Umesh
You ARE a genius -in descriptive art .You should be assisting Shashi Tharoor with speech matter.
This authentic diary piece needs brushing up and needs publishing worldwide-as Bhubon Ka encouraged you once to do-as a one-act drama of HOPE and aspiration -"Never say die"-including glorious attempts to make the V.O. feel good through telling signs of loyalty to UncleSam--the Star -spangled Necktie and the cup of Americano Coffee............
You are sooooo good!
Do never be analytical- just follow the crowd to PROGRESS !
MM
From: umesh sharma <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: mc mahant <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
CC: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [Assam] Details: H-1B visa 20th floor interview; the preceding nightmares
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:16:17 +0100 (BST)
>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
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> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > 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/
> >
> >
> >
> >___________________________________________________________
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> > _______________________________________________
> > 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/
>
>
>
>
>
>___________________________________________________________
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