debt. Just sensible money management.

Same here. I'm actually loving the US banking sector. Over the past ~2 years of my residency, I've paid exactly ZERO in fees or interest charges, meanwhile I've been rewarded with things I had never imagined (including free TSA Pre, Free baggage) only because I pay my card balance in full.

 

[Kojo E]

Same here. I'm actually loving the US banking sector. Over the past ~2 years of my residency, I've paid exactly ZERO in fees or interest charges, meanwhile I've been rewarded with things I had never imagined (including free TSA Pre, Free baggage) only because I pay my card balance in full.

Lucid which card are you using? Would love to get that. lol.

 

[Lucid]

It's the American Express Pathfinder from Pentagon FCU if you can get in. Also have a look at FNBO travel elite, and Chase's Sapphire.
Anyway these are mid-high tier cards so be careful about applying too soon in order not to get an unnecessary pull.

 

[Kojo E]

It's the American Express Pathfinder from Pentagon FCU if you can get in. Also have a look at FNBO travel elite, and Chase's Sapphire.
Anyway these are mid-high tier cards so be careful about applying too soon in order not to get an unnecessary pull.

Thanks Lucid. Very helpful as always.

 

[SusieQQQ]

Chase Sapphire is a card with great benefits at a relatively low cost (more than made up in the rewards structure if you eat out or travel a lot)
AmEx platinum is worth it imo if you travel a lot - it’s a high fee, but if you use airline lounges a lot, and use the uber, airline fee etc refunds to their max on top of the rewards, it’s more than worth it.
As lucid says, unlikely to be granted without first building up some kind of credit history here.

It's the American Express Pathfinder from Pentagon FCU if you can get in. Also have a look at FNBO travel elite, and Chase's Sapphire.
Anyway these are mid-high tier cards so be careful about applying too soon in order not to get an unnecessary pull.

 

[Kojo E]

Chase Sapphire is a card with great benefits at a relatively low cost (more than made up in the rewards structure if you eat out or travel a lot)
AmEx platinum is worth it imo if you travel a lot - it’s a high fee, but if you use airline lounges a lot, and use the uber, airline fee etc refunds to their max on top of the rewards, it’s more than worth it.
As lucid says, unlikely to be granted without first building up some kind of credit history here.

Thanks Sussie! Been using a secured platinum credit card from BOFA since August 2018. Have a very good FICO score now and was considering other card options. Will wait a bit longer then and then try the suggested cards out. Being bombarded with offers from capital one and credit one every week. They sure do aggressive marketing here! lol

 

[SusieQQQ]

Thanks Sussie! Been using a secured platinum credit card from BOFA since August 2018. Have a very good FICO score now and was considering other card options. Will wait a bit longer then and then try the suggested cards out. Being bombarded with offers from capital one and credit one every week. They sure do aggressive marketing here! lol

They do, but so do Amex. And if you join a hotel loyalty program expect the same! Actually friends have a Hyatt linked card and have made very good use of it for their vacations. So it’s all about finding what gives you the best rewards for your lifestyle, and for many that will just be the cash back.

 

[ExcitedAussie]

Hi Everyone,
I have been selected in DV2020 and would love to know how hard it was for those that made the move to find work? Did you try and get a job before moving?

Thanks so much for all the great information!

 

[Bob22]

I'm moving there in June and have applied for a few jobs, with the predictable rejections. Anything is possible but it's pretty hard to get hired online. Doesn't hurt to try though.

 

[Britsimon]

I'm moving there in June and have applied for a few jobs, with the predictable rejections. Anything is possible but it's pretty hard to get hired online. Doesn't hurt to try though.

It actually might hurt to try - you are blocking off some otherwise useful avenues. Patience.

 

[Kojo E]

Been trying to land a Job as a contract specialist or related field since I arrived in July 18. Had a few good interviews which got to the second interview stage but no offers. It seems the lack of “American work experience” is working against me. How do I overcome this? I’ve taken lessons on resume writing for the American market and tweeted my resume but to no avail.
I realize my location in Fayetteville NC may be an issue too (military town mostly). Any suggestions to help me get beyond “odd jobs”?

 

[Kojo E]

*tweeked my resume I mean

 

[SusieQQQ]

Been trying to land a Job as a contract specialist or related field since I arrived in July 18. Had a few good interviews which got to the second interview stage but no offers. It seems the lack of “American work experience” is working against me. How do I overcome this? I’ve taken lessons on resume writing for the American market and tweeted my resume but to no avail.
I realize my location in Fayetteville NC may be an issue too (military town mostly). Any suggestions to help me get beyond “odd jobs”?

*tweeked my resume I mean

tweaked

in my experience a lot of stuff in military towns is related to the military and open to USCs only. Is that perhaps a problem there?

What is the reason you chose Fayetteville? Have you broadened your search geographically to see if there are more jobs elsewhere? What a lot of people find is that you need to move a rung or two down the ladder to get in and get that magic "US work experience"...

 

[Kojo E]

tweaked

in my experience a lot of stuff in military towns is related to the military and open to USCs only. Is that perhaps a problem there?

What is the reason you chose Fayetteville? Have you broadened your search geographically to see if there are more jobs elsewhere? What a lot of people find is that you need to move a rung or two down the ladder to get in and get that magic "US work experience"...

Thanks Susie. We came to Fayetteville instead of my original destination of Dallas TX because my host had to move. We are actually planning on leaving as soon as I get a firm offer. I’ve applied to many out of state jobs but keep getting the same response like “Impressive resume but found people more suited to the role”. I’ll keep applying to more roles (including lower rung) and see what happens.
Thanks for catching what my “smartphone” couldn’t with the spelling by the way

 

[Britsimon]

Thanks Susie. We came to Fayetteville instead of my original destination of Dallas TX because my host had to move. We are actually planning on leaving as soon as I get a firm offer. I’ve applied to many out of state jobs but keep getting the same response like “Impressive resume but found people more suited to the role”. I’ll keep applying to more roles (including lower rung) and see what happens.
Thanks for catching what my “smartphone” couldn’t with the spelling by the way

Americans like easy wins. When you apply for a job as an out of state candidate, you are not as attractive as a local candidate. So unless you have highly prized skills, you will keep finding that others are "more suited" to the role. That is easier for them, more immediate, no risk that you suddenly announce you have decided not to move.

Frankly you might have to bite the bullet and move to a more suitable area where jobs in your chosen line are more likely to come up. Then you might have to take a lower level job while you wait. People often notice that jobs are easier to get when you have a job already. Again,m HR and recruiters like things easy, so the mindset will be that if someone else hired you, then you can't be too bad.