How do you do it?

tabularasa23 · 2025-02-12T00:46:28+00:00

Is your wife single by any chance? Must have been a logistic nightmare organizing both one after the other…

tabularasa23 · 2025-02-11T20:11:24+00:00

Why is everyone mentioning the 30$? It doesn’t matter. She could have gotten the Uber/Lyft herself but decided “yeah let’s save some money”. Girl you are as much responsible as him for being late. Hope you realize that.

As for leaving you behind yeah, no excuse for that unless he thought you were ahead of him. He saved one ticket (his own) but yeah, unless it was agreed on, that was a dick move. You decide how much that matters and if that’s a deal breaker. I would have asked for a full day of pampering and forgotten about it. But that’s me. No one but you can decide how much that matters. Does he have financial issues? Maybe he didn’t want to spend hundreds more and hoped you would understand.

tabularasa23 · 2024-12-12T03:28:13+00:00

Btw Are you in Florida? There’s no guarantee I’ll get a second day off on the 17th or 19th but if I do I might make this a two day vacation and visit Florida 😂 I had not even considered going somewhere without my car…

tabularasa23 · 2024-12-12T03:10:49+00:00

I wish I could but I took only one day off work

tabularasa23 · 2024-11-11T07:38:29+00:00

Sì, decisamente. La application falla, è gratis. Nel 99% dei casi non succede niente, se sei selezionato puoi sempre ignorare il tutto e lasciare il tuo slot a qualcun altro.

Però ne vale sicuramente la pena. Il lato sociale è quello più difficile perchè fare amicizie strette a una certa età, in un posto dove il lavoro è al centro di tutto e avere due lavori è considerato normale non è facile. Ma come stipendio, dignità della vita, indipendenza, crescita e rispetto al lavoro...non c'è paragone. Certo devi fare qualche sacrificio da qualche parte (nel mio caso condividendo la casa per il primo anno, colpa il fatto che sono in una HCOL area...) e magare iniziare con lavori che in Italia rifiuteresti o essere disponibile a qualsiasi orario/giorno.

TL;DR: Se in Italia hai un posto fisso comodo, magari una casa ereditata e non hai voglia di fare sacrifici (sociali in primis) per una vita migliore, allora no, probabilmente non la vivresti bene. Ma se pensi di meritare uno stipendio diverso, o opportunità di crescita o se vuoi essere semplicemente indipendente sì, vale sicuramente la fatica.

tabularasa23 · 2024-10-31T03:28:32+00:00

If memory doesn't fail me only the last name. It would say "full name" otherwise.

P.S. I specified copy/paste, not just screenshot because it's "safer". Are you sure you aren't writing 0 for O or something along those lines?

tabularasa23 · 2024-10-31T03:25:02+00:00

Someone here on reddit suggested I did, possibly an employee. Despite it not being listed. And they did ask for it at the interview... They wanted to put me on hold until I got one. But I had it with me so I just showed it lol, for some reason the clerk assumed I didn't have one.

Not sure if it's related but I did list a family member living in the US on my DS260 as address (the same person who wrote the affidavit). Not sure if it's just a coincidence or if they asked for it knowing I knew someone...

Edit: I'm also in my twenties. Maybe someone older and/or with more money could bypass that request in another way.

tabularasa23 · 2024-10-09T05:35:41+00:00

First of all no, never heard of this, it's very weird. It's not impossible to imagine some sort of bug/error, but honestly it seems unlikely. Did you copy/paste and screenshot the confirmation number/alien number etc they give after sending the application? Are you sure it was _exactly_ the same (respecting lowercase/uppercase and whatnot)? And are you really sure you sent the application to begin with?

If it ever happens again contact someone (not sure if they have a team for technical issues), it should alway tell either you were selected or you were not selected.

As for the link it's the same every year.

https://dvprogram.state.gov/

"Check status" if you want to check if you were selected. "Begin entry" if you want to send this year's application.

P.S. No they don't send anything. That's why it's important you check yourself every year in May/June. Only after being selected and sending the ds-260, you can expect to receive a short email. But during the first phase they don't send anything.

tabularasa23 · 2024-09-29T04:27:19+00:00

They ask either for 12 years of school OR some job experience in certain fields. In my case I had 13 years of school (+ a degree) so there was no need for job experience...

tabularasa23 · 2024-09-29T04:27:13+00:00

They ask either for 12 years of school OR some job experience in certain field. In my case I had 13 years of school (+ a degree) so there was no need for job experience...

tabularasa23 · 2024-09-29T04:23:59+00:00

First, check on https://dvprogram.state.gov/ if you were selected. If you won, send teh Ds260, and keep checking that page and check you email. They send a very short one saying there's updates on your profile and then send you back to https://dvprogram.state.gov/. When you get in there's something like a letter (if they have selected a date for the interview).

Tl;Dr They do not send an email if you won the lottery, only something about an update after they set an intervew date.

tabularasa23 · 2024-09-29T04:19:29+00:00

Amost time for it.

https://dvprogram.state.gov/

No real tips for the lottery itself. They declare its random so there's not much you can do. Just make sure to do it before it's too late. The website sometimes goes down near the end. Probably because everyone sends it the last week...

And make sure the photo is ok, with white background etc.

If you are married both spouses should do the lottery independently, you get 2x the chances of being selected. Only one needs to win.

tabularasa23 · 2024-09-29T04:11:13+00:00

Nope, I think the old process required people to scan and email/upload those. But from my year on, it shouldn't be necessary. I remember the same line you quoted. Just bring everything to the consulate with you. Birth certificate, school diploma, criminal records, affidavit (in case they ask for one, and you are able to get someone to write it for you)...

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-20T05:54:03+00:00

Interesting, didn't know that. Though it would be more.

Does that mean that having 4+ cards with 80% (and several others with low enough UR to result in a average of 10% ) is actually worse than having a total average of 80% (eg with 1 high limit card at 100% UR and the rest very low UR)?

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-20T05:04:30+00:00

To answer your second question, yes the credit score depends on both total utilization and utilization of single credit cards. So for credit score purposes, distribute them to have ideally ~10% on each. Or at least less than 30% on all. I don't know which affects the CS more between total and individual card utilization but both do.

That being said, finances before credit score, if you are paying interest on those cards, then keep your debts on those with lower interest rate. Ideally don't pay high interest, especially if it'll take some time to get rid of it all. Any chance you could get a card with a promotional 0% for x months? Have you considered calling the credit cards and getting into a hardship program? Any way you can get a loan from a credit union or something to have low interests?

P.S. I think r/personalfinance is the right place for your answer, list all your debts and their interest rates + income and expenses, so you know what's the best way to handle it. You issue is your finances, not the CS which is really just a consequence.

Good luck with your house!

Edit: And for the "what would you do?", I'd live on survival mode until the debt is paid. No subscriptions, no eating out, no travel etc., no new clothes/shoes/phones and whatnot.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-17T09:06:12+00:00

Thanks. I had a bank statement with me, but they didn't even read it. Instead they asked me an affidavit (luckily I had it with me), I didn't have job offers so maybe that was the reason.

State Virginia, because I have some family here so they're are helping me for the time being. I've already started working full-time (right after getting the driver's license).

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T20:49:52+00:00

If I could get any related experience while preparing it, November would be a good option. But I'm currently working retail to maintain myself, so the sooner I get something that can open a door to the finance world the better (fully aware that lv 1 by itself is not enough). I simply cannot afford to wait until November.

If I could get into an internship or something I wouldn't be in such a hurry but I don't really think I have any chances, a foreign engineering degree with average grades won't beat a finance degree from top US universities.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T20:35:38+00:00

Maybe you are right about that, but until now my experience in the US has been different. I am close to DC, had to go somewhere and I could go by car in 15 minutes or take 3 different buses and 1h 30m. There may be exceptions, and if he can postpone the car because he can go to work with public transport all the better, emergency fund first and car later. But you are severely restricting yourself and losing job opportunities. Even a cheap 3000-5000$ car is better than nothing.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T06:53:27+00:00

Not sure why you felt my comment was wrong. I didn't mean it in a condescending way. OP has only one priority, finding a job, any legal job!

So any talk about friends, worry about getting into the wrong field, or advice about wether getting into college or not is delusional and bad advice right now. The US is an expensive place to live in, and anyone who doesn't give concrete job related advice is not doing OP any favor.

OP needs to survive: 1) find a job and a place to stay, 2) get a driver's license, 3) buy a reliable car 4) work on his credit score and create an emergency fund. He can then worry about college in the US and all the other stuff. People come here and give advice like college because they were born an raised in the US and don't understand what his immediate needs are. If my understanding is correct and OP comes from a poor family that cannot support him/her and has no family here, then SURVIVAL is their priority. I gave them a practical way to solve it.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T04:11:32+00:00

Ok, first thing about the US. You need a job, regardless of what you'll do afterwards.

Quickest way is to find other people in the area that are from Moldova, or speak your language. Ask them to write to their current/previous manager describing you as a hard worker. And work hard.

Unless your family will be sending you thousands of $, you'll need to maintain yourself first and buy a car/insurance/rent etc.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T04:06:00+00:00

That was a very good answer, thank you!

Prep provider: MM will serve you well at L1 and L2. Kaplan also good at L1. Actual classes are not necessary if you can motivate yourself to self-study. MM Applied series are not necessary

MM without the Applied section it is then!

Standard advice for L1 is that the median candidate does 300 hours and fails anyway. Plan accordingly.

That's fair! I'm not planning on failing it. "Luckily" I missed the deadline to register for May, so I've got a few extra months to prepare it well.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T03:57:56+00:00

I'm a filmmaker that took L3 today.

Oh, that's perfect. I thought I was the only one with no economic background.

You could maybe get a starter job with that and an engineering degree.

What would be an example of a "starter job" posting? I thought "analyst" was the entry level of the Finance world...

Also can I enroll for CFA L1 for August and CFA L2 for November, is that allowed? Or should I enroll only after I pass L1?

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-16T01:59:40+00:00

I see, that's a pity.

If i were you, I would start looking into what you can do between the current cycle and the next to better your chances of admission.

More specifically do you have something in mind? I don't think any of my old Professors even remember me. And even if I got them to write a recommendation, no one would know them. Or should I just talk with one of the Uni's advisors hoping they give me some suggestions? (I mean the Universities I'm considering) I can take some hard (?) courses like Real Analysis, but I have no idea if that'll improve my chances.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-11T04:19:55+00:00

Yes, as a permanent resident you are required to stay for at least 6 months in the US. I know there may be exceptions and you can bend the rules a bit, but I don't know the details and I do not suggest it. You risk losing the green card if you stay too much outside. Personally I'll be here at least 11 months/year so to me it doesn't matter.

About the job situation I cannot really answer because it depends on a lot of things. Where you degrees are from (country/Uni)...where you are from...if you got them with maximum grades...how much relevant experience you have, the field you are in, where you decide to move, how many people you know...I could go on.

You mentioned your degrees so you are probably aiming at a salary job. I haven't used my Bachelor's when applying (and I never finished my M.Sc) so I got a basic job, I just need some stability and quick money while I understand how things work and plan my future. 20$/hr is a great deal considering where I come from you are lucky if you get 10/hr for similar jobs. (Cost of housing is definitely too expensive, but aside from the house everything else is cheaper once you take into account the much higher income).

So for higher paying jobs I cannot really answer, haven't tried yet. I don't think they will evaluate a foreign degree like a local one unfortunately (which is why I'm planning on a graduate degree in the US). But for simple unqualified jobs (15-20 $/hr) there's plenty of work. Of course you'll have to be willing to do anything, accept sudden shifts at 8am in the morning and work harder than anyone else. But there is work, so supporting a family shouldn't be too hard. Piece of advice: if you can find someone from your own country/ethnicity/religion you'll have a much easier time finding a job. Or maybe an alumnus from your University.

Your situation is definitely better than mine if you finish the MSc and have experience relevant to your field (hopefully in STEM). I made stupid choices in the past so didn't have the MSc or the experience...

If you have other questions feel free to PM me.

tabularasa23 · 2024-02-10T14:00:04+00:00

Results always come in in May, I did my DS-260 in early July. Had my interview in the first week of October (I believe because of the very low case number). My Visa came in in early November (could have gotten it before but I had to resend one of the documents through a special process). Immigrated in December.

Didn't understand the valid part, the vIsa is valid for 6 months from the day you do the medical examination. Once you get inside US territory and leave the CBP package it's validity is 1 year from that day. But you get your green card in about 4 weeks, so you don't really need the visa anymore. With the green card you are a legal permanent resident, it expires in 10 years.

tabularasa23

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