Well times my juniors come to me to ask what/how to complete a successful internship abroad. Now that I have completed two such interns and made all the possible mistakes in the process, I can now pen down a few points which all prospective applicants should do to get a success. And as goes with all such advices the points that might work for one might not for others, but on whole these points will hold all in good stead. So here we go.........
(* My times and schedules are based on my college i.e. IITR, but others can modify it according to themselves too. )
1) How/Where/When to start Applying??
I would suggest all to start applying right from august or September. For US its best to have your internship confirmation, at least 3 months before you plan to depart ,for VISA documentation procedure and for other countries at least 2 months should be in hand .
Search Wikipedia or Google to make a list of all colleges you want to apply. Go according to country and keep tab on which you have already applied and which not since its extremely unprofessional to send the same invitation twice to the same place/prof.
After making list of colleges/Universities, go to their websites look for staff or department according to your choice of field. Study each profs research interest and choose profs according to your own research interests.
Before applying write a good Cover Letter - which you send to each prof. Your latest and complete Resume/CV. And also for additional advantage a rough project based on your research interest or some of your own ideas you want to work on. Your seniors will help out in how to get the correct formats for the above. Don't forget to convert the MS Word document into PDF format since many times a corrupted file or insufficient software might lead to the reciever facing problems to read your documents and that is a sigh of being a RANK Unprofessional.
While applying match when you are applying to the recieving country's time zone. Match such that the prof gets your mail while he is in his office working hours usually 10 am to 4 pm to be safe. This ensures fast responses and easy query clarifications.
Lastly send lots of invites , i have personally sent 2000+ mails to various profs in each year. send and cover all options so that you have enough options. It should be that in future you keep cursing yourself saying you could have done that or this.
Keep following up on each even vaguely positive replies. ask what else they want from you or what the problems might be and work with them to solve it , since many times small misunderstandings means lost opportunities.
Be polite in your replies , neither should you sound too arrogant nor should you be a push-over or what i called a door-mat! Be confident , precise and short in your replies. No one likes to read a long mail , especially its when they are doing you a favor.
2) What to do if/after you get confirmation??
After you get a position/confirmation. The thing to be done is to get in contact with the various person in the concerned in the Company/University. Most often than not different departments handle different aspects in an interns placement. So best get in touch with the HR Department through your contact and from them get to know what is the exact VISA procedure for your kind of placement and the details of the Internship Contract and the Stipend and also even the taxation details. Keep in constant touch with the concerned persons and keep following up and clarify even the slightest doubts. Since small , stupid or obvious things turns out quite complex and hazardous many times. So be crystal clear about each and every details.
3) VISA Documentation Procedures
Its a very long and complex procedure and you can be denied a Visa at so many steps and so many reasons so i would suggest you to avoid US intern just for the single purpose that you don't age just completing the procedure. I literally felt like banging my head at so many times , which you'll realize too while i move on. Ok lemme start.
Start documentation before at least 3 months as i said earlier.
a) Ask your prof (sometimes like in my unfortunate case the prof has no idea what are the exact documentation too) to send u the DS 7001 Form as soon as you get the confirmation. He'll send you a short form just asking basic details . Fill it up and send him the Scanned copy the same day itself. Along with your current resume of course.
b) Ask the prof to send the document to his own consulate in US through his univ. to apply for a DS-2019 Form for J-1 Exchange Intern Visa category - that's what category which you will fall in.
c) The US Department of State(DS) will enter your basic details in their online database and send your DS-2019 document to your Prof. The procedure usually takes 8- 10 office working days, but if you are unfortunate like it maybe take 2-3 weeks too so be patient keep asking your prof to be i contact with their International student Counselor for the procedure. When he receives the DS -2019 Form , he will send you the DS- 2019 document along with a Offer letter by post .
d) Your actual Visa procedure starts only after you actually receive this mail. It takes 4 days by post to reach you. Then you take this package with you and your Passport and go to Delhi(or any metro nearest to you) and pay the VISA Processing Fee at the HDFC Main Branch. You cant do it in any HDFC Branch you must go to a metro. The feels is approx Rs.5000 and you will have to give a photocopy of your passport.In return you will receive two receipts from the HDFC Bank. Now you have to go online and apply for a VISA Interview at your nearest US VISA Consulate. You start filling out the forms with help of the code written on the receipts you got from the HDFC Bank. Don't apply online until 4 days after you have paid the Fees since it takes time for them update you on their computers. You will also have to pay a SEVIS Fees online of about 180$ , which is very important for your visa interview, so schedule your interview only after 4 days after you have paid the SEVIS fees. So one you got the date the fun begins.
e) When you reach for your interview the procedure is quite simple until you hit the US VISA Consul/ Interviewer. Your will be asked all sort of crazy question , and withing 5 to 15 minutes somehow they will know everything about you and pronounce the judgement. Its 3 ways this way
they might say that your visa application is accepted and take your passport with them and you will then get your visa by mail withing 4- 7 days.
lol.. here it gets funnier.
they might find that you lack some documents so they will handover a book of rules to you and say that your visa application is rejected. If you ask them the reason they'll ask you to find out for yourselves from the book they have given. So once you come out and start reading you will find that actually there was no reasons but you cant go back dude to security so u have lost Rs. 20, 000 and 3 months worth of documentation and all for nothing.
The third part is even scarier, and as usual happened to me . :'-( . I think he didn't like my face but since i answered all his questions confidently and all my documents were in order. So he handed me the PINK SLIP. its a extra security documentation which is done as a precautionary measure if you miss some documents or the consul finds that you might be a lurking terrorist ..:P and your documents needs additional security checks.
This pink slip means that they have your passport and you neither this side now that side. this process takes from 1 month to infinite time and during this period even you don't know where you stand or your passport is . You just wait wait and wait.......... patiently. Its worse than outright refusal because now neither can you know if you will meet you schedule time nor can you move over to any other intern . You are F***** up Royally!! Trust me I know exactly how it feels and hates every moment of it. :( Even now I remember my frustration about this. But I was lucky at least i got my visa finally 5 weeks later ruining my plans by 2 weeks.
4) Book Your Flight
For US internships , DO NOT book you flight before you actually have your visa . Its same for other countries as well but for US it actually means a lot.
After you get your visa , catch hold of a good agent and book the flight , your family will help you through this one easily.
5) Where to Stay and what to eat??
Although this comes later on still its most important considering your meager budget. Search online for cheap apartments . try getting one near your place of work to save for the conveyance costs. Try to get in contact with Indian Students Communities or Societies online that will help you get cheap shared apartments. Its best for students and sharing is way cheaper.
For food its best to cook yourselves, because its very very costly o eat outside. so start learning to cook at least the basic stuff. I can proudly say today that these 3 months in US have made me one of the best cooks. lol. ;)
6) what to buy and where to buy??
For food , goods and all sort of Cheap items try finding big Supermarkets like, WALMART, KMART, Wimco, where you will get the cheapest and best sale. Go for clearance sale for clothes and stuff , you 'll find excellent clearance and excellent cheap prices for older products.
Electronics is cheaper but best buy it online at www.dealsofamerica.com, or www.bestbuy.com, or buy.com. The online service is quite efficient and you can get refurbished products which are as good as new for cheaper prices.
Finally what you want to work and how you want to work is up to you. Do whatever but always try to keep up to your work since you will require a good recommendation from your prof , which will help you out in future. I would suggest especially to work harder in the later part so that your prof is very happy with you when you leave. Maybe you will be able to work with him again in future who know?? ;) At least you can be helped with a good recommendation.
The rest is , make new friends and enjoy and visit place. that's it for me. hope this explains most of your queries. Please don't come to me with more doubts . ;P Just joking. have fun.
KEEP SMILING FOREVER
Dev
