Looking for work... Driving me crazy!!!!!!!

[doodlebug 3]

I was hoping the same... but for some reason he says he doesnt like buses..... or trains.... He wants a car asap.. but I just dont know how we can swing that right now.. and as of now.. I only have one parking slot.. I do have another.. but it is where i have my "garden" and my mom bought us a patio set so we can dine outside like a nice family

my mom bought him a map when he first came here.. he hasnt look at it yet

Did he drive in Alex? Usama doesn't even know how to drive (thank God since I'd have to undo all of the bad driving skills from Egypt!!! ) so he's always taken the subway/busses/mini vans, etc.

[deemabrouk 0]

I was hoping the same... but for some reason he says he doesnt like buses..... or trains.... He wants a car asap.. but I just dont know how we can swing that right now.. and as of now.. I only have one parking slot.. I do have another.. but it is where i have my "garden" and my mom bought us a patio set so we can dine outside like a nice family

my mom bought him a map when he first came here.. he hasnt look at it yet

Did he drive in Alex? Usama doesn't even know how to drive (thank God since I'd have to undo all of the bad driving skills from Egypt!!! ) so he's always taken the subway/busses/mini vans, etc.

no he doesnt... maybe 10+ years ago he had a car.... I dont know if its a language issue.. He was like well where do I put the money... how do I know where I am going...

I told him to tell the driver.. and they would tell him when they reached the spot

and then again he stated he doesnt like buses

[doodlebug 3]

I was hoping the same... but for some reason he says he doesnt like buses..... or trains.... He wants a car asap.. but I just dont know how we can swing that right now.. and as of now.. I only have one parking slot.. I do have another.. but it is where i have my "garden" and my mom bought us a patio set so we can dine outside like a nice family

my mom bought him a map when he first came here.. he hasnt look at it yet

Did he drive in Alex? Usama doesn't even know how to drive (thank God since I'd have to undo all of the bad driving skills from Egypt!!! ) so he's always taken the subway/busses/mini vans, etc.

no he doesnt... maybe 10+ years ago he had a car.... I dont know if its a language issue.. He was like well where do I put the money... how do I know where I am going...

I told him to tell the driver.. and they would tell him when they reached the spot

and then again he stated he doesnt like buses

I think you and the kids should go with him some night/weekend and make it fun. Show him the map of the T with all the color coding, show him where to put the token or swipe the Charlie card and take a few trips around the city. He probably just needs to do it with you a few times until he gets the hang of it.

[cairogal 0]

My husband understood the legality of it all, but because very depressed during this long wait. The work auth never came before the green card, nor did the permission to travel outside of the US. I found that my opinion on anything was automatically discounted, and that he didn't seem to listen when I pointed out that something was possible or impossible.

I WISH I could have gotten him to volunteer. Though his english is quite good, he needs lots of help w/ spelling and writing. He was rather arrogant and decided he didn't need an ESL class. Most people say he's a fluent speaker with a good accent, though as an ESL teacher myself, I notice how much he doesn't understand, but nods his head in agreement all the time.

[deemabrouk 0]

My husband understood the legality of it all, but because very depressed during this long wait. The work auth never came before the green card, nor did the permission to travel outside of the US. I found that my opinion on anything was automatically discounted, and that he didn't seem to listen when I pointed out that something was possible or impossible.

I WISH I could have gotten him to volunteer. Though his english is quite good, he needs lots of help w/ spelling and writing. He was rather arrogant and decided he didn't need an ESL class. Most people say he's a fluent speaker with a good accent, though as an ESL teacher myself, I notice how much he doesn't understand, but nods his head in agreement all the time.

so then.. what happened?

[doodlebug 3]

nor did the permission to travel outside of the US.

I thought that a K3 could travel outside of the US immediately? We're planning on going to Toronto soon after he comes here.

[Teacher 0]

If you're looking for free English Language classes then try the Literacy Council. It's free and sometimes you can even get one on one tutoring. Retired teachers,etc. volunteer their time.

[ya falaha! 0]

I found this on the USCIS website...

Can I Travel Outside the United States?

If you are in K-3 or K-4 status, you may travel using your unexpired K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant visa to travel outside of the United States and return, even if you are applying for adjustment of status simultaneously.

nor did the permission to travel outside of the US.

I thought that a K3 could travel outside of the US immediately? We're planning on going to Toronto soon after he comes here.

[deemabrouk 0]

If you're looking for free English Language classes then try the Literacy Council. It's free and sometimes you can even get one on one tutoring. Retired teachers,etc. volunteer their time.

this says only IL ........

[UmmSqueakster 54]

In addition to quashing husbands' wild dreams, my husband is also available to chat regarding the importance of ESL classes, volunteering and taking the bus. PM me if anyone is interested. The only caviat is that what he says is confidential. He's a private person, and doesn't want his business all over VJ.

In other news, make sure your DH actually knows how to read a map. While it may be second nature to us in the US, you'd be suprised how many people don't know how to interpret them.

[cairogal 0]

so then.. what happened?

Some asked about the k3, but he entered on a fiance visa, because our attorney told us it was processing much faster than the spousal visas and that we would get work auth before we got the green card, so that would tide us over...never happened. The money we spent on attorneys...blah.

My husband went to visit some Egyptian friends just before the green card interview happened and that seemed to rejuvenate the soul. He ended up not working from September-mid July. Once he could get a license, buy a car (he was smart with his 'mother's' money and got an economical used Hyundai), find a job, it got better. He worked in Fitness and was heavily papered compared to his young colleagues. I think that was disheartening. He changed career paths and is now work in guest relations for a Best Western, hoping to make hospitality management a career. 2 years ago he said he wanted to do an MBA but didn't understand that most people spend 2 years preparing for and applying to programmes. Here we are...two years later...no sign of a MBA in sight.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

as I type this.. I have him on the phone with a loan agent that speaks arabic... Inshallah this will do the trick.. I told the man to please explain to my SO what it will take for him to get a loan... starting from getting a SSN..

We found this guy out a Islamic Arabic News paper

http://www.nationalcitymortgage.com/bwsb/n...p;LOID=776819...

LOL.. I know he is talking about me but what I dont know

The link didn't work. Would you consider Shortening it at www.tinyurl.com, and reposting it, please?

Edited July 31, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[cairogal 0]

I found this on the USCIS website...

Can I Travel Outside the United States?

If you are in K-3 or K-4 status, you may travel using your unexpired K-3/K-4 nonimmigrant visa to travel outside of the United States and return, even if you are applying for adjustment of status simultaneously.

QUOTE(doodlebug @ Jul 30 2007, 02:54 PM)

QUOTE(cairogal @ Jul 30 2007, 02:51 PM)

nor did the permission to travel outside of the US.

I thought that a K3 could travel outside of the US immediately? We're planning on going to Toronto soon after he comes here.

You're good to go, Moody. My husband entered on a K1 that took about 7 1/2 months to change over to a K-3.

[deemabrouk 0]

as I type this.. I have him on the phone with a loan agent that speaks arabic... Inshallah this will do the trick.. I told the man to please explain to my SO what it will take for him to get a loan... starting from getting a SSN..

We found this guy out a Islamic Arabic News paper

http://www.nationalcitymortgage.com/bwsb/n...p;LOID=776819...

LOL.. I know he is talking about me but what I dont know

The link didn't work. Would you consider Shortening it at www.tinyurl.com, and reposting it, please?

After the nationalcitymortgage.com... add this...

/bwsb/ncm/consultant.aspx?BranchID=474&LOID=776819

His name is Tarek Elbeshbeshy.. I dont know if you can do a search for the reps

Edited July 31, 2007 by deemabrouk

[Carolyn 1]

Great discussion, ladies...

My husband has now been here for a little over 2 years. He was not able to work for the first 9 months (temp. EAD from JFK was useless due to waiting a month for SSN, our wedding and honeymoon), which just about drove him crazy.

When he finally got his employment authorization it was VERY difficult to find a job. You'd think he would be qualified for all kinds of positions, but it seems like nobody even considered his education and experience since it wasn't in the US.

He was so excited when he finally got his first job, but he quit after two days (with my firm support). His job was at a local Palestinian restaurant and the owner was a unpleasant slave-driver who paid only $7 a hour, but promised to make my husband a manager "soon." To make matters worse, the owner was constantly swearing in Arabic and making rude, racist remarks about customers (especially Jews). The Mexican guy working there just put his head down and worked hard, but Simo understood everything the guy was saying. Good riddance--Simo quit and we have never gone back to that restaurant, even though the food is fabulous and the guy had catered our wedding.

His second job is the one he still has. He had met a friend of mine at a party and she called him up to offer him a job at a really nice Country Club. They are very nice to him but it doesn't pay too well and it's a long drive to work. I appreciate that he now has a strong job history. a small paycheck and good benefits, but I hope that he can pick a direction for a career path soon!

Simo has so many ideas--some that sound an awful lot like others on this board. He would like to start his own business, he would like to go back to school, but he changes his mind every other week. I would be supportive of anything that he thinks through.

My assessment: be very patient!

Cheers,

Carolyn