Finally in the airplane, can breathe a little and think about how fast life can change. My name is Nuria and I am going to share with you my wonderful -and sometimes stressful- experience on my Architect-US blog. Everything began months ago when I realized I wanted to go to NYC to work.
As I had found an awesome Firm, TEN Arquitectos, to work with, I just needed to find a firm to help me with the paperwork. I tried first with another european firm but the process became hard and the answers came sooooo slow. Weeks passed without any progress so I started to doubt about if it was the right firm for this job. Days later a friend of mine told me about the Architect-Us Career Training Program and introduced me Patricia García, director of the Professional Career Training Program. Since the first email I recognized her professionality and cannot be more thankful for all his effort and support. She and her team helped me in every step making me felt not alone.
When all the paperwork was finished the worst part started. Here want to extend my moral support at all the people who is now doing the same process –KEEP CALM everything will end well-. If my experience could help someone my recommendations are:
- MAKE IT EASY – Sometimes we want to do a lot of things in a short period of time, in my case 2 weeks, and I achieved the VISA, but with 20 days would be perfect.
- BETTER SOON – Try to arrange the appointment with US/Embassy as soon as possible, even before receiveng the welcome pack.
- GO TO CITIBANK – I had problems to pay with debit card (denied me 3 different debit cards). At the end, I made a bank transfer which took two days to confirm. So if you are hurry is it better to go directly to Citibank office and pay the fee in cash.
- EARLY – If you don’t want to waste your day at US-Embassy my recomendation is to chose the early free hour in the morning.
If you survive until this moment, the rest will be really easy. Just rent a room in NYC and get start your American dream.
I am very happy to be able to enjoy again the curious recognition of a new city, a new culture and a different way of living. From here I would like to thank Architect-US for helping me along the way and also to TEN Arquitectos for giving me the opportunity to relearn my beloved profession in a new country.
Lemon and Salt, as Julieta Venegas’s song, to accept things as they come with the good and the bad and try always to do my utmost to take advantage of this opportunity. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Cover Picture: Salted Lemon by Angelina Williamson (Flickr)
