Driver's license

So back in June after I got my SSN, I went to the DMV here in town and tried applying for a driver's license. Since I had a valid Canadian driver's license, I wouldn't need to take the written or road test, just the vision test. Well, after waiting about 2 hours to get called up, I was only up at the counter for about 5 minutes since I completely failed the vision test. The lady asked me how long I've had my glasses for and told her I've had the same ones for about 7 years. She suggested I go get an eye exam, get new glasses, and come back to try again.

So, since I knew an eye exam and new frames/lenses would be expensive, I waited until I had a job so I had the money to afford it. As you all should know, I got a job in August. I procrastinated for a few weeks (as is usual for myself XD), but since October 10th was coming up (my birthday!), my Quebec driver's license was going to become invalid as we have to pay an $80 fee each year to keep it valid. So, now I had a deadline. I got my eye exam done September 29th. Then went back the next day to pick out frames and choose what lenses I wanted. On October 5th, I got a call saying my glasses were ready. The next day, after my class was finished at school, I biked to the DMV. This time around, no one was there! I just had to fill out the form, and I was brought up immediately. About 20 minutes later (after successfully passing the vision test), I had my new South Dakota driver's license in my hands! And I thought I would have to wait a week or two, like I had to with Quebec. But nope, it was available right away!

Anyway, here's a picture of me with my new driver's license :D

Credit card

So, on September 1st, I went to my bank to apply for a credit card. Sometime in July (I think it was), I had gone to my bank to apply for a credit card, but was denied since I didn't have a job. Anyways, I went again less than 2 weeks ago since I had a job. Plus I was applying for the college credit card, and because I'm in college, I thought I'd have a better chance of getting it. Anyways, checked the mail when I got home from school just a few minutes ago and discovered a letter from my bank. I was approved!

The process of applying for a credit card was simple as I already had an account with my bank (checking + savings account), so they had most of the information already on hand (like my SSN). All they needed was my work and school information and that was it. I was expecting to be asked for proof of enrollment in school, but wasn't asked at all.

Glad to finally have an American credit card! :)

~Lindsay

Orientation and training

Well, I finally had my orientation and training at Target two days ago on Wednesday from 9am to 5:30pm. The morning was spent watching orientation videos. Then a tour of the store. The afternoon consisted of cashier training. Training only lasted about an hour or so, and then I had real experience dealing with guests! I think I did a pretty good job as the first time using a cashier.

I'm going back tonight from 4:15 to 8:15 for food training, as I'll be working in both the restaurant and as a cashier.

Off to make more money! :D

~Lindsay

Job

So, about 2-3 weeks ago, I applied for a job at Target. Then about a week later, I got a call to come in for an interview last Thursday. Had a double interview! Then I believe it was a day later when Target called, asking to come back in today. No word on whether hired or not, so didn't know what to expect.

Turns out it was just to talk about being conditionally hired. Have to have a drug test within 24 hours, pass it as well as background checks, and then I'm hired :) Then I'll have orientation either next Wednesday or the Wednesday after. Then I'll finally have a job!

I think those background checks won't be a problem. After going through all the background checks in this immigration process, this will be easy :)

~Lindsay

School

So, a few days after I received my SSN, I applied to a school here in town, Lake Area Technical Institute. I had my high school transcripts sent to me and my college transcripts sent directly to the college. Now, because of the postal strike in Canada, it probably got delayed. I'm planning on calling tomorrow to get an update as I have general education credits from college that I want to get transferred so I don't have to re-do them again and pay for stuff I already know.

Anyways, finally got my high school transcripts on Friday, but I was out all day Friday and only got home at night, so I couldn't go to the school to drop them off. So on Monday, Ben brought me to Lake Area while on his lunch break. Dropped them off.

Today, I had a wonderful letter from Lake Area. Right on the front of the envelope was a sticker with 'accepted' on it! Didn't even need to open the envelope. I now have to pay them $150 as a deposit of sorts. I don't really have enough money at the moment to pay that, but thankfully I have about a month to get it to them.

I'm very excited to finally go back to school again as it's been more than a year!

~Lindsay

SSN received!

So, I had a good feeling this morning as I went to check the mailbox. Lo and behold, there was something for me from the SSA! Came all the way from Baltimore, Maryland. There was only one thing inside the envelope:

(front with SSN card)

(back)

So, after one month and one day from entering the USA, I finally have my SSN! *dances*

Going to my bank after Ben gets off work and I'm going to apply for a credit card. Hope I get accepted! As soon as I have a credit card, I'll be buying my computer parts off NewEgg, so I can finally, finally have a desktop again! *super excited*

I'll be applying for school probably tomorrow and getting my transcripts gathered and such.

I'll also have to pay a visit to the DMV (*shudder*) to get a South Dakota driver's license.

And then finally, try to get a job somewhere, so I can start getting money again after one year of unemployment.

~Lindsay

Applied for SSN

Well, yesterday marked 3 weeks since my POE. I read on VJ a lot that if you checked off on the DS-230/DS-260 for an SSN and don't receive it after 3 weeks from POE that you should go to a local SSA office and apply in person. So that's what I did today.

After lunch, Ben drove me to the SSA office here in town. I explained to the lady there that I had to come to the USA on an immigrant visa and still hadn't received an SSN, after 3 weeks of waiting. So she asked for my visa, so I gave her my passport. A few moments later, she requested for my birth certificate, which I brought with me as well. She then asked me some questions, like my address, if I ever had a US driver's license before, if I had applied for college in the US, if I ever had a checking or savings account in the US, if I had ever filed taxes, if I had ever been registered to vote, etc etc. After she finished asking all the questions, she printed out a form with just my basic info on it (name, date of birth, parents' names, address, phone number) and asked me to verify if everything was correct. It was. She took the paper back and printed something else out. She told me that I should receive my SSN in the mail within 10 days. If I didn't receive it in 2 weeks, she told me to call the number that was listed on the paper she gave me. All in all, it took about 15 minutes.

So, back to the waiting game. I'm hoping the card arrives next week sometime. I really want to apply to school for the fall semester and then apply for a credit card, so I can finally buy a computer. And then of course, find a job.

~Lindsay