Note: this article is for Consular Processing clients.
For AOS clients, check out this article for what to expect.
When you receive your work authorization (visa), you will enter the Client Services Department at BDV, and you will be assigned to a Client Services Specialist. Your Specialist will advise you in your resettlement; however, you will be responsible for obtaining and securing all items (housing, car, etc.) and resolving all outstanding issues that affect your work.
Items included in this process are:
Securing plane tickets to the US and traveling to the US
Social Security card
Housing (temporary upon arrival to US and permanent upon receiving Worksite)
Transportation
Driver's license
Childcare
US bank account
Any other issues you need to discuss that affect your work (health, etc.)
Your Specialist will also work together with your Coordinator to request your worksite so that you can find housing near your job.
You should resolve all items above before you start work.
Please note: the following Workflow may not apply to all Consular clients, especially those who have agents. But you will still need to accomplish the main things.
When you are completely settled and ready to work, your Specialist will assign your case to your Coordinator. Your Coordinator will handle your case in terms of starting work and onboarding with your sponsor.
Items included in this process are:
Preparing for orientation
Receiving a date for orientation
Application to the job
Background check for the job
Drug test for the job
You can expect this entire process to take less time if you have few Checklist items and more time if you need to complete many items for resettlement before starting work. However, we do not advise you to settle in a permanent place if you have a sponsor with variable worksites. In that case, you should wait until you have a Worksite from your Specialist.
Our goal is to help you start work within 60 days or less from arrival in the US. It's very important that you do not contact the sponsor during this time, as BDV will arrange all sponsor communications for you.
Your messages are very important to us. Our goal is to respond to you within 2 business days (so if you contact us on a Friday, we will reply by end of day Tuesday, etc.). If you do not hear back from us within 2 business days, feel free to contact the Client Services main chat and someone will assist you asap. We are here to help.