Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Dec 11th 2009, 12:26 pm
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 65
Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Hi
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
Dec 14th 2009, 12:30 pm
#2
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 766
Re: Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Hi there,
Any updates on how you're going?
Cheers,
Any updates on how you're going?
Cheers,
Hi
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
Dec 14th 2009, 12:57 pm
#4
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2009
Location: California
Posts: 65
Re: Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
social security office in San Jose was straightforward: got there at 9am on Friday, by 10am I had finished the interview and paperwork, and was off to work. The SSN card will be mailed to me in 2-3 weeks. It's important to have a boss at work who realizes you need to get out to get things sorted.
Decided to relax over the weekend: I can't do much more immigration-wise until I get the SSN, and anyway I have to fly to China today monday to visit the company factories.
My first weekend in California: Went to the Golden Gate Park and walked down to the Pacific Ocean. Saw a film. Went to a great second hand book shop in Richmond called Green Apple (huge stock and lots of discounts). Hardware store shopping. Dodging the december rain. Calls back to UK etc etc! Cheers.
Decided to relax over the weekend: I can't do much more immigration-wise until I get the SSN, and anyway I have to fly to China today monday to visit the company factories.
My first weekend in California: Went to the Golden Gate Park and walked down to the Pacific Ocean. Saw a film. Went to a great second hand book shop in Richmond called Green Apple (huge stock and lots of discounts). Hardware store shopping. Dodging the december rain. Calls back to UK etc etc! Cheers.
Dec 15th 2009, 12:52 pm
#5
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2005
Location: USA
Posts: 766
Re: Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Koooooool!
Thanks
Cheers,
Thanks
Cheers,
social security office in San Jose was straightforward: got there at 9am on Friday, by 10am I had finished the interview and paperwork, and was off to work. The SSN card will be mailed to me in 2-3 weeks. It's important to have a boss at work who realizes you need to get out to get things sorted.
Decided to relax over the weekend: I can't do much more immigration-wise until I get the SSN, and anyway I have to fly to China today monday to visit the company factories.
My first weekend in California: Went to the Golden Gate Park and walked down to the Pacific Ocean. Saw a film. Went to a great second hand book shop in Richmond called Green Apple (huge stock and lots of discounts). Hardware store shopping. Dodging the december rain. Calls back to UK etc etc! Cheers.
Decided to relax over the weekend: I can't do much more immigration-wise until I get the SSN, and anyway I have to fly to China today monday to visit the company factories.
My first weekend in California: Went to the Golden Gate Park and walked down to the Pacific Ocean. Saw a film. Went to a great second hand book shop in Richmond called Green Apple (huge stock and lots of discounts). Hardware store shopping. Dodging the december rain. Calls back to UK etc etc! Cheers.
Dec 15th 2009, 1:04 pm
#6
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Bouncing between Canada and US
Posts: 2,512
Re: Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Wow! Excellent and congratulations! Going nice and smoothly for you. 
Dec 15th 2009, 1:08 pm
#7
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Aug 2003
Location: Nevada b4 California b4 Colorado b4 Valley of plastic and sand, b4 London
Posts: 2,025
Re: Just arrived in SF on an H1B visa
Welcome to the valley of silicon and plastic.
Hi
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
I've been following this forum over last two months - thanks to all the great contributions: it's really helped.
My experiences:
1. interviews in SF bay area in late August as a potential new hire; middle October got the job offer; flew out on December 5th with a one-way ticket
2. the HR guy here told me they already started working on the H1B visa application in September, before the offer came, and my passport was updated with H1B visa on 23rd November at US consulate (Singapore)
3. I've followed much of the advice on the forum, except I overlooked booking a driving appointment and driving test before arriving - when I tried this week the first appointments are in early January... I should have booked the appointment 3-4 weeks days before flying out. Now I have to wait.
4. I went to a car dealer today, and they were pretty relaxed - not the hard sell I expected. They were ready to do a good deal, but said as I did not have a Social Security Number, nor an Int'l driving licence then I could not buy today. Definitely a soft sell! So I'll continue to rent a car for now. No problem.
5. I opened a bank account before arriving by using the US branch of my bank in UK. The credit card arrived today, but could not be activated because I do not have a Social Secuity Number yet - off to the Social Security office in San Jose the morning... do you know the road to San Jose? Diane Warwick, bless.
Thanks again.
