Red Tape

26th September, 2011

Today I didn't do much as I spent most of the day stressing out about getting a job here. While I have been told that I have a job with Wells Fargo in Minneapolis, my sponsoring group said that there are only certain jobs that I can do and certain ways of searching. I used a recruiter and they said that this isn't allowed (even though nowhere is it anywhere on their entire website or their documents that I received). You'd think that someone would have mentioned this at some point.

I am getting increasingly frustrated with the red tape here. Being an immigrant in the US is terrible. I am wondering is it worth all this hassle. There are problems with everything.

1. Social Security
It takes up to 4 weeks but after 6 weeks,I still haven't received anything. You can't find out anything online or by phone. I had to call into them and queue up on 3 separate occasions.

2. Opening up a bank account
I still havan't opened up a bank account because I need my social security number for that, which I don;t yet have.

3. Getting a job
I was told I had to fly to MN for an interview and fill out forms (all of which I could have easily done through email). It wasn;t a proper interview at all. I need my social security number in order to work for them (even though I should be able to work without it).

4. Approving the job
When I locate a job, I have to get it approved by the sponsoring organization before I start, which could take two weeks. They have rules that are not written anywhere but which they enforce.

I have had problems with everything so far. It has been almost 6 weeks and basically nothing has changed. There are too many organizations involved in everything that I am doing.