Preparing for my J1 visa and moving to New York City has been exciting. As an architect from Hamburg, Germany, I was thrilled to receive the opportunity to work in the U.S. But there were a few steps to tackle before I could start packing my bags.
I worked for the same employer in my hometown for the past six years, starting during my studies and continuing full-time afterward. While I was happy and comfortable in my role, I felt the need to take my career to the next level. That’s where the A-US program came in. It helped me refine my portfolio and find the right employer. Throughout the entire process, I received invaluable advice and reliable support, which made what could have been a complicated journey much smoother.
After working on my portfolio, I received multiple job offers. In the end, I interviewed with two architecture firms in New York City. Fortunately, my preferred studio also chose me, and we were able to start the J1 visa application process. At first, I couldn’t fully grasp that I would soon be working in New York, but with my embassy appointment approaching, everything started to feel more real.
I had heard plenty of stories about long waits and stressful visa interviews, so I was anxious leading up to my consular appointment in Berlin. But surprisingly, the entire process was much quicker and easier than I had imagined. The appointment itself lasted only about ten minutes. I had prepared a bunch of additional documents just in case, but the consular officer only asked for the required ones. In the end, they asked me just two questions, checked my documents, and confirmed my visa. My advice to future applicants? Don’t worry too much, most of the process is smoother than it may initially seem.
Another major part of my preparation was finding a place to live in New York. Anyone who has researched the NYC rental market knows how competitive and expensive it can be. I started my search early, knowing securing an apartment would be crucial. My main criteria were proximity to work, good access to public transportation, and, of course, staying within my budget.
After searching, I secured an Airbnb in Brooklyn that fits my needs perfectly for the first month. I also contacted a real estate agent who has already shown me some promising options for the time after that.
Overall, the J1 process and the apartment hunt have been significant steps toward realizing my dream of living and working in the U.S. I’m excited to dive into this new chapter of my career, eager to learn from the American experience, and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me.
I am someone who likes to plan everything in detail. During this process, I couldn’t do that as much as I would have liked, but it has shown me that things can still work out even when I don’t have everything planned perfectly. I’ve learned to confidently move forward, knowing everything will eventually fall into place.
