Green Card: What is that?

A lot of people ask me about green cards. I am no immigration expert but today I will try to give you guys an overview in what is this famous ''card'' and what does that imply.

Wikipedia definition: A United States Permanent Resident Card (USCIS Form I-551), formerly Alien Registration Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (INS Form I-151), is an identification card attesting to the permanent resident status of an alien in the United States. It is known informally as a green card because it was green from 1946 until 1964, and it reverted to that color on May 11, 2010.

Green card also refers to an immigration process of becoming a permanent resident. The green card serves as proof that its holder, a lawful permanent resident (LPR), has been officially granted immigration benefits, which include permission to reside and take employment in the United States. The holder must maintain permanent resident status, and can be removed from the United States if certain conditions of this status are not met.

Can everyone get a green card? NO! absolutely not.

The main categories are:

• Green Card Through Family

an immediate relative of a U.S. citizen, this includes spouses, unmarried children under the age of 21, and parents of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older

a family member of a U.S. citizen fitting into a preference category, this includes unmarried sons or daughters over the age of 21, married children of any age, and brothers and sisters of U.S. citizen petitioners 21 or older

a family member of a green card holder, this includes spouses and unmarried children of the sponsoring green card holder

a member of a special category, this can include battered spouse or child (VAWA), a K nonimmigrant, a person born to a foreign diplomat in the United States, a V nonimmigrant or a widow(er) of a U.S. Citizen

• Green Card Through a Job Offer

 You may be eligible to become a permanent resident based on an offer of permanent employment in the United States. Most categories require an employer to get a labor certification and then file a Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, for you.

• Green Card Through Investment: Green cards may be available to investors/entrepreneurs who are making an investment in an enterprise that creates new U.S. jobs
• Green Card Through Self Petition: Some immigrant categories allow you to file for yourself (“self-petition”). This option is available for either “Aliens of Extraordinary Ability” or certain individuals granted a National Interest Waiver.
• Green Card Through Special Categories of Jobs: There are a number of specialized jobs that may allow you to get a green card based on a past or current job, such as:
  
  • Afghan/Iraqi Translator
  • Broadcaster
  • International Organization Employee
  • Iraqi Who Assisted the U.S. Government
  • NATO-6 Nonimmigrant
  • Panama Canal Employee
  • Physician National Interest Waiver
  • Religious Workerugh a Job

• Green Card Through Refugee or Asylee Status

please check the requirements HERE

For more information, visit the official website (where I got the information) of the department of Homeland Security:
http://www.uscis.gov/

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F1 Student: Yes, you CAN!

Hello everyone!

Hopefully you are all doing well. The past weeks have been crazier than usual and I haven't had a lot of time to write. This month was the closing ceremony for the CUNY Service Corps at Lehman college. I woke up so early (whoever knows me well, also knows I am not a morning person...unless I am getting paid for it, then I can wake up at 3am, 4am... hahah ) to take the subway all the way from Brooklyn to the Bronx and it took me over 1h and 20 minutes to get there!

I was happy to see my friends and heard the awesome news that some of them got hired!!
I've also had a chance to talk to other international students that were not able get job afterwards because of visa restrictions.

Every single person I've ever met who was not in our f1 visa have no clue what we go through.
Sometimes international students move to the U.S with little or no English at all... other times, we face the struggles of paying for our college tuition (no financial plans, no FASFA, not a lot of scholarships, out-of-state tuition, etc.) and so much more.

The reality is that we come here alone and we are probably leaving alone (unless you get married at some point ! lol) that is the reason we need to set a goal and work as hard as we can to accomplish it.

I am not going to lie and say I was the best student at High School, in fact I was really bad. I couldn't care less about my grades and if I got a passing grade, I was happy. Failures have shown me that I needed to change something in my life, I had to keep trying, I had to find my passions and set up GOALS.

Moving to the U.S has changed me in a dramatic way. The American system works differently; not only in terms of college education, but also personal relations, networking and the paths to get to your dreams. The best way to improve yourself is moving to a country where you have to conquer you job through you academic rating and understanding your flaws and limitations.

When I started to participate in college activities and I was exposed to what was available for me in terms of friendships, jobs and personal development; I could not stop. Self-improvement is addictive!

  A special thanks (and I will always be grateful for this person) is to Mr. Harry Mars, who is the Director of student activities of my college. He is ALWAYS there for students, not only as a director but taking multiple roles; such as a father for students, a role model, a counselor, a peace-maker and he will always be his best it doesn't matter what the situation is. Oh! Just a funny thing that happened last semester:

When I was the Vice-President of the Beauty and Fashion Club, we were hosting a big Christmas party for students and the president of the club got some donations, which were HUUUGE panels from a previous Fashion show she has attended. Since we did not know who to talk to, one of the club members just drove this huge truck and dropped everything off on a space that had an open door (for college deliveries and stuff like that). Since we were not allowed to do it (but unaware of it) The college security started looking for us, investigating cameras and everything and they were also decided to call the city trash collection to take it away hahah

So Mr. Mars was contacted, and after talking to us, we explained that it was our first club, we were not aware of where to dispose things, college permissions, etc. As usual, he went above and beyond, he talked to security with us and did his best to try to accommodate all the stuff we had but unfortunately the panels were so huge that they couldn't even pass the college's door. But anyways, it was just one situation that Mr. Mars showed his professionalism and understanding of student needs and at the same time, we learned what to do and definitely what NOT to do on campus haha. 


Through him, I've heard and participate of leadership academies ( B.O.L.T and P.L.U.S) and I've made friends for a lifetime. THANK you again Mr. Mars.

Going back to our topic, as an international student myself I faced and continue to face a lot of challenges every single day. I found out some tips for international students are they seem to be very accurate!

1- Get involved

One of the best ways to make new friends is to join a club or an organization. Do you love music or play an instrument? Mix with a group of like-minded people and maybe even join a band or choir. Participate in sports or some other activities that you like and have maybe even done before college – Sports are a great way to meet new people because you all have a common goal. Whatever it is that interests you, you will have no trouble finding a group or organization, either on or off campus that you can join and enjoy. Once you are a member, join group activities and volunteer to help. You will get to know others while doing good. Club activities easily turn into social activities and you’ll find yourself going to the movies or for a bite to eat with fellow members.

2- Learn English phrases and slangs

This seems obvious, but the slang is the important part. College students in America typically don’t speak as formally as the books and guides that teach non-English speakers, so be sure to research some commonly used phrases and slang terms among the youth of America. If you hear a phrase that confuses you, don’t be afraid to ask! It will be easier to make friends with other students if you show genuine interest in what they’re saying.

3- Tip!

Tipping, while not a common practice throughout the rest of the world, is expected in the U.S. Restaurants do not typically add gratuity to a bill, so patrons are expected to tip their server somewhere between 15-20% to reward them for their service. It is considered extremely rude not to do so, so be sure to check your bill and tip your waiter if gratuity hasn’t been added.

4- Keep up with pop culture and sports for good conversation topics

College students in the U.S., just like everywhere else, love to talk about entertainment and sports. Use your free time to read magazines and update yourself on entertainment news, watch popular TV programs, and learn the basics of popular American sports like football, baseball, basketball and hockey. Not only will this help you have conversations with native students, but it will provide you with an authentic experience of American culture.

5- Befriend American students as well as other international students

I’ve been an international student before, so I understand that it’s often difficult to break out of that classification and make friends with the locals. International students are grouped together in living arrangements and classes at many universities, so you should make a conscious effort to befriend some Americans. It may seem intimidating, but it’ll give you a more authentic experience and hopefully provide you with lifelong friends that you can go back and visit someday!

6- Don’t be intimidated

This advice goes for pretty much anyone studying abroad: no matter who you are or where you’re from, you’ll be interacting primarily with other college students, and we all have many similar qualities and interests deep down. Take the rest of these tips into consideration and get ready for the experience of a lifetime!

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Careers in Finance / Where to find an internship or a job in NYC

Hi everyone! Today I'll talk about an exciting topic! At least for me :)

A lot of people talk about "Finance" but Do you know what it really means?

According to (internationalstudent.com) the definition of Finance is  the allocation of resources. Today, people might most commonly think of finance as money management, but let's take it back a step further.

The word “finance” has its roots in Old French dating from around 1350 (about the time when European markets began to use money more heavily for trade instead of bartering), connected to the idea of“finishing” or settling a debt by making a payment. To have the financial means for something, is to have the ability to finish or settle the matter (like, for instance, an international student financing their degree). Finance in the sense of "managing money" was first recorded in English in 1770. Money was created as a tool that made trading less complicated between people with very different resources and needs, that didn't always match up.


Considering a career in finance?  let's take a look at positions and salaries first; then I will show you some companies that recruit interns and talk a little bit about requirements for these jobs.

Salaries (lowest to highest)


1. Bank tellers
Cash checks, accept deposits and loan payments and process withdrawals. They also may sell savings bonds and travelers' checks, accept bill payments and process paperwork. Most tellers have at least a high school diploma, but people with bachelor's degree in business, accounting or liberal arts may get jobs as tellers to break into banking with the hopes of being promoted.
Average salary: $28,000/year

2. Collectors
Keep track of accounts that are overdue and attempt to collect payment on them, making computer literacy and good communications skills a must in this job. Most collectors are required to have at least a high school diploma; however, employers prefer workers who have completed some college or who have experience in other occupations that involve contact with the public.
Average salary: $34,000/year

3. Buyers 
Buy the goods and services a company needs either to resell to customers or for the establishment's own use. Educational requirements vary with the size of the organization, but many manufacturing firms prefer applicants with a bachelor's or master's degree in engineering, business, economics or one of the applied sciences.
Average salary: $40,000/year

4.Accountants
Analyze, plan, evaluate and advise on matters of accounting theory and practice. A bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field is usually required, but those with a master's degree or experience to boot will have better job opportunities.
Average salary: $59,000/year

5. Treasurers
Direct an organization's financial goals, objectives and budgets. Their duties may include overseeing the investment of funds and executing capital-raising strategies. Employers require a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics or business administration; however, employers increasingly are placing emphasis on advanced degrees in these fields.
Average salary: $86,000/year

6. Auditors
Examine and analyze accounting records and prepare financial reports for clients. Auditors usually need a bachelor's degree, but as with accountants, experience and advanced degrees increase their chances of getting hired.
Average salary: $92,000/year

7.Financial analysts
Work for businesses to help them or their clients make investment decisions. Analysts must have a bachelor's degree, often in business administration, accounting, statistics or finance, analysts with a master's degree in business administration will find themselves among the most desirable employees.
Average salary: $100,000/year

8. Budget analysts
Provide analysis and assistance to help companies develop their annual budgets, decide how to allocate current resources and estimate future financial requirements. A bachelor's degree – often in finance, economics, accounting, business, statistics, political science or sociology – is the minimum requirement for most employers, but an advanced degree is often preferred and sometimes required.
Average salary: $112,000/year

9.Loan officers
Assist individuals and organizations in applying for loans, assess the individuals' creditworthiness and help them determine the most appropriate type of loan for his/her needs. Employers usually require loan officers to have a bachelor's degree in finance, economics or a related field. Loan officers will find experience in banking, lending or sales and knowledge of computers to be huge assets in their job search.
Average salary: $126,000/year

10. Personal financial advisors - use their knowledge of investments, tax laws and insurance to recommend financial options that help individuals meet their short- and long-term goals. Advisors with a bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business mathematics or law will have the best opportunities for jobs in their field.
Average salary: $140,000/year



Keep in mind that financial jobs are highly specialized, so generic job boards are not the best places to seek such positions. Instead, consider niche sites, such as Job Search Digest. When looking offline, specialized executive recruiters (a.k.a. headhunters) can be excellent resources for both financial job opportunities and career advice. Your university's alumni association can also be very helpful by putting you in touch with industry insiders who are willing to provide some insight and sometimes job leads.
Industry conferences and other networking events are also great places to look for financial jobs. Concerning networking, never forget the value of personal interaction - everyone you meet could know someone who knows of a job opening. Keep your avenues of communication open by following up in a professional, yet personal way, such as a hand-written note or forwarding an article of common interest.

Choosing the Right Direction for You
It is always wise to consider the direction of the market before seeking a financial job. To effectively pursue jobs with the highest probability of success, you must measure the demand for the position. Different financial jobs require different skills and present vastly different work environments, so it's wise to select one that aligns with your long-term interests and abilities. Someone with solid interpersonal skills, for example, might do well as a financial advisor, while someone who enjoys crunching numbers might do better in public accounting. Do the research first to discover your options. The time spent uncovering the most interesting possibilities to you can be time saved working in a job that just doesn't fit.  

What Majors are appropriate for a career in Finance?

Accounting, Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Physics, Math, Corporate Communications, Computer Engineering, Statistics, International Relations, etc. The field is so broad that a lot of majors can fit it. But definitely having a background or a lot of classes finance- related help you in your application!


Companies/Organizations that recruit students for summer internship programs:

UBS

CITIGROUP

GOLDMAN SACHS

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF NY

MORGAN STANLEY

JP MORGAN

CREDIT SUISSE

WELLS FARGO

BANK OF AMERICA

BARCLAYS

DEUTSCHE BANK



Good luck and hopefully you enjoyed the post today :) If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment on this post.

Li



sources: internationalstudent.com, http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/01/26/top-10-jobs-in-banking-and-finance/, http://www.investopedia.com/articles/financial-careers/08/financial-career-options-professionals.asp,

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Communication jobs in NYC + where to find an internship

Hello friends! 

At the present moment, I am living on a clock, literally. In December I'll finish my A.S in Multimedia Arts & Design and right after that I am transferring to Baruch to study Corporate Communications. I know it may sound very different but since I started my "internship'' at the NY Federal Reserve Bank (like an internship - but not exactly that, as Fed doesn't pay me -  I get paid by CUNY).  I've realized communications is fun and being able to deliver the right message to the general public feels awesome!

I was wondering all jobs available in the market -to be exact, in New York City, because that is where I live :)

As I researched, I found out multiple options for Communication/ Corporate Communication Majors!
Hopefully this list with help myself and others in the future. PS: This was my own research on Google using the NY job market as reference. Hopefully you like it!



Corporate Communications Intern - Average of $16.00 (hourly)

Employee communication- $49,000 (year)

Media relations- $64,000 (year)

Investor relations- $72,710 (year)

Corporate advertising- $92,000 (year)

Marketing Manager- $112.000 (year)



Where to look for internships and jobs?

1. LinkedIn: Not only should you use LinkedIn to hunt for internships, you should build a fleshed-out profile and reach out to everyone you know, especially professional contacts, on the 12-year-old Mountain View, CA professional networking site. Get people you’ve worked for to write you recommendations. Do include volunteer work.

2. Idealist.org : Idealist.org consists of over 57,000 nonprofit and community organizations in over 180 countries. Numerous opportunities exist for individuals looking to intern, volunteer, or work in positions that are involved in giving back and making a difference in the world.

3. Mediabistro.com : Mediabistro boasts the largest job board in the United States for media professionals. That, plus topical news and analyses of media platforms, trends, and popular topics in the market, is what makes this website an exceptional way to explore internships in media.

4. Experience.com: Experience.com offers numerous internship listings as well as a wealth of resources and advice.

5. GoAbroad.com: GoAbroad.com is the umbrella organization that includes StudyAbroad.com, InternAbroad.com, VolunteerAbroad.com, etc. Thousands of international opportunities can be found for those seeking an experience abroad

6. Indeed.com : Indeed.com includes all the job listings from major job boards, newspapers, associations and company career pages. Indeed makes it possible to save searches and have internships/jobs delivered via email alerts through RSS feeds

7. Students.gov : This is the official U.S. government web site for college students that provides an array of internships and the resources that exist for those interested in interning/working for the U.S. government

8. Simply Hired : Simply Hired is an easy to use site that aggregates job listings including direct employer websites, staffing and placement firms, job boards, etc.

9. Glassdoor: Founded in 2007 and based in Sausalito, CA, Glassdoor gets its internship listings from several sources, including company websites, partnerships with job boards and directly from employers

See you next week :]

- Liana

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Trip to Brazil

On December 17th I went to Brazil with my boyfriend (who I refer as R in this post ) to spend a month in my home town. I've talked about Maceio before, but I never get tired of talking about it. :) So, this is the town I come from:

This is my little paradise and I feel so relaxed there! :)

Anyways...

We took a long flight from NY to Maceio. Unfortunately we couldn't go on the same flight, and R ended up arriving at 2pm and I arrived at 10PM! (My flight got delayed and it was awful). The trip with layovers (waiting time between airports is usually between 16-18hs).

Bringing my boyfriend to my city it was very interesting. I don't know if you guys know but Brazil is the biggest catholic country in the world. So we are all very traditional about getting together with families for Christmas celebrations, lunches, etc.

R was raised away from his relatives. He basically spent his whole life with his brother and parents so I knew that for him being to so close to family is not ''that normal'' . In Brazil, we drink and party with our family members and that is totally fine. Also, my cousins are basically my best friends and we always hang out together!

2 days after arriving in Brazil, it was R's birthday, so I ordered a delicious cake and we went to my grandma's for lunch. After lunch, my family set up a table outside, close to the garden and we surprised him and sang him happy birthday in portuguese! haha :)

One day after that, we were back at my grandmother's house for Christmas. It was also her birthday, so we had a cute little party on the garden for all family members.  (6 pictures)

Truffles/ Brazilian chocolates table (How I miss this table!!! haha)

Table for the Main Dinner before the set up

cousin's table - R in the middle (on the back: aunt, me, uncle, aunt, grandpa, aunt)

Appetizers table (they were soooo good omg)

 After the party, we went home, slept a lot and the next day, we woke up late (as usual haha). I took R to my favorite Italian restaurant (Massarella) and he absolutely loved it! The garlic bread there is so so so amazing ( I am not being biased - swear! lol) we also ordered file with tagliollini w 4 cheese sauce. All pasta there is handmade.

Two of my best girlfriends flew to Maceio to spend a couple days with me. One of them, arrived on New Years.  For the New Year's party, we went to the beach with my family, watched the fireworks and started walking around on the streets.

Me and one of my bfs Lu watching the fireworks at the beach!

Maceio's boardwalk ( yes, those are all people! Soooo many ppl!)

 People in Brazil  just set up tables with the whole family (in front of their apt buildings) and they drink a lot and for the entire night. hahah so we walked, grabbed drinks with strangers and we ended up at a friend of a friend's rooftop party.

XoXo,

Li.

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First "internship", International Week and Black Friday! (November/ December)

Hellooo!

So, as some of you know, I applied and got accepted to a program called "CUNY Service Corps'' which is a program that connect students with governmental and some non-profit organizations (after a series of interviews), and we get to work with the organization for two semesters.

I was placed at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York! My first day there was Nov 17th. As soon as I arrived to the bank, I couldn't contain my happiness! And as soon as I walked in, I saw the other 3 students selected and I felt much more relaxed. They were dressed up on their suits and it was so cute to see my friends getting ready for the real world experience! On the first day, we set up our computers, met our supervisors and we had a lunch-meeting with some of them. One of the employees gave us a nice presentation about the history and the role of the Fed in the United States.

After that, each of us headed to our own departments and spent the rest of the day talking and understanding better what it would our roles at the bank.

In my department, Digital Communications, we do a whole bunch of cool stuff, such as videos, info-graphs, animations, video editions, etc. I loved meeting my ''co-workers" (can I call them like that? :) ) and they were all very receptive .

Since I will only be going there twice a week, for my second day , I was asked to present some of my artwork for the team, so I combined graphic design, jewelry design, paintings, websites I created, etc in a PowerPoint and presented to them in our lunch-meeting.

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INTERNATIONAL WEEK

I also participated in one of the activities of my college's international week. The international week is basically a week where other countries and cultures are exposed to Americans. I was happy to be a part of the speech day and I gave a PowerPoint presentation about my country and I talked a little bit why I moved to the U.S.

As I start to spread my journey to other people, I am happy to announce I am (trying) to produce a documentary about immigrants in the U.S.A. I got a camera on black Friday and I can't wait to start filming all the amazing stories I've heard =) (I just need more time :(( )

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THANKSGIVING + BLACK FRIDAY

Thanksgiving is ''an annual national holiday marked by religious observances and a traditional meal including turkey. The holiday commemorates a harvest festival celebrated by the Pilgrims in 1621, and is held in the US on the fourth Thursday in November. ''

For Thanksgiving, I didn't plan anything specific, so I tried to go to Applebees with my boyfriend but everything was closed :( so we ended up at some random Mexican restaurant and our meal was HUGE! omg Mexicans know how to eat! haha

On Black Friday I got my new camera online on target (NIKON L330) for a super nice deal! $170.00 (camera + memory card + batteries + case) the regular price is usually $289.00 just for the camera!!

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DECEMBER

December is a crazy month. That is when finals are approaching and students are everywhere on campus. It is funny to see how many people go to the library in desperation lol. I am glad I got really good grades this semester, it will be easier to get a scholarship or future internships!

On December 19th, after all my finals I traveled to my home country for 1 month (Brazil) and I brought my boyfriend with me! Next post I will talk about our Brazilian trip and I will post a bunch of cool pics and videos :)

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Have a great week

Li

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