DDON

Hello everyone,
 
i wanted to quickly share that I have since arrived in the US:
 
- Arrival in the US: 26th October 2024
- SSN for the whole family received exactly 2 weeks after arrival
- Green Cards for the whole family received on 18th November 2024.
 
Good luck and best wishes to everyone waiting for next steps.

Hello everyone,
 
i wanted to quickly share that I have since arrived in the US:
 
- Arrival in the US: 26th October 2024
- SSN for the whole family received exactly 2 weeks after arrival
- Green Cards for the whole family received on 18th November 2024.
 
Good luck and best wishes to everyone waiting for next steps.

Hello everyone,
 
i wanted to quickly share that I have since arrived in the US:
 
- Arrival in the US: 26th October 2024
- SSN for the whole family received exactly 2 weeks after arrival
- Green Cards for the whole family received on 18th November 2024.
 
Good luck and best wishes to everyone waiting for next steps.

I am moving without a job in hand, but I have only recently completed an expatriate assignment and therefore moving with plenty savings that’ll last for 1-2 years! As @appleblossom keep recommending, it’s very important to move with plenty savings, I’m recommending moving with at least a year’s salary ‘due to expensive accommodation, private medical, car, etc. Cost of living is quite scary right now.
 
Adding US number and address and adding your permanent resident status does not really make a difference since they can tell you’re outside the US from your computer’s IP address, and even applications via LinkedIn the recruiters and hiring managers can tell you’re applying from outside the US.
 
Best thing is to contact your network in the US in addition to submitting your applications. My previous employer has the HQ in the US so we are discussing open positions in the US office. 
 
It’s not easy securing a job offer whilst you’re still outside the US, most recruiters and hiring managers want you to be in the US with your perm resid status before they can offer you anything. May be they are also trying to avoid responsibility for your relocation, not sure, it almost looks as if they don’t believe you are a perm resident, lol.
 
Finally, keep all hope alive, network, network, keep applying, and may be after the elections, things will get better. Also, location in the US matters a lot. Where do you plan to live in the US? If you’re into tech, software, AI etc (San Francisco), if you’re into oil and gas, energy then Texas, Colorado, Delaware, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma. If you’re into Pharma then go to states that are pharma hub like Boston, New Jersey etc. if you’re into Agriculture etc, go to Bakersfield in California. Location matters a lot. Be flexible, don’t try to force yourself to live in a particular location. Go to where you’ll have loads of opportunities and where your area of expertise is highly sought after. Best wishes!

100 percent! But I want to add that - you can change your LinkedIn location to the US state you want to move to and indicate that you are open to work, also use a US address and cell number on your resume. This is what I did even before I was DQ'd and had multiple interviews even before I arrived the US. The job market is not the best, but there are lots of incredible opportunities and these days everyone interviews online and will only ask you to come in-person at the very final stage - if needed. Goodluck!

I am moving without a job in hand, but I have only recently completed an expatriate assignment and therefore moving with plenty savings that’ll last for 1-2 years! As @appleblossom keep recommending, it’s very important to move with plenty savings, I’m recommending moving with at least a year’s salary ‘due to expensive accommodation, private medical, car, etc. Cost of living is quite scary right now.
 
Adding US number and address and adding your permanent resident status does not really make a difference since they can tell you’re outside the US from your computer’s IP address, and even applications via LinkedIn the recruiters and hiring managers can tell you’re applying from outside the US.
 
Best thing is to contact your network in the US in addition to submitting your applications. My previous employer has the HQ in the US so we are discussing open positions in the US office. 
 
It’s not easy securing a job offer whilst you’re still outside the US, most recruiters and hiring managers want you to be in the US with your perm resid status before they can offer you anything. May be they are also trying to avoid responsibility for your relocation, not sure, it almost looks as if they don’t believe you are a perm resident, lol.
 
Finally, keep all hope alive, network, network, keep applying, and may be after the elections, things will get better. Also, location in the US matters a lot. Where do you plan to live in the US? If you’re into tech, software, AI etc (San Francisco), if you’re into oil and gas, energy then Texas, Colorado, Delaware, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma. If you’re into Pharma then go to states that are pharma hub like Boston, New Jersey etc. if you’re into Agriculture etc, go to Bakersfield in California. Location matters a lot. Be flexible, don’t try to force yourself to live in a particular location. Go to where you’ll have loads of opportunities and where your area of expertise is highly sought after. Best wishes!

Ah, you'll be hoping for the opposite result to me in November then - I'm in renewable energy. 😂 It is crazy expensive here but I couldn't live in Texas, that was a location option but not for us. 
 
To do your timeline you need to go to your profile, click on your name on the top right and it's there. Then it means anybody searching can filter by just EB1/EB2 applicants and get all of our timelines which is super helpful. 
 

@Jumboeggs you do not need to have a job offer before your interview for IV for your approved i140, please don’t worry too much about it. If asked during your interview, you could just tell the CO you’ll start applying for jobs and also network once you receive your visa and arrive in the US. At my interview appointment, the gentleman that checked my original docs before my actual interview, asked me if I am employed and I replied him “not at the moment”, and he said “no problems”. The CO who interviewed me didn’t even ask me if I have a job offer, so pls don’t stress yourself too much.
 
Try to relax and focus on your consular processing stage now that your i140 has been approved for EB-1A. I believe you’ll be ok, it’s natural to be anxious about all these things, but in the end you’ll be ok.

I was asked the following 5 questions by a really nice lady:
- Tell me about your educational qualifications for this visa category, and your area of expertise.
- Do you plan to continue work in your area of expertise in the US?
- Is this your first marriage?
- Are these 2 boys your only kids?
- Apart from the U.K. and ‘xx’ where else have you lived?
 
I have compiled below questions based on other people’s experiences:
 
- What are your plans after you land in the US?
- Do you have a job offer in the US?
- What do you do for a job?
- Will you continue on the same field once you move to the US?
- Why do you have the skills for this visa?
- Where did you get your Ph.D.? What year did you get your Ph.D? What was your Ph.D thesis?
- Where do you plan to stay in the US?
- Do you plan to work in the academia or industry in the US?
- How will you support yourself when you enter the US?
- What is your extraordinary ability ?
- How long have you been in your profession?
- Tell me about yourself

I was asked the following 5 questions by a really nice lady:
- Tell me about your educational qualifications for this visa category, and your area of expertise.
- Do you plan to continue work in your area of expertise in the US?
- Is this your first marriage?
- Are these 2 boys your only kids?
- Apart from the U.K. and ‘xx’ where else have you lived?
 
I have compiled below questions based on other people’s experiences:
 
- What are your plans after you land in the US?
- Do you have a job offer in the US?
- What do you do for a job?
- Will you continue on the same field once you move to the US?
- Why do you have the skills for this visa?
- Where did you get your Ph.D.? What year did you get your Ph.D? What was your Ph.D thesis?
- Where do you plan to stay in the US?
- Do you plan to work in the academia or industry in the US?
- How will you support yourself when you enter the US?
- What is your extraordinary ability ?
- How long have you been in your profession?
- Tell me about yourself

I am moving without a job in hand, but I have only recently completed an expatriate assignment and therefore moving with plenty savings that’ll last for 1-2 years! As @appleblossom keep recommending, it’s very important to move with plenty savings, I’m recommending moving with at least a year’s salary ‘due to expensive accommodation, private medical, car, etc. Cost of living is quite scary right now.
 
Adding US number and address and adding your permanent resident status does not really make a difference since they can tell you’re outside the US from your computer’s IP address, and even applications via LinkedIn the recruiters and hiring managers can tell you’re applying from outside the US.
 
Best thing is to contact your network in the US in addition to submitting your applications. My previous employer has the HQ in the US so we are discussing open positions in the US office. 
 
It’s not easy securing a job offer whilst you’re still outside the US, most recruiters and hiring managers want you to be in the US with your perm resid status before they can offer you anything. May be they are also trying to avoid responsibility for your relocation, not sure, it almost looks as if they don’t believe you are a perm resident, lol.
 
Finally, keep all hope alive, network, network, keep applying, and may be after the elections, things will get better. Also, location in the US matters a lot. Where do you plan to live in the US? If you’re into tech, software, AI etc (San Francisco), if you’re into oil and gas, energy then Texas, Colorado, Delaware, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma. If you’re into Pharma then go to states that are pharma hub like Boston, New Jersey etc. if you’re into Agriculture etc, go to Bakersfield in California. Location matters a lot. Be flexible, don’t try to force yourself to live in a particular location. Go to where you’ll have loads of opportunities and where your area of expertise is highly sought after. Best wishes!

I am moving without a job in hand, but I have only recently completed an expatriate assignment and therefore moving with plenty savings that’ll last for 1-2 years! As @appleblossom keep recommending, it’s very important to move with plenty savings, I’m recommending moving with at least a year’s salary ‘due to expensive accommodation, private medical, car, etc. Cost of living is quite scary right now.
 
Adding US number and address and adding your permanent resident status does not really make a difference since they can tell you’re outside the US from your computer’s IP address, and even applications via LinkedIn the recruiters and hiring managers can tell you’re applying from outside the US.
 
Best thing is to contact your network in the US in addition to submitting your applications. My previous employer has the HQ in the US so we are discussing open positions in the US office. 
 
It’s not easy securing a job offer whilst you’re still outside the US, most recruiters and hiring managers want you to be in the US with your perm resid status before they can offer you anything. May be they are also trying to avoid responsibility for your relocation, not sure, it almost looks as if they don’t believe you are a perm resident, lol.
 
Finally, keep all hope alive, network, network, keep applying, and may be after the elections, things will get better. Also, location in the US matters a lot. Where do you plan to live in the US? If you’re into tech, software, AI etc (San Francisco), if you’re into oil and gas, energy then Texas, Colorado, Delaware, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma. If you’re into Pharma then go to states that are pharma hub like Boston, New Jersey etc. if you’re into Agriculture etc, go to Bakersfield in California. Location matters a lot. Be flexible, don’t try to force yourself to live in a particular location. Go to where you’ll have loads of opportunities and where your area of expertise is highly sought after. Best wishes!

I am moving without a job in hand, but I have only recently completed an expatriate assignment and therefore moving with plenty savings that’ll last for 1-2 years! As @appleblossom keep recommending, it’s very important to move with plenty savings, I’m recommending moving with at least a year’s salary ‘due to expensive accommodation, private medical, car, etc. Cost of living is quite scary right now.
 
Adding US number and address and adding your permanent resident status does not really make a difference since they can tell you’re outside the US from your computer’s IP address, and even applications via LinkedIn the recruiters and hiring managers can tell you’re applying from outside the US.
 
Best thing is to contact your network in the US in addition to submitting your applications. My previous employer has the HQ in the US so we are discussing open positions in the US office. 
 
It’s not easy securing a job offer whilst you’re still outside the US, most recruiters and hiring managers want you to be in the US with your perm resid status before they can offer you anything. May be they are also trying to avoid responsibility for your relocation, not sure, it almost looks as if they don’t believe you are a perm resident, lol.
 
Finally, keep all hope alive, network, network, keep applying, and may be after the elections, things will get better. Also, location in the US matters a lot. Where do you plan to live in the US? If you’re into tech, software, AI etc (San Francisco), if you’re into oil and gas, energy then Texas, Colorado, Delaware, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma. If you’re into Pharma then go to states that are pharma hub like Boston, New Jersey etc. if you’re into Agriculture etc, go to Bakersfield in California. Location matters a lot. Be flexible, don’t try to force yourself to live in a particular location. Go to where you’ll have loads of opportunities and where your area of expertise is highly sought after. Best wishes!

Thanks all.
- EB-1A petition approved 30th March 2024
- I was DQ’ed in May 2024
- Received IL 30th July 2024
- Interview on 30th Sept
- IV issued on 2nd Oct 2024
- Passports received via DX premium delivery on Friday 4th Oct.
 

Hello everyone, for those (EB1A) waiting for news after 1st Oct, relax, I think you’ll be fine. Attended my appointment on 30th Sept, docs checked ok, interview went well, but I was given a form with refusal (Administrative Procesing) ticked, due to visa availability issues. They held unto my passport, and family’s. The CO, a very nice lady, kindly explained that my visa should be issued after 1st October, and that I should expect my passport (and family’s) within 1-2 weeks. I thanked her, went home with the form, checked online status which showed refused, next day status changed to administrative processing, and today status shows issued. We are waiting for our passports, hopefully should be with us before this Friday since we paid the embass’s courier for premium delivery.
 
Thanks everyone for all your updates which have been very helpful, and kept us all hopeful and alive throughout the waiting period.
 
@appleblossom many thanks for your very quick replies to every question, you’re amazing. Happy days ahead. Best wishes.

Thank you @appleblossom. 

Thanks @Lan22, this is perfect, plenty time to sort vacs out before this expensive Medicals.