Architect-US

My Journey to the US: From Engineering Student to Structural Intern!

In this post, I’ll be sharing my experience of getting my visa.

Hey everyone! I’m absolutely thrilled to share my experience with you all as I embark on this incredible American adventure. For those who don’t know me yet—or for future participants reading this and wondering if they should take the leap—here is a look at my journey so far.

I’m a student from France pursuing a double degree in structural engineering and architecture. This summer, I am crossing the Atlantic to start an exciting internship as a structural engineer in the US! It’s a huge milestone for my career, combining everything I’ve been studying into real-world, high-stakes projects.

To be completely honest, I had some major concerns before starting this process. I was terrified that the paperwork would take forever or that I’d be blindsided by required documents I had never even heard of.

Fortunately, I was in great hands. The service was incredibly helpful and provided a clear, step-by-step roadmap that totally demystified the Embassy’s strict requirements. What could have been a logistical nightmare turned out to be a smoothly guided experience.

I actually found out about this sponsor service directly through my host company.

As for how I landed the internship itself? It all came down to networking and taking the initiative! I reached out to the company directly after getting the contact information from a fellow student at my school who was doing an internship there. If there is one piece of advice I can give you: don’t hesitate to leverage your network and contact companies directly!

My appointment at the Embassy went incredibly well. I was expecting a long, drawn-out ordeal, but the interview itself was actually very fast. My tip: When you arrive, don’t waste time staring at the signs indicating which appointment time slots they are currently processing. Just head straight to the security check/reception desk anyway! It will save you unnecessary stress.

I can’t wait to fully immerse myself in American culture and make new friends along the way. On top of that, as someone passionate about architecture and design, I am incredibly excited to visit US museums. I can’t wait to see famous masterpieces in person that we simply don’t have access to in Europe!

See you in the States in a coupe weeks!

Raphaël Camus

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