Electronic Form I-94–Automation Started by CBP

 

Due to the Automation Process started by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) from 30th of April, 2013, USCIS has begun updating certain forms requesting applicants and petitioners to enter the admission number from their Form I-94 and/or their:

• Passport information, including passport number, country of issuance and expiration date; and
• Travel Document information, including Travel Document number, country of issuance and expiration date.

[Source – USCIS]

So, prior to this automation, the Form I-94 which was given to you by the airline staff to fill up and submit it to CBP at the port of entry, is not needed anymore.

You can pull your electronic Form I-94 in paper format from CBP’s website (www.cbp.gov/I94).

In USA on H-1B–International Driving Permit, Foreign Driver License, Interim Permit and Learner Permit

 

If you have your International Driving Permit - IDP along with your Foreign Country’s Driver License, you can drive up to 6 months or so, depending upon which state you are in. But you ultimately going to need a USA Driver License.

To start with, you will have to apply for a Learner’s Permit, which requires you to appear for a written test at your nearest DMV office. Depending upon which state you are in, you can download the State-Specific Driver’s Manual from State’s DMV Website. For example, for New York State, you can get the Driver Manual from New York’s DMV Website. Besides that you can also get a printed copy, free of charge, of the same Driver’s Manual from a nearby local DMV Office.

You need to have at least 6 points of proof of identity. For any new arrival, following can be used to accumulate 6 points:

1. Foreign Passport with I-94 – Primary ID – 4 points
2. Social Security Card – Secondary ID – 1 point
3. ATM or Debit Card – Secondary ID – 1 point

Click here for an Online 6 Point Document Selector for the state of New Jersey.

Fees (Source: NY DMV):

Once you successfully passed the Test, you will be given an Interim Permit immediately, which looks like:

Within two weeks you will receive the original Learner Permit in your mail box, which looks like:

Job Hunting in USA on H-1B–Preparing your Resume/CV

 

You should have to two sets of Resume/CV – a brief one and a detailed one. Wherever you apply, you should use your brief Resume/CV. If, they need more detail, they’ll ask you and then you can send them the detailed one.

You should not mention any personal information in your resume – like:

• Date of Birth
• Age
• Nationality
• Religion
• Race/Cast
• Passport#
• Marital Status
• Languages

As for your educational background – use terms that are known in USA. For example:

In USA	In Pakistan
School - Grades 1 - 5	Primary
School - Grades 6 - 8	Middle
School - Grades 9 & 10	Matric / Matriculation / SSC / O-Level
School - Grades 11 & 12	Inter / Intermediate / HSC / A-Level / FSC / FA

Do not mention the location of your School/College/University. For example:

B.S (Computer Engineering) in 2001 from Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi, Pakistan.

Similarly, in your work experience, do not mention the location of your workplace. For example:

Java Developer – May, 2001 to Mar, 2003 – Al Ghanem Net LLC, Karachi Pakistan.

If you have worked in companies who are known globally or in USA or have a representation in USA, then also mention them. For example:

Senior Software Engineer II – Northstar Technologies Inc. (Sibisoft Pvt Ltd)

Make sure, you have clearly mentioned following in your work experience:

• What role you played in each of the projects you worked on
• What technologies and tools you used in each of the projects

Make sure you’ve mentioned your primary email and mobile/cell number clearly on your resume/cv.

In USA on H-1B–First Thing First–Start Building Your Credit History or Credit Score

 

You need to open a Checking Account in a Bank. For those of you who are coming from Pakistan, what you call Current Account in Pakistan is called Checking Account in USA. To open a Checking Account you need your Original Passport and I-94. You will receive a Photo Debit Card, which you can use in ATMs, POS machines, Online Purchasing etc.

! Interest Alert ! Banks also have Saving Accounts which works on interest.

Similarly, you’ll have to apply for a Secure Credit Card. The only difference between a Secure Credit Card and a regular Credit Card is that you pay for your Credit Line in advance to safe the Bank from risk of defaulted payments. While in case regular Credit Card, Bank offers you a certain amount of Credit Line depending upon your Credit History or Credit Score. But, because you are new to USA and you don’t have any Credit History or Credit Score yet, so you have an option to “buy” your Credit Line for your “Secure” Credit Card. If you pay $2000, your Credit Line will be $2000, so on and so forth. Other than that, there’s no difference in a Secure and a regular Credit Card, both works exactly the same.

If you are short on money, than a minimum recommended Credit Line for a Secure Credit Card is $2000. Although, you can go for less than that too.

! Interest Alert ! In order to build your Credit History or Credit Score, you will have to do your purchases via Credit Card. So it is recommended to always synchronize your purchases with the amount you have in your Debit Card or Checking Account. Always, clear your Credit at the end of every month. Finally, if you are going through tough times and are short on money, stop using Credit Cards altogether, or you will be lost in the maze of interest with no outlet.

So what Credit Reporting/History/Score is?

Credit reporting is a system lenders use to decide whether or not to give you credit or a loan and how much interest they can charge you for it. Your credit report is based on the bills payments you have missed or been late paying, loans that you have paid off, plus your current amount of debt. A credit report contains information on where you work and live, how you pay your bills, and whether you've been sued, arrested, or filed for bankruptcy. Consumer Reporting Agencies (CRAs) gather this information and sell it to creditors, employers, insurers, and others.

Based on the information in your credit report, lenders calculate your credit score so they can assess the risk you pose to them before they decide whether they will give you credit. The higher your score, the less risk you pose to creditors. Your score can range anywhere from 300-850.. Aiming for a score in the 700s will put you in good standing. A high score, for example, makes it easier for you to obtain a loan, rent an apartment, or lower your insurance rate.[Source – USA.GOV]

How to improve your Credit Score?

Make sure you get your apartment, car, utilities, telephone and services in your name and make sure you pay all your bills and rent on time.

In USA on H-1B–First Thing First–Your Social Security

 

The first thing you should do is to get enroll for Social Security.

You need a Social Security number to get a job, collect Social Security benefits and receive some other government services. But you don't often need to show your Social Security card. Do not carry your card with you. Keep it in a safe place with your other important papers. [Source – SSA]

You only need I-94 and your original Passport, which will be a proof of your Age and your Identity, which is required to file an application for Social Security Number/Card.

You can locate the SSA offices or affiliates that are closest to you from - https://secure.ssa.gov/ICON/main.jsp

When you reach the relevant SSA office, you will have to fill an application form called, Form SS-5, see snapshot below:

Officials will ask some questions mostly related to your Age and/or Identity i.e. your Passport. If every thing is ok, then they will inform you about the time when you can expect the Social Security Card in your Mail.

A Social Security Card looks like:

Valid for work only with DHS Authorization.

New Birth Certificate in English from NADRA–Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

Why New Birth Certificate from NADRA?

Older birth certificates are in Urdu Language and in order for them to be used in processes in foreign countries (Green Card processing, for example), you need to get a new one issued from NADRA.

Location / Address / Map

Any NADRA Swift Registration Center NSRC.

NSRC @ Awami Markaz, Shahrah e Faisal, Karachi.

View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday through Saturday – 9:00 to 17:00 PST

Fees & Duration:

• Fee - PKR 50
• Duration – 5 days

Required Documents:

1. Photocopy of CNIC of your parents
2. Original Birth Certificate, if you have one
1. If you do not have original certificate, than an application from your parents, confirming the date of birth
3. Photocopy of your CNIC

Process:

1. Fill the form, shown above
2. Attach all the documents mentioned above
3. Submit the form and documents to any NSRC
4. Get the receipt

International Driving Permit–IDP– Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items

 

This post is a part of series of posts that makes up “Post H-1B Visa Stamping Action Items”.

Why International Driving Permit?

An International Driving Permit is not a driver license. The permit only verifies that you hold a valid driver license in your home country. Your foreign driver license, not the International Driving Permit, allows you to drive in USA.

You are not required to have an International Driving Permit to drive in USA, but the permit has value. The permit verifies, in several languages, that you have a valid foreign driver license. A police officer who cannot read the language on your foreign driver license can read the permit.

Location / Address / Map

View Larger Map

Timings:

Monday to Saturday - 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Friday - 9:00 am to 12:30 pm

Lunch Break - 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm

Required Documents:

1. Three recent Passport size photographs
2. Photocopy of Valid Passport and Valid Visa Copy
3. Photocopy of Local Driving License
4. Photocopy of CNIC
5. Medical Certificate

Fees & Duration:

• Fee ~ PKR 600
• Duration – Same or next day.

Process:

1. There’s a Post Office opposite to the Clifton Driving License Branch. Go there and buy stamp ticket for International Driving Permit.
2. Go to the Reception Area and ask for International Driving Permit form
3. Fill the form, paste the stamp ticket on the top right corner.
4. Attach photocopies of documents mentioned in the section above
5. Keep original documents with yourself which you may have to show to the Driving License Branch Officials.
6. Attach photographs
7. Submit the filled form with all attachments.
8. There’s a fee which you have to pay
9. You will have to appear before the License Authority to get your IDP approved and collect it at the same time.