Hi Architect-US community!
I want to share that my trainee program is going really well at SiteWorks in New York City, and I’m looking forward to sharing more information with you. Nonetheless, I want to take a moment to remember all the effort that brought me here and some events that happened along the way.
After receiving my job offer and being guided through the whole process by Architect-US, my J1 visa application was approved at the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. However, a day after my approval, I received a new email saying I needed to attend a second interview because my visa was put on hold due to something called administrative processing.
As you can imagine, I was really scared and confused. I started reading forums and different cases online and that made me even more worried, as I saw that administrative processing could take days or even months to be resolved. It was a really hard moment because just a day before, I was already making travel plans.
Even though all my paperwork was in order, at the embassy interview in Argentina I was told my case would need further review under Section 221(g). After all the effort of interviews, forms, and coordination, everything was suddenly uncertain and completely out of my hands.
Luckily, just a few days later I was called back for a second interview at the embassy, which added to the anxiety but also gave me hope. They asked me to prepare documents about my job offer, my sponsor, my past travels, and all sorts of ties to my home — which I already had prepared because Architect-US had guided me and also told me administrative processing is something that can happen.
Thankfully, everything worked out in the end. At the second interview, they told me they needed further verification because I had traveled in the past to the U.S., and they wanted to make sure about the reason for those trips. I showed proof of past interviews I had and networking events I attended just to learn about the architecture community in the U.S.
I’ll never forget how hard it was to sit in that uncertainty, checking for updates every day, not knowing if I’d be able to join the firm that had already welcomed me.
I’m sharing this now because I know how isolating administrative processing can feel. If you’re in a similar situation, you’re not alone. It doesn’t necessarily mean something is wrong , sometimes it’s just part of the process. My advice is to stay in touch with your sponsor, stay patient (even when it’s hard), and don’t be afraid to reach out to others who’ve been through it.
Thanks to Architect-US for being such a supportive bridge during this journey. If anyone wants to talk or ask questions, I’m happy to share more.
Francisca Gil Sosa
