We are hired as engineers for a multinational company that has been sending out their employees for training to the United States. This is one good opportunity to learn and of course, travel for free. This is one of the best things that come with our employment. Over the course of my five year sty in my company, there have been about 20 engineers in my groups sent to the US for training. I would like to add that is a good experience as well and a time to earn more money than we usually do. This is because with your stay in the US for training, you will be given a good deal of allowance plus your local salary gets untouched. Wonderful isn’t it?
The visa application
Of course for the visa application, we have little to worry about that. The company has had a good connection with the local embassy and because of the good track record; we are given some privileges, subjectively that is. We still have to go through the same procedures but it is the level of trust that we have as an advantage.
Company Requests and Invitation letters
For our company’s requests, there is usually no problem with that. My company has sent thousands of invitation letters to the US embassy and for that, they usually get an interview setup for you. The only thing to worry about is the interview. The interview, as I have collected from different individuals has been diverse and sometimes dependent on the consul. There have been feedbacks of a grumpy consul while others would say that they are really good and that there wasn’t any “grumpiness” involved in the process.
However, if anything goes wrong in the documents then you’ll be in trouble. If your company made a mistake in the paper works and documents then you may suffer rejection. Here are some good points when getting you documents ready:
Documentation and invitation letter’s content
You are a trainee and before submitting your documentations to the US embassy, try to get a hold of it first and check them yourself. All personal information should match you travel documents, US visa application forms and Identifications. Having any inconsistencies will mean rejection.
Work and training
Work and training l they are two very different things that the consul have an eye for. Work is getting paid for your actions and activities. You are directly contributing to your company’s productivity and quality. You will be doing the same things that a counter part in the US will do. That is work! Now let’s define training: A set of activities not directly affecting your company’s output and productivity, it is more like a student to teacher thing. They talk and you listen. You jot down notes, gather documents, and hone your skills. No work!
Why is the difference very important? This is because immigration laws will make it harder for you to go to the United States for work while it is relatively very easy to visit the United States for training. Working means endangering the employment of US citizens while training confirms that they are still superior in the technical abilities (although this part is not necessarily true).
Try to avoid putting any “assisting” and “performing” in the purpose of your visit. This is an almost automatic “work” and thus rejection. Choose word properly for your documents.
Travel Documents and Forms
For the other required documents, be sure to fill them out consistently in a readable print. You should be able to provide all the other US visa requirements and have them attached to the USA visa application forms.
When writing down entries on the USA visa application, please review them. You’ll have to do this to correct any committed mistakes and error while filling up the form. Check the consistency of the form to the other documents so there are no irregularities with your applications.
When doing the form fill up manually, do not forget to sign the USA visa application form, signature complete the form and no processing will be made without it. Put the date on the side and you are finished.
The Interview
The interview schedule is usually setup 3 to 4 weeks in advance do there would not be any problems on the period adjustment in the applicant’s part, in our part that is. We just have to be there in time and that we should wear something nice to impress the consul.
The interview usually starts out with greetings, but the consul will go direct to the point after that. You will be asked a lot of questions and you will not even finish answering before another one starts from the other side of the window. Does this sound challenging?
Answering the Questions:
As a note, you should be able to answer all the questions in a confident manner and do not stutter. Stuttering means that you are not sure of your answer. The grumpiness of the consul is just a show of force! He is the authority over this interview and there is no democracy over it. He asks the questions, you answer and he decides. Be confident and answer in fluent English. That is the case of the interview and that I can tell you.
Avoiding saying "um", it adds uncertainties in the discussion; remember that in any point that they suspect anything off eh mark, they have the right to reject the application. Now that you know the rejection point, let’s get serious.
Look straight to them and don’t let your eyes navigate around the room. Remember that you are having a very serious conversation with the consul. Not looking at people when trying to have conversation may send a negative message of not being ready or hiding something.
Wardrobe
For your wardrobe, please get to the point of putting out an effort to dress up for the interview. If you don’t really do this often, then you might try to get some help. Consuls judge you form the very first time they set an eye on you. Be careful on choosing your wardrobe; do not overdress for the occasion. A long sleeved collared shirt will do the trick; try to have the most recent fit and style. Get a good pair of slacks to go along with your shirt. Have a good pair of leather shoes that doesn’t spell 1990’s when you take a good look from the mirror. That goes for most of the interviewed trainees from our company, maybe it’ll work for everybody else.
Your trip to the US
Assuming that you have been granted a visa, now you have to get ready for your trip. Get to packing your stuff and you won’t have to worry about anything as you are sponsored by your company so everything should come in easy.
Finding a Place to Stay + Transportation
You don’t have to find a place to stay when sent for training by your company. At least this is what we experience form my companies point of view. A company usually does the reservations for hotels for the period of your stay, this includes your transportation.
Packing
Let’s stress this out and get it to sink in: PACK LIGHTLY!!! This is one of the rules you should be able to abide to, for your own good. If you pack lightly then you won’t have to get yourself in a hassle during the course of your travel. This will exclude you on the on the risk of having to pay additional fees for your travels.
Only Bring in the necessities that you cannot buy over your stay in the US.
Things to Bring
You should definitely bring means of communications. Bring a gadget that can easily connect to the internet. This makes communications very easy and it’ll also help you fight boredom.
Depending on the region you are visiting, please have clothes ready to battle the elements. Check the Weather down there and have the appropriate clothing. You don’t want to bring in summer clothes for a cold winter.
Get to Explore
Once you get there, have your extra time ready to explore. You should be able to do this every once in a while. Visit the different landmarks in the city that you will be training in. This is a good time to roam around. Remember that you will be under training and you will not be working. So keep that in mind. You will not be under stress, so this might as well be a great time for you to enjoy your life.
Keep in mind the US Embassy
Before the grant of your visa, you should have had a good deal of talk from the consul or form any other officer in the embassy regarding US immigration laws and policies. Once you are travelling over to the US, do follow the guidelines. US immigration officers may be able to track down your actions or may give surprise visits if they suspect anything (although this is highly unlikely).
Your trip home
Trainings are usually done for the duration of 6 months or less. This enables you to have plenty of savings on your local salary and with the allowance that you are getting. You can bring home some items but be careful of doing this too much; there may be additional fees by the Customs if you have too much stuff going home. You can arrange to ship your items before your leave. Put them all in a box and send them home in advance. Don’t worry about the shipping rates you’ll; be having the same payments any way when you go through the airport, minus the hassle.
With your trip back home, enjoy it more than everything. This becomes a trip for leisure, if you can go into side trips than it would be better. You can definitely find some time to enjoy before you go home.
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