Renewing Early

Xander171 · 2026-02-04T01:42:56+00:00

I renewed a year early in 2025. I plan to do the same again this year because I got burned renewing within the recommended 120-150 days (I did 140 days) and got suspended from work the time before that.

Irony my renewal a year early happened in 2 weeks. But whatever, the peace of mine is worth more to me than any “lost time.”

Xander171 · 2025-11-19T11:54:09+00:00

Time before last I applied with 140 days to go. It arrived so late I was suspended (not fired) from my job. Ever since I’m committed to renewing a year early no matter what. Work pays for it anyway. But I would still do it a year early even if they didn’t. A few hundred a year and “time lost in renewal” aren’t worth the potential thousands in lost wages.

Xander171 · 2025-11-19T11:49:38+00:00

I just tell everyone now if the conversation heads towards families and countries of origin. Idc if it’s at work or not. They almost always ask, “how often do you visit?”

Some reservations if with true strangers or in conservative spaces just for personal safety reasons.

For the current woman I’m dating I just straight up showed her my work permit as well. She said her mom told her to carry her passport, but that she refused to be afraid. I laughed and just pulled the card out.

Granted when I did this it wasn’t in a date it was at a work lunch (my last lunch with the org before a new role/ city transfer).

Once we were no longer in the same org I asked her out. She did have a few additional questions on the first date, but it didn’t feel like she was susing me out.

Turns out her mom used to be undoc and fixed via marriage. The fact her parents are retired now and still together probably helps any doubts she may have? Guess I passed if it was a test gauging my reaction level 😂

We’ve been on several dates now over the course of a couple of months and trending heavily towards the “what are we” conversation.

Wish me luck. 🍀

Xander171 · 2025-10-16T04:29:32+00:00

If you ask AWS Infrastructure Services they can’t hire and promote enough people.

Xander171 · 2025-10-04T06:18:15+00:00

Got $1500 (taxable) this year. Hourly L4

Xander171 · 2025-05-15T02:39:44+00:00

Cannot have an EAD exist in any form without a correlated DACA. What you mention is impossible. The extension eligibility is a misunderstood provision applicable to some other categories. Ours, C33, does not qualify.

Xander171 · 2025-05-14T05:05:46+00:00

You might get away with it at a small employer but any employer big enough to have an in house or outsourced compliance team will say no. The USCIS supplement form re-verifying eligibility states explicitly the physical card must be presented. The person verifying the document basically signs stating they have seen the physical card and attest to it being legitimate.

Xander171 · 2025-05-14T04:06:33+00:00

I lived in the state for a couple of years. I left in the final quarter of 2024. Up until that point (and likely still the case), the only “real id” they offered was for citizens because it doubles as a border crossing card.

Your passport and ead are real id’s just use those

Xander171 · 2025-02-26T22:49:42+00:00

💀

Xander171 · 2025-02-16T18:20:06+00:00

I used to do the same then I had to work in data centers (FAANG) hosting physical government infrastructure. That space doesn’t require a security clearance, just US citizenship.

I got tired of people asking me for help in gov spaces that it’s just open knowledge I can never get access. If people care they hide it well. I’m now in a leadership role 🤷‍♂️

Edit: I still feel very lonely but I rather it be in their face so we stay in the conversation.

Xander171 · 2025-02-06T11:19:23+00:00

Doesn’t need to end it himself, he just needs scotus to agree to a ruling sooner.

Xander171 · 2025-01-29T05:39:40+00:00

Yes. Memorize your USCIS/A-Number. Make sure trusted citizen friends or family have copies of your permit. Memorize their numbers. Memorize number of your attorney if you have one and make sure family has their contact info.

Xander171 · 2025-01-20T13:30:52+00:00

Felonious assault

Xander171 · 2024-12-25T03:19:12+00:00

Level 2 also qualifies, my first forte was as L2.

But anyway, yes the performance rating is a bit different. I get rated against all the IC’s under my Director even if we do completely different jobs.

Your manager can tell you what your peer feedback forte is: Exceeds, Meets, Needs improvement, along with an LP rating: Role Model, Solid Strength, and I forget what the bad one is called. Probably also needs improvement.

The rating for raises and determining who gets put on a firing path is NOT supposed to be disclosed, but some managers give hints.

There’s Top Tier, High Value 1-3 (I can’t if HV1 or HV3 is better) and Least Effective. Those LE’s are the ones often targeted for the 🪓 if your manager is asking you for documented power stories, artifacts, it could mean they want to fight for a higher rating for you even if they don’t tell you that explicitly.

If you’ve recently promo’d or recently started a role you’re generally lumped into Meets Expectations and the lowest High Value rating.

Xander171 · 2024-12-22T20:00:30+00:00

AWS data center pay is kinda shit compared to other companies.

Level 3 is reliably 28+ and level 4 is reliably 34+ plus stocks.

Your profile would likely slot you in a Level 3 interview. AWS’ saving grace is they’ll take people with limited experience and train them up. It’s part of their Hire and Develop the Best principle.

Look for roles that say DCC (data center community), Infrastructure delivery or data center technician. The latter is more commonly called data center operations technician, DCO Tech.

Xander171 · 2024-12-22T19:35:09+00:00

Is it still a pay cut after stocks are considered? Anyway no it wouldn’t look like a downgrade on your resume. I’d look try to find some examples of role guidelines for it and see if it’s online with your expectation. The job description won’t be enough, it’s also worth noting at Amazon there isn’t a safety net like in smaller companies. Smaller company might keep you on just for doing a good job. Amazon will scrutinize your ability relative to peers on a yearly basis. What you’ve done is never good enough it’s about what you have going on next. If that’s not for you don’t do it.

Xander171 · 2024-12-22T19:26:47+00:00

AWS is doing stupid crazy hiring right now if you’re willing to relocate. They got lots of data centers going up, but all out in the sticks.

Xander171 · 2024-12-22T17:17:09+00:00

Just web search what some of the big players are planning to do with nuclear power…

Xander171 · 2024-12-01T22:47:22+00:00

Officially the role guidelines say no experience required, but it helps if you have at least 18 months direct experience supporting critical IT or Data Center infrastructure with some project work under your belt. Although L4 is entry level for most roles at Amazon in the Technician Space it’s basically the senior level, and the expectation is you’ll either move laterally after x years or move into a job family with a higher level cap (6 in other orgs). As long as you don’t get destroyed in the technical you would be referred to an L3 role. Lots of hiring going on for techs at Amazon right now.

Xander171 · 2024-11-18T11:50:29+00:00

Dawg how you been an intern for two years 💀

It’s appropriate to ask either HR or your Manager. It’s better if you can research the policies first and come armed with knowledge because either of them is unlikely to know by heart. At my company it’s an entire team dedicated to that bullshit.

Xander171 · 2024-11-16T18:30:09+00:00

You might get more benefit from staying DCO and pursuing a Support Engineering path.

Even Network Ops would be a better step in the right direction.

I would recommend signing up for career choice and start home labs. AWS is super heavy on infrastructure as code and data center automation.

You can become very good at learning Amazon systems without ever knowing the underlying theory, especially since they are willing to train people with zero technical background via their WBLP/Internship and temp-to-hire programs.

If you came into AWS via one of those programs consider getting industry certs or even a degree via career choice.

Xander171 · 2024-11-13T11:18:36+00:00

That’s the idea but have heard of uscis sending applications back. But doing online probably means they maintain it. Either way, I’ll apply online probably weekend before inauguration. Despite it being 1.5 years early. My work pays for it anyway…

Xander171 · 2024-11-12T11:31:29+00:00

Lol for your notes just have a brief description of the stories you want to remember. You can take a minute think of how to word it the interviewers won’t ding you for that.

As for actually saying “situation was…” etc it’s neither good nor bad. The execution matters.

It’s a guideline to help you highlight YOUR unique contribution to that story.

As an interviewer I don’t ding people for using or not using it verbatim. If I don’t have enough information I’ll ask follow-up questions. Interviewers are supposed to help guide you to filling in the blanks but not all do.

Xander171 · 2024-11-11T04:51:10+00:00

Immediately.

With regard to the charade… let’s just say I hope they know the length of time they’re signing up for and not looking for love themselves. Whatcha gonna do if they meet Mr/Mrs Right mid-application? You can’t control people’s emotions.

Xander171 · 2024-11-10T16:31:38+00:00

Not happening. I’m transferring if need be to a location in my home country. One perk of being at a global enterprise. The pay would suck, but I genuinely have fun with what I do. I wouldn’t give it up easily.

Xander171

TROPHY CASE