Choosing your path to USA: Why and How

With the increasing number of opportunities and the quality of life restoring in India you should take extra caution while leaving the country. What looks like a solid plan for the next few years might change the entire course of your life. The energies at this point of your life should not be used in any other means except for the betterment of you and your family. So it is important for you to understand and make a conscious choice on why and how to come to the USA. The list can be exhaustive and these are only a few popular routes.

As a Student with average GRE scores

A low GRE score means an admission in to a college with little or no Financial Aid. It will be an extension to your college/student life for sure. But there is an underlying struggle to study, work and earn a job. Unlike your bachelors where your parents will be bearing the fees, in most cases we feel obligated to pay back the big bank loan. Very few students here make it to the full time jobs. Part of it is because of the companies not sponsoring the visas avoiding the immigration hassle. So the students are sucked in to the vicious consultancy firms and their lethargic guest houses. These parasites mint money right from your OPT(Optional Practical Training ) period ,promising you a VISA and Green Card. Putting you masters degree aside your job search will start with a minimum of eight plus years of fake experience for your resume to be considered.

As a Student with good GRE scores

With an Aid and admission in to a reputed university things are better organized. You will be able to work with highly qualified professors using the latest of technologies and equipment. Unless the markets are really bad you can work as an intern for a good company and grab a full time offer while in campus. These companies offer good salary and benefit packages. They also process your visas and green cards professionally on time.

Through your current employer on a L1 VISA

L1 visa allows you to work for a branch of your company in America. The advantage of an L1 over other visa types is that your spouse on a L2 visa will be able to work. On the downside you will not be able to switch to a different employer. Unlike H1, a L1 visa cannot be transferred.A fresh out of the quota H1 has to be applied. While the US based companies pay decent salaries, the offshore Indian companies which bring their talent onsite, live on lower end of the salary scale knowing that you cannot switch. Also the management sees this as a big favor they are doing for you and expect the returns by you managing the projects and the offshore teams in your personal time. They rarely do your Green Cards afraid that you might run away.

Through your current employer on a H1 VISA

The offshore companies do H1 Visas as it is tough to get a L1 visas for professionals with a non computer science degree. While you have the option to take another job and get your H1b transferred, these companies make you sign a bond stating you can’t switch. And you should work for them for a certain period once you return. This bond gets renewed every time you travel. Every time I hear the word bond the sound of slavery echoes. Even if they have spent money training you on the latest of technologies if they cannot keep you happy you should not work for them. That was one reason I chose to come here through another consulting (body shopping) company leaving Tata Consultancy Services. I LOVE TCS. But I trust my work more than my company :).

As a experienced skilled worker through a consulting (body shopping) company on a H1 VISA

While working for one company in India you can get your H1B processed through another based in US. Get in touch with your friends and relatives in the states and know about the company, current hot skills in the job market. Refresh your skills and train yourself on how to learn new skills quickly. If you make the right moves on time you can get your EAD or Green Card which will open the door of opportunities. Never submit your marks cards or any other documents or sign a bond with your visa sponsor. Instead find a different employer. Although they eat up a fair amount from your paycheck initially you have the option to switch to a better employer when you are ready.

As a worker with little or no work experience through a consulting company on a H1 VISA

It is a safe practice to stand on your feet properly before you hop on to the next step. I have seen friends coming here without the minimum required work experience only to struggle. With the current USCIS scrutiny the number of such companies and workers have gone down. But even if there is employers sponsoring your H1B this is not a good place to be. As you will take a while to settle down in the professional space it will further delay the other aspects of your personal life. I have seen families well settled in India migrating here due to peer pressure and standing the pain of immigration lines and visas for their dependents. Unlike in India, your dependent no matter how highly qualified also needs a H1 Visa to work.

The friend or colleague you follow today might not be able to help you with the immigration or job problems later. Be clear on why you want to come here and the path you choose. Unless you have a very good GRE score and Aid think twice before coming for MS. It is definitely not a preferred way to extend your student life. Very few companies consider you for a job based on your master’s degree alone. Instead if you get a good job offer in India take it. The experience you gain over the years will help you go places and not just the US. While coming here on a work visa make sure the job markets here are good and try to be the best at what you do. While you might be paid less, coming here through an offshore company is a safe bet. And if you are confident that you can find a job irrespective of the company then go with the body shopping consultancies. Never rush or get frustrated when things don’t happen as expected. Learn from every failure as they are not final. Happy Conscious Journey!

Read the following articles for further details:

1)Employer agreements for Visas and Green Cards

2)Use your EAD ASAP

3)File Your Green Card on Day One

4)Start your company today

5)Tips to start your company

6)7 steps to go Onsite/Abroad on your job

Tips to start your company

There are different types of organizations you can start  from LLC, S Corp to C Corporation, Non Profit .Read the article at this link to see which one suits your business best.

1) Registering the company

Once you know the type of business, you should choose a name for your corporation. You can register your company online for a nominal fee. There are several websites which check if the name you have chosen for your company is available and then help you register with the federal and state. They also offer other services like web hosting, creating a logo. Here is the one I used to register my company in 2007.

When the registration process is complete you will receive a Federal EIN number along with other TAX Schedule documents from IRS and State in the mail. Organize and store them in a safe location.Document keeping should be a habit that you need to cultivate once you have your company.EIN (Employer Identification Number) is like your social security number which uniquely identifies the corporation. In case of an S-Corp you need to elect the S-Corp status by filing form 2553.Check this link for more details.

2) Open a Small Business Bank Account

Once you have the EIN number and the articles of incorporation you will be able to set up a small business bank account. Banks offer a variety of free services like payroll for small businesses. So check with different banks and choose the best one. If you have a personal account with that bank you can link it business accounts and use the same online login. Some banks provide you with the starter’s kit which has the forms that you have to maintain for you and your employees.

3) Payroll Services

Payroll service providers charge you anywhere between thirty and forty dollars per employee each month. Bank of America provides free payroll service for its small business customers with up to 20 employees. The catch is that your employees should have Bank of America account which s/he uses for the direct deposits (Salary).They handle all the federal taxes and do the book keeping for you. They will handle the state taxes if you upgrade the service by paying a twenty dollar monthly fee. It should be easy to handle the state taxes on your own.

These should get you started. I will share more tips on the tax structure, business insurances,creating invoices in the future.

Live life your way consciousl​y

In between every sunrise and sunset a day in our life flies by. Like a river that flows not caring for the beautiful flowers that fall in it and the industrial junk that gets in to it, time and life do not stop or wait no matter how excited you are or how dejected you feel. We can go with the flow. We can swim against the flow and take the blow. Or become self aware, figure out what we want to be and change our current situation to make the best out of this life.


Beating the current average life span, let’s assume that we are going to live for hundred years. Out of those hundred the first twenty will go in to childhood while we were pampered by our parents and disciplined by our teachers and that crazy teenage. Fifty years in sleep. Yes unless you work for an IT firm in the day and drive a cab in the night, you sleep half the time. The rest thirty years is when we actually live reacting to the internal urges and external forces. Like a bug struck on it’s back struggling to get back on its feet, we are all caught up in the same vicious cycle doing the same thing each day. We buy what the neighbor bought or we travel where a colleague did. Nothing is planned here, it just happens. We crazily compete for a few years. Instead of doing what we really love, we get busy keeping our inner senses and outer attachments happy. Eventually we look back to realize that it was temporary happiness. We then end up accepting what life throws at us and go with the flow.


Like a day filled with sun light and darkness, so is life with happy and tough times. When it poses a question at us, instead of trying to get to the root cause, we use the knowledge gained over the years to get out of the problem immediately. Sometimes it works and sometimes it does not. And when it doesn’t, we blame others or play ignorant as if nothing happened. This often is a result of lack of courage to face the truth. Convincing ourselves with the false beliefs, we can go to any extent trying to prove we are correct. The true feelings suppressed will eventually explode or come back in short bursts disturbing our lives constantly. This is swimming against the flow.

For Example:

When you are not happy with your employer you can work on improving your skills and switch to a different one. But you choose to ignore the facts and keep complaining. Since you are not happy and you will not put your 100% to work there will be a day when you or your employer has to face the axe. And then your world turns upside down. This is nothing but the burst of the suppressed emotions which is not good for either party.

 
Stop looking outside for answers and start asking yourself why you are doing what you do each day and this very second. Spend time away from the crowd and do some introspection. Now assume that you are going to live only for a week and list the things you would do in those seven days. Make these your goals and come up with short term and long term plans to achieve these goals. What ever happened in the past is over. Develop the courage to accept the truth, to ask for forgiveness and the strength to forgive others. Nothing is final. The word Change means 'a passing from one phase to another’. Accept that it will take time to change. Pull your strengths together and plan your next steps and execute them one at a time. Believe that you are here for a reason. Build those strong principles from your true self and stick to them. You will be able to change the flow of this life for the success of yours and others. Live the current moment and leap to the next one consciously .
 
Don’t just let your life happen, you make it happen.

Giving back to your school

      

Education prepares a individual physically, mentally and socially for this world. Education brings economic wealth, social prosperity and political stability.As they grows as an individual ,education  changes their perspective of the society and how the society looks back at him.It will help raising issues in villages and promote knowledge and understanding of rural communities. It can change the fortunes of a family forever.

As we all work for a better government and India i am sure there are several schools and colleges with basic necessities like these in the video.They do not require a big investment.Helping someone towards their education is the best help we can offer.And when you help a school or a college it will have a positive impact  on not one but several lives.So please do your part for all the knowledge and wisdom they have given you to be what you are today.

Related Articles

Indian Caste System : Know your history


5 Ways to Eradicate World Hunger In Our Day


One Village One India : Updates and Future Events


Inspiring Teachers : Importance of quality education


A Day To Remember- One Village One India!


Providing snacks to students during the study hours


From an NRI to an NRI : Unity and Clarity


One Village One India-Primary School Building and Facilities

Start your company today

There are several advantages incorporating your company. It will be the channel to express yourself in the area of your interest. You can be your Boss. Or even better you can train and place others. Or save some taxes while doing nothing.The options are unlimited and i am going to state a few here. Although you can start a company while on a VISA there are several impeding clauses. Check the following discussion forum thread for more. I suggest you wait until you get your EAD.


It’s your product and you own it

If you have that one idea which will change this world around then why sell it to those already rich corporations. Start your company and be the sole proprietor of your creativity. You can do this while still working for another company.


Be Your Employer (5 star)

I find it funny (ironic) the way companies work here. The concept of vendors, sub vendors and consultancies through which your dollars roll before they fill your valet is bureaucratically corrupt. The sooner you start working for yourself the sooner you are free from these parasites that control you. In most cases the client you work for might want you to go through their preferred vendor .I suggest you work with that vendor on a corp to corp basis instead of joining them as an employee (w-2). Remember even if you make an extra dollar an hour that will be at least 160 dollars a month and 1920 an year. You will have more control on how your run your payroll and taxes (Per Diem? :). Running your payroll with all the online tools available today is no big deal. You can split the income in to your salary and profits and avoid double taxation. Unlike the payroll taxes you not be paying the Medicare and social security taxes on your corporate profits.


None of the above

Even if you don’t employee anyone and you work for someone else, you should still start your company for the following reasons.

1. If you are paying a mortgage on your home, you can use it as your office and write off some taxes by reporting losses on your corporation.
2. Your internet and home phone bills go against your taxes.
3. Your air travel provided you can show a good enough business reason/proof.

These are only a few examples and a CPA will be able to provide you more details based on the current IRS situation.Once you learn the basics of running a business you can easily apply them to any other field of your interest in the future.So start now!.All it takes is a few hundred dollars to register your company and to get started. In the next article I will share a few tips on how to register and run your corporation.

3 ఈడియట్స్ కాదు సాఫ్టువేరు ఇంజినీర్స్ : రాంబాబు ఇంటర్వివ్

పేరుకు ఇస్త్రీ కొట్టే అయినా ఆ ఏరియా లో రాజన్న తెలియని సాఫ్టు వేరు ఇంజినీరు వుండడు.జాబ్ ఇంటర్వివ్ అయినా పెళ్ళి ఇంటర్వివ్ అయినా రాజన్నకు తెలియాల్సిందే.ఆయన కుక్క పేరు ఫేస్ బుక్.వీది కుక్కకి వింత పేరు ఏంటని అడిగితే,ట్రెండుకి తగ్గటే వుండాలి పేర్లు అయినా షేర్లు అయినా అనేవాడు.ఇక మన ముగ్గురు సాఫ్టు వేరు ఇంజినీర్ల విషయానికి వస్తే,ఇంకా అదే చిన్న కంపెనీలో పనిచేస్తూ వారానికి మూడు ఇంటర్వివ్ లు ఆరు పార్టీలతో లాక్కొస్తున్నారు.

రాంబాబు నలబై ఏడో ఇంటర్వివ్ తర్వాత...

రాజన్న: నవ్వుతూ,ఎం రాంబాబు మల్లీ పొయ్యినట్టుంది ఇంటర్వివ్.

రాంబాబు: ఒక ఇంటర్వివ్ అంటే ఎంత పెద్ద విషయమో తెలుసా నీకు?

రాజన్న: ఎముంది ఇస్త్రి బట్టలు తగిలించామ ,ఆటో ఎక్కామా.

బాల: ఇంతకీ ఏమయింది?

రాంబాబు: ఎప్పట్లా కాకుండా ఇసారి నలుగురు - వో లీడు,వో ఆర్కిటెక్టు,మేనేజెరు ,డైరక్టరు ఎదురుగ్గా కూర్చున్నరు.నా రేంజు పెరిగిందేమో అనుకుని, మొదట నా గురించి చెప్పాను .

బాల: అక్కడ దొబ్బుంటుంది

రాంబాబు: లేదు నా పని గురించి అడిగారు.రాం గోపాల్ వర్మ నాగర్జున కి శివా సినిమా న్యారేట్ చేసినట్టు ,బాలయ్యకు విజయేంద్ర వర్మా సినిమా కధ చెప్పినట్టు,జాని సినిమా గురించి పవన్ కల్యాన్ తనలో తనే మాట్లాడుకున్నట్టు ,ఇంతక ముందు ఎప్పుడు కని విని ఎరుగని రీతి లో వివరించాను.

అవినాష్: సాఫ్ట్ వేరు గురించి అడిగితే సినిమా కధలు చెప్పావ.ఇంకేముంది తెర పడీందా.

రాంబాబు: లేదు, వాల్లూ నాకు వో స్పీల్ బర్గ్ సినిమా కధ చెప్పారు.నేను న్యరేటు చేసిన ఫేకు ప్రాజెక్టు వాల్లు అయిదు సంవస్తరాల నుంచి రెక్కలు ముక్కలు చేసుకొని ఇల్లు, పెళ్ళి వదిలేసి మరీ డెవలప్ చేసారంట.ఆ మేనేజర్ కు అయితే ఏడుపు ఒక్కటే తక్కువ.

రాజన్న: తర్వాత?

రాంబాబు: బాలా వైపు కోపంగా చూస్తూ, నాలాంటి ఫేక్ బ్యాచ్ ఇంకా ఎంతమంది వున్నారో, అందరినీ వెంటనే ప్రాజెక్టు తీసేయమన్నారు.భవిషెత్తులో ఇలా రెజుమే కనపడితే పోలీసులకి పట్టిస్తామని మర్యాద పూర్వకంగా చెప్పారు.

అవినాష్: మరి తీసేసావా ప్రాజెక్ట్టు?

రాంబాబు: లేదు మర్చేసా.వాల్లది బ్యాంకుకి అయితే నాది మిలిటరీకి.ఎక్కువ చేస్తే నెనే కేసు పెడతా.ఇదంతా నాకు బాధ అనిపించలేదు కాని వెనకొచ్చి ఆటో దిగి ఆఫిసు లోకి వెలుతుంటే మా సి.ఇ.వో ఎదురొచ్చి పిచ్చ బూతులు తిట్టాడు.

రాజన్న: అయానకి ఎలా తెలిసింది.

రాంబాబు: నేను ఎప్పుడయిన్న ఇలా ఫార్మల్ గా రెడీ అయ్యి మా ఆఫీసుకి వెల్లడం చూసావ?

రాంబాబు: పకన్నే నిలొచొని తొకాడిస్తున్న ఫేస్ బుక్ కి బిస్కెట్టు వేస్తూ,రాజన్న నీకో విషయం తెలుసా,ఈ బెంగులూరు లో గాల్లోకి రాయి వేస్తే అది వో సాఫ్టు వేరు ఇంజినీరు పైనో, కుక్క పైనో పడుతుంది.అంత మంది ఇంజినీర్లు ,ప్రతి వీధికి అన్ని కుక్కలు.

From an NRI to an NRI : Unity and Clarity

Thanks to all those inspirational Indians Abroad who re-wrote the fate of several villages and thousands of people back home. Thanks to all those NRIs who have changed the lives of many family members. Far from our country I see more love for her and her culture. At the same time there exits that self denial which I feel is a result of ignorance or lack of knowledge. As we participate in the cultural events organized by various Indian Organizations here I was saddened to see these organizations managed by highly qualified people were divided on the basis of caste and want of power. In the race for superiority and dominance I have seen friends supporting corrupt leaders and film stars. I have heard colleagues maligning the very nation which awarded them their degree. These issues when consciously realized and addressed will do wonders not only for us but for our Country and for generations to come no matter where you live.

There is nothing wrong in having an organization for a group of people who speak the same language or belong to a religion or regional background. But it does no good if these organizations keep breaking down on the basis of caste and power. Along with those big organizations like ATA (American Telugu Association) and TANA (Telugu Association of North America) which have split in to multiple pieces, I have seen it happening at a city level with organizations which has a few hundred members. During the recent Tri-Valley University incident where several Indian students were victims of a fraud these organizations were competing with each other spending money and time on publicity. And that is just one example. Instead if they function as one organization the problems like these will never happen in the first place. The One voice of us has the power to resolve all the immigration issues in a day.

Like all those commodities that come here from India we are also of the export quality. It is not an exaggeration to say that the entire computer world will be on its knees if all the Indian Software engineers take a day off. Imagine all those smart people working together for a better India. While we continuously spend time learning our subject matters we should also know the facts of our vast history and current affairs/issues. How will you marching in the roads of Los Angeles change anything in India? .How is you flying on a special flight to support a recently launched political party going to change anything?  .When you support a political leader or an organization develop some clarity of thought on why you are doing it .Don’t sell your emotions to the hype created by these political scoundrels .Instead of trusting a leader or an organization you can directly help someone in need if that is your unselfish intention. The happiness in helping another human in need is unlimited happiness.

Don’t let your tolerance be mistaken for your innocence and do not let anyone intimidate you. Stick to your principles and values and say no to anything and anyone asking for a compromise. You were born and brought up in this very old country which is filled with pollution and corruption. If you find happiness in your current life and place, so be it. It is you who has got used to the comforts and grown soft .But never talk low about our Nation which has asked you nothing in return for what it has given you and for the spiritual knowledge it has to offer when the decent of your life begins. Far in the course of the history every country and its culture will degenerate. If required stand with courage against the ignorant herd but do not spread the wrong message.

Always remember that we are all branches of the same tree whose roots and culture have spread across several thousand years. We will survive only as long as we are connected to the tree. We are a unique country built on diversity and we can go separate routes to preserve the same. But when and where required we should function as one unit. Only that togetherness has helped us survive and preserve the oldest civilization and culture on the planet and only that unity will help us rise to what we can be and what we once were.

Together we will not dominate the world but make it a better place to live. One Village One India.

Related Articles

Indian Caste System : Know your history


5 Ways to Eradicate World Hunger In Our Day


One Village One India : Updates and Future Events


Inspiring Teachers : Importance of quality education


A Day To Remember- One Village One India!


Providing snacks to students during the study hours


Giving back to your school


One Village One India-Primary School Building and Facilities


India Today : Emotions Exploited


Help Students

Expedite Your Green Card Process: Porting from EB3 to EB2

This article is moved to its new location here - GC Porting Basics

Related Articles:

1)Employer agreements for Visas and Green Cards

2)Use your EAD ASAP

3)File Your Green Card on Day One

4)Start your company today

5)Tips to start your company

To Nana With Love-My Dad My Hero

Every evening ,as soon as we hear the unique silencer sound of your legendary Bajaj Chethak we used to act studious.While you park the scooter we ran towards you to grab our favorite snacks.

I have started liking Chiranjeevi because my friends said he looks like you.

Though mom used to take disciplinary action when and where required:),i can not remember an instance where you even harshly spoke.

Short or long drives you keep us entertained with your stories and experiences filled with wisdom and humor.

Every time i drive to jersey or watch a movie i remember our nostalgic drives from Vinjamoor to Nellore and how we used to watch every good movie the first week.

And the best of them all you have taught us how to live simple,generous while living life the King Size.




Here is a short one minute video of my Dad which was shot in 10 mins while hiding from Mom:).

My dad my Inspiration ,my Hero.

Dhwani

Dhwani is the cultural event of VISA (Villanova Indian Students Association) that is celebrated every year during Diwali. As we danced for the 5 min fusion of three telugu songs the entire event was a high-energy show with dancing, singing and delicious Indian food.

ఎప్పుడు ఎదో ఒక పండుగకి ఎదొ ఒక అస్సొసియేషన్ వారు ఏర్పాటు చేసే సాంస్కృతిక కార్యక్రమాలలో పాల్గొనే మేము ఇ సారి మన విలనొవా యునివర్సిటీ ఇండియన్ విద్యార్దులు దీపావలి సమయంలో గనంగా జరుపుకొనే ధ్వని లో పాల్గొన్నాము.ఆ పెర్ఫార్మెన్సు కి ప్రతి ధ్వని మిరే వినండి/చూడంది.యౌత్ అమ్మా:)