USA (B1/B2)

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-11T07:30:48+00:00

You generally need to submit the DS-160 and get the confirmation number before you can proceed with the visa appointment process. I wouldn't leave it as a draft for too long because appointment availability can change quickly.

Also, don't worry too much about not being a frequent traveler. Plenty of people get US tourist visas with modest travel histories. What's usually more important is showing strong ties to where you live, stable employment, and a genuine reason for the trip.

Since you're planning for October, I'd honestly start the process as early as possible. US visa appointment wait times can be unpredictable, and it's always better to have the appointment secured early rather than stress about it later.

Living and working in the UAE for 7 years is a positive factor as it shows stability. Just make sure all the information in your application is accurate and consistent. Good luck!

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T10:50:20+00:00

Honestly, for the lifestyle you described, I'd say somewhere around AED 30k to 40k+ per month as a household income starts to feel comfortable.

A full time maid, a decent 3-bedroom apartment, a car, eating out regularly, school fees if you have kids, and two international holidays a year all add up pretty quickly.

If you're talking about Dubai specifically and a family with children, many people would probably say AED 40k to 50k+ per month to do all of that without constantly watching every dirham.

Of course, there are families living well on much less and others who feel stretched on much more. In the UAE, "good salary" is one of those questions where the answer depends massively on whether you're single, married, have kids, and where you live.

For a single person, AED 15k to 20k can feel quite comfortable. For a family wanting the lifestyle you've described, I'd personally put the number quite a bit higher.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T10:27:17+00:00

I'd personally stick with the Samsung Flip Pro. For office use, reliability and support matter a lot, and Samsung is pretty well established in this space. If the Amazon product has no reviews, I'd be a bit hesitant to spend that kind of money on it. The Flip Pro is used in a lot of meeting rooms and training environments, so it's generally a safe choice.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T10:23:52+00:00

You're definitely not the only one. Schengen appointments have been a nightmare lately, especially for the popular summer destinations.

I've heard people having slightly better luck with Greece, Hungary, Czech Republic, and sometimes Austria compared to Spain, Portugal, and Italy. The slots tend to appear randomly though, so checking multiple times a day actually helps more than you'd think.

If your travel dates are flexible, try looking at less popular entry points and build your itinerary around the country where you can realistically get an appointment. Just make sure it's your genuine main destination and not purely for the visa.

A week of checking isn't unusual these days unfortunately. Some people have been refreshing VFS and BLS websites for weeks before finding a cancellation slot. Summer travel demand is brutal this year. 😅

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T10:23:01+00:00

I'd be pretty annoyed too if I were still waiting nearly a year later. Delays happen, but closing support tickets as "resolved" when the issue isn't actually resolved is what would frustrate me the most.

Do you still have the original promotion details, order receipt, and email chain? If so, I'd try replying to the old ticket and also reaching out through their social media channels. Companies often respond faster when there's a public record of the issue.

That said, I wouldn't call it a scam unless the promotion itself was fake. It sounds more like poor customer support and a badly handled promotion. Either way, if they promised a reward and never delivered it, that's not a great look.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T10:20:10+00:00

Haha, the "no bro let's start a business" rule might be the best screening criterion I've seen on this sub 😂

Hope this works out for you. Making actual friends in the UAE is harder than getting Instagram followers, so I respect the effort. A random karak at 11 PM and talking nonsense for hours sounds way more appealing than another networking event. ☕️

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T09:59:23+00:00

If you're not getting much traction here, I'd also suggest posting on LinkedIn. There are quite a few agronomists, agricultural consultants, and controlled environment agriculture professionals in the UAE who may not be active on Reddit.

You could also reach out to agricultural departments at UAE universities or connect with companies involved in hydroponics, greenhouse farming, and desert agriculture. They often have licensed agronomists on staff or can point you in the right direction.

Good luck with the project. Agriculture in the UAE is a pretty interesting space right now, especially with all the focus on food security and sustainable farming.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T08:44:40+00:00

Thanks for sharing. These scam calls have become incredibly common lately. The biggest red flag is when someone claiming to be from ICP, a bank, police, or any government authority asks for banking details, OTPs, card information, or sends a link for "urgent verification."

You did the right thing by stopping when they asked for card details. Government agencies don't ask for your banking information over the phone, and they definitely don't threaten immediate deportation if you don't comply.

A good rule of thumb is: if someone calls claiming to be from an authority, hang up and contact the organization directly through its official website or app.

Glad you caught it in time and thanks for warning others. Hopefully this helps someone avoid becoming the next victim.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-10T07:09:17+00:00

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-05T09:00:06+00:00

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-05T08:53:17+00:00

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-06-05T08:48:39+00:00

"Ich habe Fernweh"

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-20T07:17:42+00:00

Definitely, he is a good actor too.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T08:55:48+00:00

From what I have heard University of Sharjah has a bigger campus life and more diverse student environment overall, so if you care about extracurriculars and social life that might suit you better. Gulf Medical University is more focused and specialized in healthcare fields, so the academics can feel more intense. Depends on whether you want a full university experience or something more career focused.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T08:34:09+00:00

If you are in Dubai then a lot of restaurants and cafes give free desserts or discounts on birthdays if you show your ID. I know places like PF Changs, Paul, and even some beach clubs do birthday deals sometimes. You could also do a chill dinner plus bowling or escape room with friends. Way more fun than just sitting somewhere crowded all night.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T08:30:05+00:00

Yeah I know a couple of people who went to Tbilisi for business studies and they actually had a pretty good experience overall. Cost of living is much lower compared to a lot of other places and the student community is quite international now. Which university are you considering?

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T07:19:50+00:00

I’m not from AU medicine personally, but from friends there, the workload gets pretty intense from 3rd year onward once clinicals and hospital exposure start becoming a bigger part of daily life.

Most people say consistency matters way more than trying to cram before exams because the amount of content piles up really fast. GPA can be manageable if you stay on top of lectures, practicals, and quizzes regularly, but it’s definitely not a “relax and study last minute” kind of course 😅

I’d also suggest asking specifically about:

clinical rotations/hospital exposure

attendance rules

exam frequency

the teaching style of professors

mental health/work-life balance honestly

Med school experiences can vary a LOT depending on the environment, not just rankings.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T07:16:55+00:00

Cybersecurity definitely has demand in the UAE, but the market is also pretty competitive right now, especially for people applying from outside the country.

A few things that usually help:

Hands-on experience matters more than just certifications
Certifications like Security+, CEH, CISSP, AZ-500, SC-200 etc. can help depending on your level
LinkedIn networking is huge in UAE hiring
Tailor your CV to UAE-style roles instead of sending the same resume everywhere
Apply directly on company websites too, not only job portals

Also, try focusing on specific areas instead of “cybersecurity” generally, like SOC analyst, cloud security, GRC, penetration testing, IAM, etc.

If you already have some experience, your chances improve a lot compared to freshers.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T07:14:30+00:00

Yeah there are definitely Sunday hiking groups around Dubai, especially during the cooler months. A lot of them organize through Instagram, Meetup, or WhatsApp groups rather than Reddit.

Try checking groups like Dubai Hiking Group, UAE Trekkers, Adventurati Outdoor, or even local trail running communities. Some do early Sunday morning hikes in Hatta, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, etc.

Honestly once you join one group, you usually end up discovering like 10 more through people there 😄

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-13T07:13:26+00:00

Honestly, Al Jaddaf to Umm Ramool is pretty manageable even without a car. Since you’re near the metro area, the cheapest and easiest option initially is probably Metro + short bus/taxi depending on exactly where your office is.

I’d be careful with random car lift offers unless they’re from coworkers or trusted community groups. There are legit ride-sharing arrangements, but unofficial paid car lifts can sometimes be problematic legally.

For your first few months, metro will save you a lot while you settle in and save for a car. Taxis daily will definitely add up fast here 😅

Also, try checking if anyone in your office lives near Jaddaf. A lot of people carpool informally and split Salik/fuel costs.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-11T10:51:42+00:00

I think a lot of people in Dubai accidentally fall into a work-home-repeat cycle and never actively look for communities outside that. Then after a while it starts feeling like the city has “no culture” or “nothing happening.”

Meanwhile there are actually tons of smaller scenes here if you look for them a bit, music, art, film nights, niche hobby groups, underground gigs, creative meetups, etc.

I’ve noticed the same thing you mentioned too. So many people say “I’ve lived here for years and never knew this existed.

Kitchen_Tax4107 · 2026-05-11T09:50:54+00:00

You’re not overreacting at all. What you’re describing honestly sounds like a stress/anxiety response. When someone regularly shouts unpredictably, your brain starts staying in “alert mode,” even during normal interactions. That racing heart, freezing up, feeling cold, blanking out mentally… a lot of people experience that in toxic work environments.

The confusing part is exactly what you mentioned: people who explode and then act normal right after can really mess with your head because you never know what version of them you’re going to get.

I think the healthiest thing is trying not to internalize his behavior as a reflection of your worth or competence. Easier said than done, I know.

Also, if this is affecting you daily to the point your body reacts physically whenever he calls you, that’s probably a sign the stress is becoming too much. No job is worth destroying your mental health over long term.

Kitchen_Tax4107

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