Hi ! I’m Amandine, a French student in civil engineering. I am about to move to New York in just a few days to become an intern at GMS, a structural engineering office located in Manhattan.
What brings me there
As part of my studies, I am completing two internships this year in order to gain experience in structural design. I just finished my first six-month internship in Paris three weeks ago, and in just a few days I will be starting a new internship in New York, which will be a great opportunity for me to grow both professionally and personally.
The visa application process
Once I was told that I had been selected as an intern at GMS, I immediately started applying for a J-1 visa. My main concern about the visa process was the potential delay. Because of the dates of my internship, I had only two months to complete the entire process, which felt like a risky bet. Fortunately, everything went very smoothly. I was nervous about all the paperwork but Architect-US took care of it very effectively. Then it was time for me to schedule my embassy appointment. I realised quickly there was nothing to worry about : my appointment lasted no more than 2 minutes and the delivery of my passport afterwards was extremely fast.
Living a new life in NYC
I am now ready to move to New York. It is a brand new experience for me: I have never travelled so far and have always lived with my family. Starting a new life in a new city is a bit scary, but it is also very exciting. I am really looking forward to see New York. It is a city that has always fascinated me, and I am so happy to be able to experiment its energy with my own eyes. I am already looking forward to exploring the city and everything it has to offer, and meeting people to share experiences with.
