see u 23

When I was a kid, the soccer team was choosing jerseys. I didn't know anything about it back then, not even the meaning of the numbers, so I just chose number 23. That was my first jersey. Blue Arsenal number 23. From then on, I loved the number 23. I remember clearly that in my third year of junior high, the coach gave me number 9, and I felt a little uncomfortable about it.

As I grew older, I realized this number was always associated with legends: Jordan wore number 23, Beckham later wore number 23 too... Then, I became more assertive and dissatisfied, desperately wanting number 10, but the number 10 jersey always seemed so far away. Wearing number 23 always brought me good luck, including that one and only championship. Sorry, number 23, I have it, yet I yearn for number 10.

Today I received incredibly exciting news: my H1B visa was approved after the check. This means I now have legal work status, and at least I can choose my own future. Although many issues still need to be resolved, this step is crucial. Obtaining an H1B visa is truly difficult; when I received the approval email, my first reaction wasn't excitement, but relief. I'm incredibly lucky. There are so many hurdles to overcome to get a work visa, though much of it was self-imposed pressure on me.

————The following content is a rant about the H1B application process; those familiar with it can skip it———————————-

To apply for an H1B visa, you first need a job. Honestly, I don't know who said finding a job in the US is easy; it's absolutely not easy. Even in Computer Science, it's challenging enough, let alone other majors. The difficulty lies in two aspects: 1. As a foreigner, there's a language barrier. Even if communication isn't a problem, it's difficult to perform well in an interview, especially when it comes to improvisation. Often, you know the answer, but you can't express it well. 2. Visa status. Fresh graduates typically have OPT (Optional Practical Training), which is a special student status that can be used for work, but it doesn't actually grant a visa because your student visa has expired. The US is an immigration country, so companies are very sensitive about visa status. Many companies will directly ask or request your visa status during the application process. If you say you're on OPT or a non-work visa, most companies will find it troublesome and refuse you. After all, with so many applicants, companies are looking for talent that's convenient and easy to use. Unless you have special interview skills, you're very likely to fail. Everyone knows OPT isn't long-term; the company has to invest time and money to help you get an H1B. If you were the boss, what would you choose?

After finally finding a job, the second step is to perform well and gain the company's approval so they can sponsor your H1B visa. The process itself isn't complicated, but it involves the company providing a lot of confidential information, which can be quite troublesome for others. And it also requires financial investment (which you can, of course, reimburse the company for).

The next point is crucial: H1B visas have been in short supply since 2012, and the situation has worsened. Before 2012, you could apply for an H1B at any time of year because the quota wasn't used up. Applications opened on April 1st, 2012, and the quota was filled in 10 days, with no further applications accepted. In 2013, there were reportedly 120,000 applicants for only 80,000 visas. This year, 2014, there were 170,000 applicants, with applications opening and closing on April 1st. I can't even imagine what will happen after that. Without a work visa, you either have to go back to your home country or go back to school. Engineering majors are fortunate to have two years of OPT, but most majors only have one year. This means if you don't get one within a year, well... Since so many people are applying, there's a lottery. This year, the success rate for graduate students is 50%-60%, and for undergraduates, it's 30%-40%. That's why I'm so lucky.

Some people have wondered if graduating in May means they'd have to wait until April of next year to apply for a visa. The answer is: absolutely. That's why many people only have one chance. That's why I chose to graduate early. I have two and a half years of OPT, graduating in December, which gives me three chances in the visa lottery; otherwise, I only have two. However, graduating in December also has its problems: you need to find a job immediately, and the company needs to quickly recognize your talent and be willing to help you apply for a visa (most companies require a minimum stay of six months).

Winning the lottery isn't the best-case scenario; you still have to face document review, and if the review fails, the application will still be rejected. Many reasons for rejection boil down to one thing: why would the company hire you for this position instead of an American? In other words, the company's justification for applying for an H1B visa is often the reason for failure, and this is the most common cause of rejection. HR, communication, and other departments are prone to this kind of situation.

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I consider myself very lucky because I went through all the steps mentioned above without missing a single one. First, when I was job hunting, I stated directly that I needed a work visa for April, nothing else. Luckily, I met a good friend. After starting work, the company still didn't want to apply for an H1B visa in March, but after I repeatedly reminded them, they finally helped me with it. I'm very grateful for my boss's help. Next was the lawyer. Because it was a small company, I needed to find a lawyer myself. Being unfamiliar with the area and with such a short timeframe, where could I find a lawyer? That's when my friend appeared. I only started preparing the materials in mid-March, just in time to submit them on April 1st.

After submitting the materials, I waited every day for news of the lottery. The immigration office never told you when the lottery would be held or when you would be selected. All you could do was wait and wait for the email. Finally, at the end of April, the email arrived—I was selected!! Holy crap, it was like winning the lottery. I checked online communities every day; some people were selected, some weren't. Sigh... It was really tough... I was so lucky.

Because it was a small company with low salaries, I was terrified of being rejected. I waited anxiously for news, and sure enough, at the end of May, I was put on an administrative check. They asked me to provide more documentation. Their explanation was that because the company had a contract with the government, they needed to provide my contract with the government. However, I had absolutely no connection with the government, and I couldn't do anything for them (registration), so the immigration office had misunderstood my situation. I quickly submitted the supplementary materials, clarified the situation, and sent them out in August. The immigration office received them on August 5th. Apparently, at this point, there are only two possible outcomes: 1. Approval, 2. Denial. It was completely up to fate.

Having gone this far, I honestly didn't dare log into the immigration inquiry system anymore. Every day was a struggle: I desperately wanted to know the result, but no! What if the result was bad? Maybe I shouldn't check anymore, and should wait a little longer. Of course, I'd also prepared for the worst: pursuing a PhD or returning home after my OPT expired!

Thankfully, on the last day of my 23rd year, good news arrived. Actually, I'm already 24 in China. Whether it's the luck that 23 brings or the birthday gift of 24 from heaven, I'm very grateful to everyone who has helped me. There are many things I really can't do on my own, and having everyone around me is truly wonderful.

Okay, now that this is settled, I can start thinking about the future. So many things...

It's so nice that you remembered my birthday...