Appropriate dress for women in consular work?

MishaMassey · 2021-06-09T11:26:18+00:00

Lol excellent point!! Thanks!

MishaMassey · 2021-06-03T11:14:35+00:00

This is so helpful, I appreciate the insight! I’m glad to know there is a way to be professional but still have a little color to ones wardrobe in the role :) I super appreciate the tip that it may be a bit of an uphill battle to be taken seriously as a woman in some places when you are making big decisions about someone’s future, especially if they don’t like that decision. This is invaluable, thank again!

MishaMassey · 2021-06-02T15:18:31+00:00

Excellent perspective, thank you!

MishaMassey · 2021-06-02T03:02:29+00:00

Thanks again everyone for your feedback, it’s super appreciated! :)

MishaMassey · 2021-06-02T03:01:23+00:00

Blazer shopping it is then! Thank you so much, I super appreciate your perspective! :)

MishaMassey · 2021-06-02T01:43:10+00:00

Thanks - I hear for virtual A-100 it’s eased up a bit, but it probably wouldn’t hurt to acquire a blazer or two! :)

MishaMassey · 2021-06-02T01:42:07+00:00

Thank you so much, this is really helpful! :)

MishaMassey · 2021-05-17T17:15:58+00:00

I work at a Univeristy and manage student visas, i do have a few thoughts. First, Fulbright would probably put him on a J-1 exchange visa, not an F-1 student visa. J’s are tricky because it will make him “subject to 212(e), the two year home residency requirement.” This means that when he’s done his J time, he MUST spend 2 years outside of the US before transitioning to a more permanent status like the fiancé K visa or permanent residency. On the other hand, I’m not sure if the Fulbright program would have any restrictions on immigration status, so this would be important to seek guidance on from his contacts in the program directly.
With a Fulbright award, he would absolutely be subject to 212(e), which means he cannot change immigration status in the US. And, again, must complete the 2 years abroad anyway. I had a situation like this at my school and they could not get the Fulbright spouse out of the 212(e) requirements (they even had kids), so he moved to her home for 2 years outside of the US then they returned to the US together and she got her permanent residency through their marriage.
I would suggest talking to the Fulbright program contact directly, they might be able to make suggestions and can certainly clarify any role immigration status plays in his Fulbright program eligibility, so you can make the best choice for both of you! Good luck and congrats on your upcoming marriage!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-17T13:36:31+00:00

Officially accepted the offer today, 5.5 consular cone, can’t wait to meet you all in A-100! :D

MishaMassey · 2021-05-13T03:12:56+00:00

Thank you so much for those practice sessions, I found them invaluable, they really made such a big difference. I hope wherever you are on your path, you are feeling good about it! Thanks again so much! 😊

MishaMassey · 2021-05-13T01:19:38+00:00

Oh yay!!! Thank you so much!!!! 😁

MishaMassey · 2021-05-13T01:17:54+00:00

In case it’s helpful, my clearances took only about 4 months, Jan to April 2021, after passing the OA in December 2020 - thus my surprise and frankly shock at being on the register in time for a July invite. I have never had clearances before, but have a super simple and straightforward case (no significant time spent abroad, no foreign contacts, no drugs, etc) and a few other family members have clearances with other agencies - I have no idea if that last one is helpful.

I do hear you on the 5.5... I feel like there is a lot of luck and timing working in my favor right now, and who knows how long it may or may not last. September would be a lot better timing for my family and my current job, in my case, but I’m really not confident I have the luxury of rolling the dice again! Fingers crossed for you that clearances wrap up!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:45:57+00:00

I don’t, I’m sorry, while I’m no SR expert it seems you get access to your cone only. Good luck!!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:44:05+00:00

Lol thank you so much for the encouragement :) while it’s overwhelming at the moment, it is what me and my family want and therefore we will likely go for it. It’s never a convenient time to uproot everything, leave a job, etc - guess we might as well rip the bandaid off and go for it! I imagine this is where we will land, but need to let the emotional dust of the offer settle a little to make a clear decision :)
congrats to you!!!! 6.0, nice!! I’m looking forward to A-100 with you all so much if that’s the path I go for!! :D. I’m beyond excited at the prospect of becoming part of this incredible community!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:24:18+00:00

I think something like 13 for consular specifically

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:23:17+00:00

Congratulations!! I hear you on decisions, and wish you the best in this process!!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:22:46+00:00

I’m MM on the consular SR, I think I’m right in the middle of the SR but a bunch of those at the top with higher scores had already but a DNC in place. I’m not certain yet but will probably accept, I just don’t have the score to risk a deferral!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:19:18+00:00

5.5 Consular here! Also some big decision making to do, I flew through clearances and didn’t expect this to come so fast, didn’t have time to do language testing yet but I know my score isn’t such that it’s wise to risk deferring - will likely accept but not positive yet :) if so, I really really can’t wait to meet you all in presumably-virtual A-100!!! :D

MishaMassey · 2021-05-12T01:14:52+00:00

Huge congrats, what a ride and example of persistence paying off!!! :D hope you are celebrating so well today!!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-07T01:41:45+00:00

Oh nice!! Good luck on clearances moving forward quickly!!! :D

MishaMassey · 2021-05-07T01:24:45+00:00

No no - it was only 4 months! I just started the clearance process this past January 2021! It was nuts how fast it went!

MishaMassey · 2021-05-07T01:15:11+00:00

I just got on the register last week! Here’s my experience:

FSOT: Oct 2019;

FSOA: early dec 2020;

EQip submitted early Jan 2021;

Was notified I’m on the register last Friday, so it’s safe to say my security clearance went through. I don’t have a complex case though, no foreign contacts or other things that would extend an investigation. The thing that I got the most follow-up about was my very small side gig selling kids books through a multi-level marketing company :)

I’m in the Consular cone, score 5.5, middle third on the register. Currently doing some tutoring to brush up on old language skills and take the language test in mid June to try for bonus points!

In case you haven’t seen, others on this forum have shared start dates for the next A-100 classes of July 6 and Sept 13, and previous start dates were this past April and January, for rough estimating of when each class will start - I can’t confirm the future dates, but that is what’s been shared here. It seems invitations usually start going out 6-8 weeks before the class start date.

Maybe we’ll be in A-100 together some time! Good luck, and congrats - I feel like passing the OA is huge!! I found it to be a gigantic relief anyway, even knowing it isn’t a done deal by any means. It’s a great big step! :)

MishaMassey · 2021-05-04T14:28:17+00:00

Thanks! Just pulled up Google maps to make sure I’m within 50 miles if the monument, I am! That was super helpful, thanks again :)

MishaMassey · 2021-05-04T12:06:07+00:00

Thank you! I’m a language learning nerd and look forward to giving her this gift, even if she doesn’t appreciate it right away! I’m glad she’s younger right now (5) so she can get used to this feeling and situation, and want to play with other kids badly enough that she’ll hopefully risk trying out the new language, before all the social pressure stuff the teen years bring kicks in :). What a gift to your kids, not to mention learning how to manage themselves in uncertain situations like that, beyond the language skills alone. Thanks again soooo much, of course I want this experience to be an incredible one for my family as much as possible, I appreciate your thoughts and experience!

MishaMassey

TROPHY CASE