An article on Visa delay in Washington post

It good to see our concerns in American news paper. Here is the link http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/11/AR2009041102238.html

J2 to J1 visa conversion......personal experience !!

I am in US on J1 visa and my wife came with me on J2 visa. After coming to US, she also got postdoc position and decided to convert her visa category from J2 to J1. The sponsor agreed to this and issued Ds-2019 and asked to go back to India for J1 visa application within 6 months of entry to US.
Does it mean that if one stays for more than six months in US, they can not change their J visa category ? I would like to clear that both of us are subjected to 2 years home residency rule because of our technical qualification.
Anyway but the problem does not end here.........as we thought that there will be no problem in getting J1 visa this time as both of us had already gone through administrative processing (TAL) just 3 months back, when We came to US......but during my wife's J1 visa interview, she was given yellow slip and asked to submit technical qualification questionnaire and ........when she said that I have already gone through security check few months back, visa officer said, it was for j2 visa but this time it will be for j1 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't understand the logic.........but can not do anything but to wait for the mail from US consulate.

TAL/ Administrative processing visa delay

Finally somebody heard of research scholars/postdocs, who generally apply for J1 visa. Board on International Scientific Organization from National Science Academy, US has taken initiative by issuing a statement to US government/ DOS for the benefit of international students, scholars, and scientists who have applied for visas to study, conduct research, or attend conferences in the US. (http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/biso/visas/index.htm)

It also says that If you have not got your visa with 21 days of your visa interview, then please submit a questionnaire in order to enable them to generate statistics on visa delay and extending further help as far as possible.

My experience with J1 US visa

I appeared for J1 visa interview on 25^th March 2009 with my wife. Everything went well but at the end, I was given yellow slip and was asked to submit technical qualification questionnaire, offer letter, DS-157 and my CV. I did not expect that……I was shocked and when I came out of embassy, I could not understand what to do for some time.

Whole plan was disturbed, I had booked my ticket for US, and fortunately it was an open ticket. I came home and answered all the questions of the TAL (http://mumbai.usconsulate.gov/hitechbs.html). I submitted the questionnaire with other documents and then started waiting for reply from embassy. Meanwhile, I got a acknowledgement mail. Everyday or say many time during the day, I was used to check my mails……..after 3 weeks, my employer in US started asking that how much time will it take (as if I know the answer)……I was nervous, one fear was that if I get visa very late or not at all…….what will I do…….I will have to start looking for other job options in India….and I really started applying to a few places in India. It was a big torture to me and my family……fortunately I got the mail from US consulate on 4^th May 2009, saying completion of administrative processing and asking to submit passport. I submitted my passport on 5^th may and got the visa on 7^th May. I came to US on 12^th May.

If I look back, I get afraid……..I am still afraid of taking any holiday……what if I go to India and then have to wait for weeks/months to come back. Only those people who have gone through this Administrative processing on their visa can understand my situation……..I hope that this situation will improve in future, I am optimistic…….till now !!!!

Finally got PhD.......

Sorry I could not post anything from a long time as I was busy in finishing my PhD. Finally I am a Dr.!!!!!

It was a great experience......I learnt a lot of things not only technically but also could understand life in much better sense. I must say, PhD teaches you a lot. It is not merely a degree, it is an institution in itself. .......hard work, time management, patience, hope, failures, success, dream, love.......everything happened in the last five years. Then the question comes, what next ? I wanted to break the convention by not going for postdoc (as everybody goes for postdoc after PhD). I explored my options in Academic research in India, research in Industry, Academic teaching, Intellectual Property rights........and finally came to the conclusion that postdoc experience is must.....though before joining for PhD, I was used to think that PhD is good enough......I was wrong.

After working on cancer research for five years, I decided to sharpen my skills further and have started my postdoctoral research in the USA........

I will write more about my personal expericne on PhD, US visa, postdoc positions, mentors, Biotech career etc in detail later....till then bye and have a nice weekend !!

Rediff article on why not have an expiry on PhD

Just a few days back an article appeared on rediff by TCA Raghvan on "why not have an expiry date for PhD". It generated lot of comments by viewers of the website. Most of the comments strongly critisized the article and the author of the article.
I would just like to draw attention of you towards something else, with all those comments that article got popular, rediff got lot of people surfing their website.....their job was done. They don't even worry about what it means by doing PhD or say what is actually PhD.
We the PhD students should not even bother to react to such stupid articles and should concentrate on our research. Rediff is not a govt portal so we should not worry whatever is being published there.

Great opportunity for students seeking career in Biotechnology

Indian Institutes of Technology conducts a Joint Admission test to M.Sc. (JAM) for admission to M.Sc. and other post-B.Sc. programmes at the IITs. The main objective of JAM is to provide admissions to various M.Sc. and other post-B.Sc. programmes based on the performance in a single test and consolidate 'Science' as a career option for bright students from across the country. In due course, JAM is also expected to become a benchmark for normalising undergraduate level science education in the country.
This year's adv is out in news papers. I saw it in Times of India dated 28/10/7. Its a great opportunity for Studensts who want to pursue their career in Biotech as MSc in Biotech is also available in IITs. Though there are many universities offering good MSc Biotech but IIT has its name and it has always proven to be the best. So guys aspiring to do MSc in Biotech, go for JAM 2008, work hard and get in to IIT.
Good Luck....