Mukul-da, Thanks for the support. Your IIT-KGP community members must be proud of your efforts in bringing peace to Assam.
Regards. Umesh --- mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: --------------------------------- <sea -gulls. Peace is a must> And peace be onto you! Umesh all luck -all theway! mm --------------------------------- From: umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mridul Bhuyan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] Subject: Re: [Assam] Details: H-1B visa 20th floor interview;the preceding nightmares Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 03:50:50 +0100 (BST) >Mridul-da, > >Thanks for the support to you and all AssamNet members >- and best wishes for all your endevors. > > >today I got the passpport with the visa stamped in >it. Quite a relief. Went to the beach later near my >host's residence and ate & fed cheese-biscuits to the >sea -gulls. Peace is a must. > >Now I will enquire from the immigration officials at >the Vancouver Intl Airport as to what is the earliest >date I cann enter USA -given that I have a visa issued >yesterday but permission to work only from Oct 2nd. > >Lets see. > > > >Umesh > >--- Mridul Bhuyan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > Nice account Umesh. Best Wishes. > > > > Mridul > > > > umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Hi, > > > > Here is the bit about my visa interview. Being one > > of > > a kind case - I do not know anybody being here for > > H-1B visa for teaching (thru a visa contractor -in > > my > > case www.sonlightinternational.com ) . So I was > > inwardly shaking when I went in. No lets start from > > the beginning --from the preparation --from the hey > > days of my sea beach visits --right to visit to the > > visa officer. > > > > Here goes... When I had started from Washington DC > > to > > Vancouver, Canada - I already had brought with me > > almost all the required documents. So it was only > > this > > Monday that I decided to wake up from this nature > > resort holiday at www.ubc.ca and check out the place > > where I was supposed to go for the visa interview. > > For > > added effect I went to the international airport at > > Vancouver once again -where I had landed from DC. > > The > > aim was to make a direct connection between my > > coming > > here from DC and my going to the visa interview. It > > made me focused and serious about the whole thing. > > This lovely place had me taking it quite lightly > > since > > I had come here. > > > > So the next day (Tuesday) i spent filling out and > > printing the forms DS-156, DS 157, DS -158 (I had > > already got my passport size photos done on > > Sunday--just 2 photos for $8 (Rs 400!!) at the UBC > > library. The tricky part was the column regarding > > country of residence -- had to mention two people > > who > > could vouch for me. Shall I say Canada (I know only > > my > > hots here) or India (then I could not recollect any > > phone numbers). After a Google search -which showed > > where you spent your last 12 or more months -as > > resident country - mentioned my landlord and my > > Harvard sponsor schooltime firnd Dr kamal Kejriwal's > > names and phone etc. > > > > Yesterday (Wednesday) I painstakingly went over all > > the documents I might need -made photocopies of them > > all. God is in details -as the say. And more I went > > over the stuff the more I realized that I had left > > something . But I was successful in my aim in > > packing > > all the documents needed (incl US visa forms, > > passport, $100 fee in cash in USD and original > > marksheets etc, payslips etc, employment letters, > > tax > > forms, etc etc) by 10 pm in plastic bags. We could > > not > > take backpacks, cellphones, water or any electronic > > devices--as told in the website --however on > > reaching > > there I was told to tear open all my sealed > > marksheets/transcripts also--big mess -now have to > > get > > new ones from India. > > > > Then I ironed my only full sleeved white checked > > (Raymonds Rs 300) shirt I had brought and the black > > pants . I was told by my host and her mother that > > the > > all American tie (with stars and stripes -I bought > > it > > in DC -3 for $10) was too inappropriate and > > recommended I wear a grey patterned one. Last night > > while returning from the UBC library suddenly it had > > started raining so weather had cooled down (I had my > > folding umbrella gifted by Harvard Dorm crew -my > > colleagues when we used to clean classrooms > > together) > > so I decided to wear an inner warm vest under the > > shirt -and a wind cheater on top. > > > > I used my cellphone to tell the time but it was > > banned > > from US consulate so my host's husband had offered > > his > > watch (my HMT with Hindi day dial has run out > > battery > > anyway) but I decided against taking it --since even > > in James Bond movies -he blows up buildings with his > > watch --the consulate security mighthave similar > > ideas > > regarding watching and might asked me to throw my > > host's watch out before getting in. > > > > I could not sleep nearly all night (my cellphone was > > set for 3 alarms -at 6:30 am, 6:45 am and 7:00 am) > > so > > did not need more than one alarm and kept waking up > > all night. (Even had a nightmare where a calf in > > someplace near Jaipur is biting my arm -and stopping > > me from racing on to some school in some village > > near > > there. the previous night I had a dream that somehow > > I > > am Jaipur School and talking to a student's parent > > -of > > 2005 batch--and suddenly I look at my watch and lo! > > it > > is already 8:40 am -and then I remember I have to > > rush > > for the visa interview -the US consulate building at > > vancouver appears [in a deamy way] to be located in > > downtown Jaipur -in my mind. So I rush outside -how > > willI reach there?? Oh!! then I see my red , chrome > > and black bullet enfield parked under the tree in > > front of my house. Does it still work after my two > > year stay in US? So confusing ---all mixed up - > > across > > time and space. That was the end of taht terrifying > > dream of last night (Wednesday Sep 13th). > > > > So got up at first alarm and rushed thru the morning > > drill -again checked my passport and the visa forms > > -and at 7:45 am ran out the door. No rain, I had > > checked the weather report on Yahoo - said might > > rain > > so took umbrella and cold weather 9-15 degree > > celcius > > -like winter in most India. Thebus which I changed > > after a 20 minute ride was in rush hour for going > > downtown (main city) so elbow to elbow I stood in > > thebus and reached the last station -Burhard Station > > -which was where I was to get down. It was exactly > > 8:30 am in the clock at the bus stand. Still one and > > a > > half hours to go. > > > > There were tall sky scrapers all around (though not > > too tall compared to NYC --ony upto 30 floors)but > > quite styilishly done. I generally feel like a > > tourist > > -and not at home -in such concrete jungles. > > > > Having been to the US consulate during my scouting > > mission on Monday - I knew where it was --so got > > inside a building before it -and at "Seattle's Best > > Coffee" bought "Americano" coffee for getting the > > American spirit. Small things get you connected :-) > > After the coffee I got some rumbling in my stomach > > -which I was anticipating (always happens > > ininterviews > > to me -so I nevver eat before interviews or > > sometimes > > even the night before)--and seeing me holding the > > coffee cup the security guard told me how to get the > > coffee shop people to get me inside the > > toliet/washroomm/restroom. After relaxing a bit (I > > mean a lot) walked straight to the US consulate > > office > > -just one building away. > > > > There was a long line there. The old, > > AfricanAmerican > > security guard I had inquired from -the other > > day-was > > also there. Being polite and genial with security > > gurads is very useful -always ;-) > > There was a line with 8:30 am written on the post in > > front of it. They were close to the door. The line > > nearer was the 9:00 am line. Despite warnings in > > website and even at the office -still some poeple > > had > > brought cellphones, backpacks, purses (ladies) > > --needless to say most of the people were Indian -in > > the lines. I guessed most were from nearby -Seattle > > -where Microsoft is head-quartered -withBill Gates > > -the famous Harvard drop-out ruling from there --or > > from California -a little down the pacific coast. > > Perhaps I was the only one -maybe in months or years > > -who had travelled all the way from Washington DC > > (4,000 miles away -to Vancouver's US consulate -the > > last outpost of Western civilization [if we discount > > Alaska above it]). (I am glad i did - fun city and > > great hosts.) That became more clear when I was > > questioned by the visa officers later. > > > > Among those standing were a few Indian families > > -witha > > child barely able to walk -swaying around etc. A few > > girls also seemed to be bravingit alone. Most seemed > > like who had studied and/or worked in US -seeing > > from > > their level of confidence and ease. > > > > When our 10am line was stationed at the door -the > > old > > security guard came up tp me and said :' Are you for > > H-1B visa?" --I said Yes. Then he pointed out to the > > guys in front of me and behind me -- they carried > > just > > a folder with a few documents. My swollen plastic > > bags > > were sagging (one's plastic handle had nearly come > > off > > -due to heavy weight-I had an extra one -thankfully) > > with documents and now my umbrella and the > > wind-cheater also. > > > > It created problems when I went thru the security > > checks -but I had already opened all the sealed > > envelopes -thankfully they didn't mess up with the > > order of the documents as I had arranged them. I had > > noone to guide me -so i took ALL the documents I > > thought they could ask me for. I felt more confident > > becos of that --so there!! > > > > Inside the door was the first security check point. > > I > > had to remove everything except my clothes (ie my > > belt > > , iron bangle -Kada of Sikhs etc, wallet, coins > > etc). > > After going one floor one - they had a sign which > > read > > that I had to deposit my visa forms DS-156, DS157 > > (my > > DS 158 was useless - it was for only student visas > > -but I took just in case ;-) ) my I-797 form -from > > US > > immigration inside US, employment letter, and US $ > > 100 > > cash. The cashier gave me a slip with B59 written on > > > > it. > > > > I took a seat with others. The digital piece called > > numbers B48 to B52. A quote from Rosa Parks seemed > > familiar in the background. I took up a Feb 2004 > > issue > > of National geographic Magazine lying there - about > > Polar bears. I learnt that Eskimos are around > > me-only > > found in Alaska, Canada and across the sea in > > Siberia. > > The seals (which polar bears eat) I had already seen > > near my current residence at www.ubc.ca > > They called numbers B53 to B58. Then again a click I > > looked up -they called numbers B60 onwards. Where > > was > > my B59!! Still I wnet along and told the security > > guard . She said that sometimes the machine skips a > > few numbers -its alright!!! She got us on the > > elevator/lift to the 20th floor!!! (I have never > > done > > any serious work so high up). > > > > Again the security check -the Chinese looking guards > > seemed as thorough as Bruce Lee -they really emptied > > all my bags and even checked many envelopes to see > > if > > they were sealed or not (Anthrax scare??) They > > weren't > > --thoroughness is the key in preparation!!! > > So they sent me in. In a narrow corridor sat the > > applicants in plastic chairs. in front were cabins > > (4 > > feet by 5 feet) with ticket windows . I was aksed to > > report at "room 1" (cabin 1). When my turn came I > > had > > to place my index fingers (near the thumb) for > > finger > > printing. > > > > Then back to musical chairs - and suddenly got a > > seat > > just below "room 3" and that was the main interview. > > He already had my forms etc (incl my work and study > > details) > > VO (Visa Officer): So this is your first H-1B visa? > > US (myself) : Yes > > > > VO: So did you also study in US? > > US: Yes > > > > VO: Where? > > US: Harvard Univ, School of Education > > > > He opens my student visa page in the passport and > > confirms my Univ > > > > VO: What did you study there? > > US: I did my masters in education --actually he also > > says that together -oh you must have done masters > > > > VO: When did you graduate? > > US: Last summer.......June 2005 > > > > VO: So what have you been doing since? > > US: I was on my OPT (Optional Practical Training) > > for > > last one year and working in various schools. > > > > VO: So you were working in Boston (thats where > > Harvard > > is) > > US: No I was in Washington DC (my form said I worked > > in Virginia and Maryland -in DC Metro area) > > > > VO: So who is this SonLight International -your new > > employer and visa sponsor? > > US: They supply teachers to schools (I had recalled > > this answer only while sitting waiting for my turn a > > few minutes before) > > > > VO: So your earlier jobs did they get over after a > > fixed time? > > US: They got over when the academic session got > > over. > > One got over in April 2006, the other in June 2006 > > -they were part time jobs. > > > > VO: so have started work with the new employer -can > > you show me the pay stubs > > US: I would start working thru them from Oct 2nd. I > > can show you the pay stubs from my previous > > employers. > > > > VO: OK > > > > I dig into my big bags and thankfully am able to > > find > > the paystubs still bunched up togther --the security > > guards could not mess up this too much. > > He looks at them. I notice my employer ( > > www.belldc.org ) 's colroful commendation > > certificate > > and when he returns my paystubs after leafing thru > > them a bit -- I offer him my certificate. 'From my > > previous employer sir -for my good work!" > > > > VO: Good! > > He is scribbling something on my visa form. > > > > VO: so where will you be working now? > > US: At Washinton DC . Potomac > > > > VO: Do you mean Washington state? > > US: I mean Washington DC - Potomac in Maryland > > actually > > > > He was testing whether I knew where my work-place > > was > > and had I been there. > > > > VO: So what are you doing here (he probably meant > > Vancouver and not Toronto which is much much closer > > to > > DC) > > US: Oh my OPT period was expiring so I had to come > > out > > (to Canada). > > > > VO: He smiled -so you got the ealriest date in > > vancouver ? > > US: Yes > > > > He scribbled something on a form -cirlcled IND H > > some code and 50 > > in four separate columns (India, H visa, code for > > visa > > issuance and 50$ fee) and aksed me to pay up at the > > cashier's place. I said I don;t have $50 cash - the > > website didn't say anything about it www.amcits.com > > He said don't worry they accept credit cards > > (initially I was reluctant to bring them -security > > might ask them to be thrown -as electronic devices) > > and bring the receipt to "room 1" > > > > US: Thank you so much. have a nice day!! > > He seemed genuinely surprised -perhaps people were > > too > > formal here. > > > > Same greeting to the cashier. > > At room one the VO gave me a red slip to bring > > tomorrow (Friday ) at 3pm . The slip read that it > > only > > guarentees return of the passport but not visa > > issuance (if they find something hanky-panky in my > > info etc). > > > > So thats that. It is 1:43 am now and it is Friday > > already. > > > > Hopefully i would get the visa-stamped passport > > today > > and so to get busy revising my high scchool math, > > eco > > and chem. > > > > Regards.Hoep it was interesting (and also useful to > > some) > > > > Umesh > > > > PS: Moral : Apply for US visa for work/study from a > > third country only if you have worked and or studied > > in US -otherwise apply from your home country --so > > they can ask questions . VOs in India know a lot > > about > > Indian jobs and edu degrees and society in general > > Many have lived in India for long -even as tourists > > -before joing the VO jobs. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Umesh Sharma > > 5121 Lackawanna ST > > College Park, MD 20740 USA > > > > Current temp. address: 5649 Yalta Place , Vancouver, > > Canada > > > > 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone] > > Canada # (607) 221-9433 > > > > Ed.M. - International Education Policy > > Harvard Graduate School of Education, > > Harvard University, > > Class of 2005 > > > > weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ > > > > > > > > >___________________________________________________________ > > > > Inbox full of spam? Get leading spam protection and > > 1GB storage with All New Yahoo! Mail. > > http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html > > > > _______________________________________________ > > assam mailing list > > [email protected] > > >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > > Stay in the know. Pulse on the new Yahoo.com. Check > > it out. > > >Umesh Sharma >5121 Lackawanna ST >College Park, MD 20740 USA > >Current temp. address: 5649 Yalta Place , Vancouver, Canada > > 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone] >Canada # (607) 221-9433 > >Ed.M. - International Education Policy >Harvard Graduate School of Education, >Harvard University, >Class of 2005 > >weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ > > > >___________________________________________________________ >To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre. http://uk.security.yahoo.com > >_______________________________________________ >assam mailing list >[email protected] >http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > _______________________________________________ > assam mailing list > [email protected] > http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org > Umesh Sharma 5121 Lackawanna ST College Park, MD 20740 USA Current temp. address: 5649 Yalta Place , Vancouver, Canada 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone] Canada # (607) 221-9433 Ed.M. - International Education Policy Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard University, Class of 2005 weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/ ___________________________________________________________ All New Yahoo! Mail Tired of [EMAIL PROTECTED]@! come-ons? Let our SpamGuard protect you. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html _______________________________________________ assam mailing list [email protected] http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
