Thread: Russian couple moving to the USA - any advise from others that did it?

Scott, unless I missed it, you did not say where they were going to live. You may get better suggestions if we know about that. For example, there are online discussion groups of Russians in Atlanta, Chicago, the Carolinas, etc. Also, what kind of job does one have lined up?

No I didn't post it. They will be living in the San Francisco area. The job is as a programmer.

Thank you,

Scott

Originally Posted by chaika

Scott, unless I missed it, you did not say where they were going to live. You may get better suggestions if we know about that. For example, there are online discussion groups of Russians in Atlanta, Chicago, the Carolinas, etc. Also, what kind of job does one have lined up?

Originally Posted by fortheether

No I didn't post it. They will be living in the San Francisco area. The job is as a programmer.

Shouldn't be a problem to confirm the degrees for this profession
English and driving experience - these two things should be in their priority list
Since they moving they obviously need a place to live, they need to start looking before they move
Because they don't have social security numbers (and won't get them in first couple months) it will be very hard to find a decent place to rent. For the same reason they will have problems with connecting utilities/TV/home phone. They would probably need to put some double security deposits, that means they have to bring enough money with them. Because they won't get social security numbers right away - they will not be paid be able to find a job right away and even if they have job offer they will not be paid until they have social security numbers. Same problem with opening bank accounts
They need somebody to rely on for the first couple months

Originally Posted by Doomer

Shouldn't be a problem to confirm the degrees for this profession
English and driving experience - these two things should be in their priority list
Since they moving they obviously need a place to live, they need to start looking before they move
Because they don't have social security numbers (and won't get them in first couple months)

Nope.
Green card holders are officially referred as lawful permanent residents.
Social Security Cards are a half hour process (I don't live in a busy metro area, YMMV) for my J-1 kids.

Bring Green Card, photo ID, Passport, all the ID they have. New numbers need proof of birth date.

SS offices are in most larger towns (Hyannis, MA here for size comparison).
Multilingual. I'm a bastard so I make the kids do it in English though.

http://www.ssa.gov/multilanguage/Russian/SS-5-RU.pdf
Application in Russian

The United States Social Security Administration

Originally Posted by capecoddah

Nope.
Green card holders are officially referred as lawful permanent residents.
Social Security Cards are a half hour process (I don't live in a busy metro area, YMMV) for my J-1 kids.

Bring Green Card, photo ID, Passport, all the ID they have. New numbers need proof of birth date.

SS offices are in most larger towns (Hyannis, MA here for size comparison).
Multilingual. I'm a bastard so I make the kids do it in English though.

http://www.ssa.gov/multilanguage/Russian/SS-5-RU.pdf
Application in Russian

The United States Social Security Administration

Ummm... maybe it has changed in the last two years, but two years ago it was taking about 30 days for them to process a SS card for a new PR and that was here in the Washington, DC area.

You also need to make certain you have the documentation they require...

Unless by any chance they filed for one with their application???
There are two ways you can apply:

• You can apply in your home country before you come to the United States when filing an application for an immigrant visa with the U.S. Department of State. In almost all cases, if you apply for a Social Security number and card with your immigrant visa application, you do not have to visit a Social Security office in the United States.

Originally Posted by rockzmom

Ummm... maybe it has changed in the last two years, but two years ago it was taking about 30 days for them to process a SS card for a new PR and that was here in the Washington, DC area.

You also need to make certain you have the documentation they require...

Unless by any chance they filed for one with their application???
There are two ways you can apply:

• You can apply in your home country before you come to the United States when filing an application for an immigrant visa with the U.S. Department of State. In almost all cases, if you apply for a Social Security number and card with your immigrant visa application, you do not have to visit a Social Security office in the United States.

I've been doing it for 10 years.
J-1 visa holders. Both under my employ and others. Until last year they could show up with no job / sponsor.
Last month I brought 2 Russians to the SS office in Hyannis and was out in 30 minutes.
Sign in, take a number. Fill out form. Called into office, submit form, show Visa and Passport. Issued card.
Drove around for a while, got ice cream cones and back to the motel. Filling in tax forms within an hour. 72 hours after they landed in NY.
Returning J-1s use "their number" (Ilya from last year was bummed he didn't get ice cream this year).

Same process for H-2b visa holders.

I need all employees to have a valid SSN within a week of hire. Theoretically I could run a SSNVS (Social Security Number Verification Service) but I know they are legal and didn't swipe an SSN.
The local Brazilians get checked! Over-stayed visas are common, and I had 2 women give me the same SSN...


J-1 Visa Basics

The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals approved to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs. Participants are integral to the success of the program. Here you can learn more about obtaining the J-1 Visa and other relevant visas.

J-1 Visa Basics | J-1 Visa

Originally Posted by capecoddah

I've been doing it for 10 years.

Good for you
I've done it several times for H-1 holders
Takes about 5 weeks

Originally Posted by fortheether

No I didn't post it. They will be living in the San Francisco area. The job is as a programmer.

Thank you,

Scott

Scott,


As they are going to be in San Fran, they can take FREE English as a second Language classes (ESOL) at City College of San Fran, they should sign up ASAP and as the classes are FREE, offered at all hours and there are many locations, they should have no excuses for not attending!

The Noncredit ESL program is free of charge and is designed to help immigrant students develop their general ability to understand, speak, read and write English.
Noncredit ESL Program




The Noncredit ESL Program offers a variety of free classes:
1) General Noncredit ESL

• Improves English language skills for immigrants living and working in the United States.Prepares students for further academic work.
• Nine levels of instruction ranging from Literacy, and Beginning (Level 1) to high intermediate (Level .
• Most classes are 2 hours a day, 10 hours a week and focus on all four skills: listening,speaking, reading and writing.
• One-hour a day, five-hour a week classes which focus on a specific skill and intensivenon-credit ESL courses are also available.
• Limited homework. No grades.
• Students may enroll in more than one class.
• Classes are offered mornings, afternoons, Monday through Friday, and evenings, Monday throughThursday at seven campuses at many locations in San Francisco.

2) Vocational ESL

• Improve English for getting a job, improving on-the-job skills or preparing for a specificjob field.
• Types of classes offered include: computers for ESL, ESL office occupations, and communicationon the job.
• Classes are offered morning, afternoon and evening, Monday through Friday at selected campuses.

3) Citizenship Classes

• Preparation for the citizenship exam.
• Citizenship classes are offered morning, afternoon and evening, Monday through Saturday atselected campuses.

How to Enroll in Noncredit Classes

1)	Location -	Choose a campus that is convenientfor you. Noncredit classes are offered at: Civic Center Campus 561-1020 John Adams Campus 561-1835 Chinatown/North Beach Campus 561-1017 Downtown Campus 267-6543 Mission Campus 550-4430 Southeast Campus 550-4344
2)	Placement Test -	Call the campus you areinterested in, or go in person to get an appointment for a placement test. Placement tests areoffered at various times throughout the semester.
3)	Counseling and Registration -	After theplacement test, you will have an appointment with a counselor to discuss the classes you want andthe times you can study. The counselor will register you into a class (or classes) and tell youexactly when and where to go.

For more information about the noncredit program call the campus you are interested in. Or you may contact the ESL Department office at 239-3003.

Doomer and Rockzmom - passed along the info.

Thank you,

Scott

Oh, one of the Natalias hit the lottery.