[Assam] Serve in Iraq and become US citizens/Expat Aspirations

Mon Jun 12 06:51:03 PDT 2006

Mukul-da,

  You might recall that I had moved from Boston to DC last year (July 7th, 2005) 5 hours before the london bombings -- in an effort to get a job overseas in education and development (and get paid in dollars to repay in $39,000 fast -since living cost is low in poor, impoverished nations) - at one of the numerous NGOs based here -or at World Bank. 

  Since I had never planned to go for an H-1B work visa to work visa -so I did not do what many Indian students do: Push the start date of the Optional Practial training -OPT F 1visa (which I am on currently) visa into August  -so that they can apply for H-1B and get the 60 day grace period to change into a new category -and stay in US on in USA till Oct 1 when they are eligible to work in USA. 

  Infact I had to admit that I had not planned to stay in US and work here after my student  visa expired (so had started my OPT date sooner hoping to get an overseas assignment soon after my landing in DC for job hunt) --  to two female lawyers (from elite National Law Univ, Bangalore, India sitting next to me at the Regal Theatre, Chinatown, DC while watching Da Vinchi Code  )  who had applied for H-1B visa to work in DC -after graduating from some Law Inst. in New Hampshire state. They had planned it perfectly and I appeared like a fool (even though I knew all the rules well in advance).

  So this opening (if it works out - I see why not) seems like best of both the worlds. I get to do social service (defend the people from terrorists) in underdeveloped (Middle East?) and get paid by US in dollars (they insist that all soldiers will be paid directly to their bank -good for me all $15,000 per annum salary saved -they pay for food, board  and  travel - I can repay most of my student loan in two years - but I gather US army also pays extra for student loans up to $70,000 per  enlistee ).

  The INS Immigration weblink http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/MilitaryBrochurev7.htm
  suggets that once you enlist you can be put on Green Card by army - and only once you get the green card you are really admitted to the army (as per www.goarmy.com ).

  More later.

  Umesh

  PS: There is a Gurudwara in Iraq - maintained by Sikhs - tracking Guru Nanak's journey to Mecca centuries ago. I saw it on TV in India. 

mc mahant <mikemahant at hotmail.com> wrote:
        This is innovation , Umesh!
  Who knows :you might end up being the author of a bestselling war memoir. One  who came back without masskilling yet unscathed.
  More than an  English version for the Diaspora,  imagine a Hindi Version--millions of copies .And translation rights for umpteen languages --.Keep the pics intact -may be keep stored in say SNAPFISH.
  Go for it in any combination. With a longterm strategy . 
  All luck !!!
  mm

---------------------------------

From:  umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com>
Reply-To:  umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.edu
To:  mc mahant <mikemahant at hotmail.com>
CC:  assam at assamnet.org
Subject:  Re: [Assam] Serve in Iraq and become US citizens/Business Model
Date:  Sun, 11 Jun 2006 16:24:38 +0100 (BST)

  Mukul-da,

     I checked and found that non-citizens cannot join as officers and also that they cannot go into occuptaions which need security clearance -such as most jobs in Air Force. Army provides a wider array of choices - but I doubt they would hire someone who is not a citizen to plan army operations.
     I was wondering what I would be allowed to write about since war operations and even whereabouts must be kept secret. I think I could write about recontruction work being done by NGOs there - I could befriend some NGO staff and after two years of service could join them using my Harvard  skills and army work in the terrain.

     How about that?

     Umesh

     PS: Still hopeful of getting Full Time employment letter in school teaching - to file for H-1B work visa -- but the way army recruitment seems to be progressing -much faster than in India - 
I might make a choice even  before the deadline to file for H-1B visa is there. Another option I have been wondering about was to propose to someone special -but even that would take longer than joining the army perhaps. Two years is not a very long time-though I certainly hope it would not become forever for me.

mc mahant <mikemahant at hotmail.com> wrote:   
                    I wonder how I will get info about who did the operation for my tonsilitis when I was in grade 11 and at what date and hospital records etc. 

     Don't manipulate .Tell them the truth   "3rd world - nobody keeps  records even for  births and deaths". They might still grab you-they may be desperate to.
     AND NEVER BE AFRAID! 
     You may turn out to be their tactical brains trust at the site 
of operation.
     And never mix up loyalties. When in Rome be a Roman.
     Happy Hunting!!
mm

---------------------------------

From:  umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com>
Reply-To:  umesh.sh05 at post.harvard.edu
To:  assam at assamnet.org
Subject:  Re: [Assam] Serve in Iraq and become US citizens/Business Model
Date:  Sun, 11 Jun 2006 06:44:51 +0100 (BST)

     For all that I have learnt so far I am still eligible as far as my  wieght-height ratio , age , health , education , country of origin , US residency is concerned. I wonder how I will get info about who did the operation for my tonsilitis when I was in grade 11 and at 
what date and hospital records etc.    
       http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/a/medicalforms.htm

       Only niggling factor is that in some places they mention you must be a Green Card holder - but www.goarmy.com asks even those who are not to apply. Some Indian had also joined while I was in India and had been brought back to Punjab for cremation (though I am in no hurry). I might pay a visit to the recruitment center on monday -two train/bus stops away.

       It was my landlord who mentioned that 
within 72 hours of joining you become a US citizen (maybe he meant get Green Card or whatever) but you have to serve on active duty (full time) for atleast two years. Anyway I cannot Special Forces (only age 20-30   
and only US citizens) which might be the tough part.     

       It seems like a good way of seeing the world -and an alternative to the long road to getting US citizenship for the Indian techies also

       Umesh

       PS: The boot camp bit seems tough for greenhorns -but I might need to practice my jogging a bit. They need a person to complete a mile (1600m) in 8 and half minutes. Last I measured was in grade 11 when I came third at 6 and half (or seven?) minutes (for 1500m race) and 12 secs for 100m. I had come first in Cross Country trials of 3 miles in 19 and half minutes. In finals I was lagging behind - the winner did it in about 17 minutes and broke the school record 
of many decades.

       US army pays for your student loans as well-quite a good 
business plan for foreign students in US as well -if they turn out to be eligible. However, it seems US citizens have great bargaining power about what they will do in the military-they even choose what occupations in the military they want to do - and army tries to match their skills and interests - and they can leave after two years of service -with Green Card/citizenship (?) -if on active duty.   

umesh sharma <jaipurschool at yahoo.com> wrote:
              http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/services/natz/MilitaryBrochurev7.htm
       It shows that after Sep 11, 2001 those who serve in US army on active duty can become US citizens. They should already be in US while 
enlisting -which I am atleast   
till June end.     

       Though i would prefer to keep working in school educaton - but you never know a detour can broaden horizons. However, I may not be eligible

       http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=us+citizenship+via+army+enlistment

       Any comments?

       Umesh

Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/       Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 
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Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/     Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com     

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assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org
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Umesh Sharma
5121   
Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/   Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com   

_______________________________________________
assam mailing list
assam at assamnet.org
http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org

Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

weblog: http://jaipurschool.bihu.in/
 Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com 
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