Ask MetaFilter posts tagged with USA

Translating a (lack of) qualifications when I move to the US

tallus — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 07:38:22 -0800

Help me translate my (lack of) qualifications when I emigrate to the US. I'm emigrating to the US next year (on a K1 visa — I'm marrying a US citizen) and need to figure out how to best present myself to potential employers.

I have 7 'O' levels which is equivalent to high school graduation, roughly, but I don't have a degree. It's a long story but I chose not to take the final exams. However I did successfully finish the first two years which is the equivalent of an HND in the UK (an associates degree in the US) though I don't have the actual paper qualification. On my CV I have always written: Completed two years of University, equivalent to HND. It has never been a problem - most likely due to my age (I'm now 40), my experience and the fact that I work in a field that's used to self taught people and doesn't always rate qualifications — I'm a linux/unix sysadmin.

I've been doing this for sometime however (10 years), and I really don't want to carry on in this field, so I want to take this opportunity to re-invent myself. I understand this might mean starting at the bottom, and take some work to end up where I want, but I'm prepared for this (how and what will be the subject of further askme questions). My question is about I how I can make the best of other skills and qualities without letting a relative lack of, or unfamiliar, qualifications get in the way.

I will be using a functional CV. Is writing

7 O levels (equivalent to High School graduation)
Successful Completion of Two Years at UK University (equivalent to an associates degree)

going to be fine?

Are there other options I could explore? I've thought of trying to get a GED while I'm waiting for my work permit to come through, but I'm not sure that wouldn't be a regressive step.

What about getting a minimum wage/service industry type job while I'm finding my feet? How might this be affected?

Who sang the US national anthem at the men's basketball final at the Olympics?

cda — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 18:40:37 -0800

Who sang the US national anthem at the men's basketball final at the Beijing Olympics?

Shoud I bother with the new federal housing tax credit?

GuyZero — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 17:01:50 -0800

FinancialOpinionFilter: I qualify for the new Federal Housing Tax Credit! Yay! But since I have to pay it back it hardly seem useful. Plus there's extra hassle with taxes for the next 15 years. Should I bother claiming it?

Does Katie Couric get to pick which news item opens the broadcast?

goodnewsfortheinsane — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 17:05:27 -0800

What kind of influence do US network anchors have on the news selection and editing process? My friend claims American network news anchors are effectively editors-in-chief; I'm willing to entertain the notion that they are in a position to exert influence over the process and carry more responsibilities than Dutch newsreaders (who are essentially mere presenters), but I don't buy that they can preside over every aspect of the process.

So which is it?

American Made Soccer Shoes

czarth — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 00:15:42 -0800

I would like to find a quality soccer shoe that is made in the in the good ole U.S. of A. It seems like the bulk of quality shoes these days are made in China and I am trying to buy fewer imports.

New passport and traveling in America

Anonymous — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 15:40:17 -0800

Question about a new passport and getting into the United States My girlfriend had a British passport that she used to get into America on a tourist visa twice, both times for a little less than 90 days, and the two times were two weeks apart. The second time she got sent to secondary inspection where they basically told her that after this time, she'd have to stay away for 6 months in Europe before she'd be allowed back in. She left about two weeks ago for Europe, so she shouldn't be allowed back in till January 09.

Now that she's in Europe, she's applied for naturalization from another EU country (Belgium) and they're going to issue her a new passport in the next few weeks. Will the passport system link her old passport to the new one, or is she free to come back in less than 6 months?

what should i buy while im in the usa that is much cheaper than in europe? Will i need to pay taxes too as a german citizen?

freddymetz — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:20:22 -0800

what should i buy while im in the usa that is much cheaper than in europe? Will i need to pay taxes too as a german citizen?

buying a 3G iphone in america to use in europe

freddymetz — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:17:28 -0800

buying a 3G iphone in america to use in europe Can i do it without signing a contract with at+t?

Air conditioning the outdoors?

bystander — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 18:09:58 -0800

Are gas station forecourts really air conditioned in some places in the USA? I have heard environmentalists use as an example of profligate waste the idea that some US gas station have the area out front where the pumps are air conditioned. Effectively cooling the outdoors.
Is this true? Anyone got a photo/link/citation?

what's made in usa and where do i get it?

Citizen Premier — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:15:00 -0800

For my 4th of July present to America, I want to start buying American-made products. Where can I do so in San Diego? And would you be willing to make a list for me of American companies that make frequently-needed products? Are there any nearby supermarkets which carry a high percentage of American products? As a last resort, I might be willing to buy some of the more expensive stuff online.

To make it a little easier, I'm also willing to buy from other first-world nations, especially since I'm going to try to avoid Tommy Hilfinger, GAP and Calvin Klein.

Any other general tips about making the switch would also be nice.

What happens (legally) when an American and a Japanese person marry?

Vorteks — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:53 -0800

International Marriage filter: When a US Citizen marries a foreigner, what process is involved in bringing the new spouse to the US and getting permanent resident status? I'd like to know how difficult it is for a US Citizen to marry a foreigner (specifically, a Japanese person), and bring them here to the US to stay. What are the legal procedures? How long does it take? What, if any, is the chance of "failure"?

I know a lot of people are going to tell me to talk to an immigration lawyer. Believe me, I will... if/when the situation comes up. You see, right now I'm not yet dating. I'm just considering a potential relationship, and if I decide to pursue it I'd like to know up front what I'm getting into. So YANAL, or at least YANML, I understand. But what can you tell me about the process? I'd like to get a "birds eye view" at least.

Bonus points: What would be involved in a US Citizen marrying a Japanese person and getting permanent residence in JAPAN? This seems less likely in my case. But hey, it could happen.

Thank you MeFites!

How to call a UK 0700 number from the USA?

w0mbat — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:32:46 -0800

How do I call a UK 0700 number from the USA? My mother is in hospital and I'd like to call her tomorrow. I'm familiar with the normal rules (01144 + drop the leading zero) but it doesn't seem to work for these 0700 numbers. My mother is in an NHS hospital in London, and they issue patients with personal phones in their rooms that have these 0700 numbers. I think it's a special case premium rate UK number on which the hospital makes a profit.

Blowback

wilful — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:14:20 -0800

Have the US or UK Governments ever formally acknowledged or apologised for their role in the 1953 Mossadegh/Iran coup? Is there any general recognition amongst the commentariat about the how and why of Iran's suspicion/distrust towards the US and UK?

Leaving New York, Never Easy... Car hire?

tomble — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:59:42 -0800

I'm currently in Astoria, NY, and planning to drive to DC tomorrow in a hired car. The question is - where should I hire a car to get a good rate? Is it worth it to travel to New Jersey as was suggested to me, or should I just go to La Guardia airport? Anything I should know about car hire? I'm from Australia, so the main thing is to remember to drive on the right side of the road.

Flying to the USA - What should i watch out for?

freddymetz — Sun, 25 May 2008 12:56:26 -0800

Flying to the USA - What should i watch out for? Were planning on flying to the US (probably boston area) for 2 weeks in the summer (from germany).
Is there anything i should know to make my stay as enjoyable as possible?
Also, i use trabber for finding cheap flights. Does anyone know any similar useful websites and tools?

Where to find intelligent American female voices?

zaebiz — Tue, 20 May 2008 20:15:40 -0800

Some colleagues want to set up a voicemail system in the US for a small tech company in Australia and we need some intelligent, welcoming American female voices that sound at ease with technical jargon to do our answering messages. Any adult age. Slight accents ok. I haven't really been impressed with the sound of professional voice models - they're a bit too slick for our image. Any other suggestions? I've read one of the cheapest options (not my idea, I promise!) is to call phone sex lines and ask them to record un-sexy professional messages. I'm really not into that idea though. You can sort of tell the way a person talks whether they have some confidence in technical matters. ... and whether they have umm other things on their mind.

Pre-existing condition waiting period?

Anonymous — Thu, 15 May 2008 04:12:49 -0800

(USA filter) I just got health insurance, Yeah! But I just got a letter that I have to wait a year before they will pay for something that diagnosis "should have been" received before the effective date of my policy. So does that mean if I have tests that show that a cancer probably started two months ago, I'm screwed? So this means I shouldn't have any tests for a year??

I feel fine but I really want to have the tests that I am supposed to be getting for my age. I just feel devastated.

eBayfilter: Dealing with unwanted foreign sellers

rjacobs — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:51:08 -0800

I'm new to selling on eBay. I listed a microphone, and only gave an option for U.S. Shipping. I didn't actually list "U.S. buyers only" in the text of the auction. Someone from Brazil asked if he could buy, but without waiting for an answer, he bought it with Buy It Now, and asked for an invoice. I don't want to ship to Brazil, period. So, (a) do I have any recourse, and (b) what can I do so this doesn't happen in the future?

how to beat the bank?

mary8nne — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:45:26 -0800

How can individuals have the greatest impact in weakening or destabilising a particular country economically? Do consumer boycots of all country X products have any significant impact? What alternatives are there? Currency market manipulation perhaps? Inspire investors to pull out of a country?

but if the target country is relatively strong economically, such as say the USA, is there any way a grass roots type movement can have an impact?

California dreamin'

fcoury — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:22:49 -0800

I will be doing a very anticipated trip to California for the first time. Please advice with good tips! Hi,

I am going to the US on September, and I would like all advice I can get on planning my trip.

It will have two "parts":

On the first part, I will be visiting the IBM team I work with on Boulder, Colorado. I'd like tips for what should be seen on the whereabouts of Boulder and Denver. I will stay there for about 5 to 6 days only and will work 8h a day for 5 days.

After that period, I will be catching a flight to California. Here I have two questions: what would be the cheaper way to fly from Colorado to California? On what city should I start?

My idea for the second part is to have a roadtrip, stopping in must-see cities, staying for the night, then leaving in the morning. I want to drive all the way from California to Las Vegas. I will have 15 to 20 days on that part of the trip. Is that feasible?

I am really into getting to know the American way of life, like small cities, eating at BBQ, Hamburger and Dinner places on the roadside, besides maybe stopping on a amusement or theme park along the way. I am thinking about Six Flags or something like that. Any tips on that?

Also, please consider I am 29 years old and I am on a budget. I'd like to spend some time on budget hotels and motels but I would also spend some nights on good hotels that are worth the money.

Any tips or at least pointers to places on the internet where I can find further advice would be awesome.

Inauguration Day as a tourist - worth it?

TheTelf — Mon, 05 May 2008 06:19:05 -0800

Planning on visiting the US from the UK early next year, and thought it'd be interesting to try to coincide visiting Washington DC with Inauguration Day (whoever gets elected). Is this a good idea? More specifically, will I need to book way in advance for accommodation? I assume that the parade is just open to the public, but are there other public events to see throughout the day? Is it a good time to be a tourist in the city, or will everywhere be closed/full?

It'll be my first time in Washington, and, indeed, my first time visiting the US.

Seeing (Parts of) America: Managing and Enjoying Our Big Road Trip

Clyde Mnestra — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 09:42:17 -0800

We actually want to spend 15-20 days this summer driving around America, buying gas and seeing stuff. The questions are, how to get to the stuff from the east coast, and what stuff? My spouse and children (5ish and 12ish) have not seen the vast majority of America, and we would like to expand our horizons. We look to have a little more than 2 weeks on our hands, and a station wagon, and a starting and ending point in the mid-Atlantic. It is probably indispensable to the trip's success to take in California. So here are the questions:

1. How do we get there and back? My original idea had been to drive from the east to the west coast and choose a different route back (e.g., go out along the south, and return through the Dakotas). But this probably chews up more time than we have. Our other thought is to fly out to Vegas or some such place, rent a car, do a loop, and return the car to Vegas (avoiding a one-way dropoff fee). Does anyone have any other clever ideas about how to manage this feat? I am conscious that the mini-loop winds up sacrificing lots that I would like to show them in mid-America, but the best may be the enemy of the halfway feasible.

2. What are some of the indispensables? My kids would like to see LA, SF, Vegas; I would like them to see some national parks and monuments and vistas, like the Grand Canyon, the redwoods, Rushmore, Yosemite, the Rockies, etc. I would love to have your input on a top ten of reasonably compatible highlights. FWIW, one of my concepts is to take in things that they are unlikely to otherwise stumble across, so bonus points for great sites that would be less likely for later destination travel.

3. Any smart travel tips? Such as, join the Holiday Inn Frequent Sleeper Club, get the combo portable DVD player/taser, etc.?

P.S. I have seen some other posts, like the best of Route 1 and Alabama to Seattle, but none have been on point, particularly as to travel with kids. Thanks!

What is my best option, moving from San Diego to Toronto?

geodave — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:18:33 -0800

Moving from California to Toronto, how can we do it cheaply? Got about enough stuff to fill a cube van, nothing big. Could potentially put it all in the back of a decent sized pickup truck.

I'm looking at car rental places, truck rental sites, none of them seem to let me put in a Canadian destination to drop off the van. Would it be cheaper to just hire a moving company to do the same thing?

Cheapest I found was $899 to go from San Diego to Buffalo using budget trucks, and then somehow make it the extra 2 hours through the generosity of friends or something.

Any ideas?

Now we have "open skies", we will travel

jobby — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 07:57:29 -0800

In the US from 24th-31st May, what do we do! We're two friends from London in our twenties interested in going to music festivals (particularly blues and jazz and possibly country), cultural events (food/drink based, film festivals) and anything else people think will be fun. We have a mid-range budget and don't like camping. We were thinking about going to New York but are open to other cities on either coast. We'd be up for some travelling but obviously can't see everything in a week. Our mighty currency permits us to lavish copious beverages upon those who please us.

How does an Aussie geo get to Canada?

twirlypen — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 19:49:29 -0800

This time next year I'll be a freshly graduated Australian geolgist. I'd like to work overseas, and I'm tempted by Canada or the US. What should I be aware of while trying to arrange all this, and how easy would it be to work as close to New York as possible? This November, I'll be graduating with honours in Geology from a university in Australia. I've done some vacation work along the way, I've got good grades and references, and I usually interview well.

Any advice about what to expect, what the job market's like, what the job conditions are like, what the life's like etc. would be really appreciated.

I'd love to be as close to NYC as possible, but I'm aware that it probably isnt' the easiest thing.

I'm not interested in working for a company with a poor environmental record.

Thanks in advance.