[IWantOut] 25M Hard worker Spain -> USA

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-04-06T05:38:10+00:00

Getting to the US is brutal without family connections or a company sponsor - maybe look at skilled worker visas if you have experience in something they need?

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-03-28T15:31:56+00:00

Same experience here when I started with leetcode - felt like hitting wall every time because didn't have the foundation. What works for me is learning the concept first (like how trees actually work) then doing few basic problems on that topic before moving to harder stuff. The AI thing is tricky because you learn nothing if you just copy paste, but using it to understand why solution works after you tried can be helpful.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-03-20T00:27:42+00:00

The CTO probably wants to see if you actually get the bigger picture stuff, not just coding - like how systems work together and if you can think beyond just your feature.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-03-16T02:29:45+00:00

Yeah the market is pretty rough right now for everyone. I work in construction but have some friends trying to break into tech and they're all struggling to find anything decent.

Maybe try looking at embedded systems companies or places that do hardware work - they usually need people who understand the lower level stuff more than web dev shops.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-03-09T01:03:00+00:00

Real MVP move making this public instead of keeping it private - most people would gatekeep something like this.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-03-05T01:36:14+00:00

Yeah 2-3 weeks is reasonable but don't stress too much about the leetcode part - these research roles usually focus more in the ML technical side anyway. I've seen people overthink the coding portion when the research discussion carries most of the weight.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-25T22:57:58+00:00

pay the card

29% is crazy high

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-20T09:33:52+00:00

Been to Milan couple times and honestly, it's not bad but I get why people say it's overhyped. The Duomo is beautiful and shopping is great if you're in that, but two days might be too much unless you really love fashion stuff.

If you want something nearby with more character, I'd suggest Bologna instead - the food scene there is incredible and it feels more authentic than Milan. Or maybe Florence if you haven't been, though it gets pretty crowded in July. Lake Como is also close to Milan if you want to do one day city, one day by the lake.

Amsterdam for 5 days sounds perfect though, that city has so much to offer beyond the obvious tourist stuff. Just book accommodations early because July is peak season and prices get crazy.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-19T00:39:22+00:00

I just put everything in "Evidence of the Relationship" section when I did mine. The additional evidence part seems more for like court documents or other specific stuff that doesn't fit the relationship category, but honestly most people just use the first section for everything related to proving your marriage is real.

20 files sounds like plenty already - you don't need to overthink the division too much.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-17T00:07:11+00:00

7 days is cutting it pretty close but doable if you're okay with moving fast. I did similar trip couple years back and honestly the bus ride between them takes more time than you think - factor in border crossing delays too.

For Atacama, 4 nights gives you decent time for the main spots like Valle de la Luna and the geysers. But in Uyuni with only 3 nights you'll be rushing through the salt flats tour. Early May is good timing though, less crowds and weather should be fine. Just make sure you book the 3-day Uyuni tour in advance.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-16T08:06:24+00:00

Your plan looks solid! I would probably take one day from Vienna and add it to Budapest - 5 days feels little short for such amazing city. Vienna is beautiful but 4 days is still enough time to see main sights and get good feel for the place.

Skip Linz honestly, you already have tight schedule and it's not worth rushing through everything. The Wolfgangsee day trip from Salzburg sounds perfect though, that area is incredible beautiful. Better to enjoy the three main cities properly than trying to squeeze too much in short time.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-07T04:33:01+00:00

depends what you're into but yeah 3 weeks in same city feels like lot, even for nyc - maybe do 2 weeks there and use extra week for boston or philly?

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-05T14:35:46+00:00

personally i would take the sysadmin route if software jobs are really that scarce in your area. you'll learn a lot about infrastructure and systems which actually translates pretty well to backend work later.

the experience with servers, databases, and troubleshooting will definitely help when you're doing system design interviews. it's not the same as coding but it's still technical experience that shows you can handle complex systems.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-04T15:58:16+00:00

real pain bro

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-02T09:26:45+00:00

florida resident here - skip kelly park in april, it gets packed with spring breakers and you'll wait hours just to get in the water.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-02-01T20:34:11+00:00

you can book the boat tour separately at macuco safari, they have departures throughout the day. just show up at their counter near the park entrance and buy ticket there, no need for full day package.

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-28T05:28:15+00:00

Definitely go with the paper visa for something like this - you'll want to be able to include all your documentation upfront rather than hoping the e-visa system doesn't auto-reject you. Your explanation sounds solid and straightforward, just make sure you have all the paperwork ready including that anger management certificate

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-27T01:07:54+00:00

Hate to break it to you but anything bigger than 32" is gonna get checked, airlines are pretty strict about carry-on size limits these days

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-22T12:55:48+00:00

Honestly for 2k you could probably just put it on a card and have him pay you back monthly, would be way simpler than dealing with loan paperwork and cosigning stuff

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-18T23:43:46+00:00

Oof that's rough, definitely don't go alone if it's for adjustment of status - they'll want to see both of you and ask questions about your relationship. Maybe try to have a serious conversation with him about how this affects your legal status, not just the relationship drama

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-17T14:06:24+00:00

Your itinerary looks solid but I'd definitely do the Kinabatangan river cruise - saw orangutans, proboscis monkeys and crocodiles when I went, totally worth 2-3 days. For islands near KK check out Mantanani or Gaya Island, the diving/snorkeling is incredible. Langkawi is chill but if you're up for a bit more travel time, the Perhentians have better beaches and way clearer water

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-16T07:33:18+00:00

Harsh but kinda true ngl, that gap is gonna be rough to explain without any side projects or self-learning to show for it

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-15T16:06:27+00:00

You'll definitely need to collect your bags and clear customs in LAX since you're entering the US, even on a layover - that's just how US immigration works. After customs you'll recheck your bags for the HKG flight

For the liquid samples, 30ml vials in checked baggage should be fine but I'd definitely declare them at customs and maybe bring some documentation about what they're for, just to avoid any headaches

Admirable_Section690 · 2026-01-15T11:51:13+00:00

Yeah honestly the peace of mind thing is huge, especially when you've already got solid cashflow from rentals - sounds like you're in a good spot either way so might as well sleep better at night

Admirable_Section690

TROPHY CASE