2016 - I DID IT! | Regards, Dan.

I began writing this post in August 2016, hence the change in tense. I hope you enjoy the read.

August

2016 has been one of the biggest challenges I've faced so far in life. I think I've felt every emotion possible. But, certainly for the last 6 months, it was one big headache. The journey started back in August, I had a dream and no idea where to start. The dream was to move to Los Angeles, somewhere I'd spent some time earlier in the year.

So, the dream was there, but how do I accomplish this? I did what everyone does, I googled it! I found a number of promising companies offering services that I feel could help me on this journey. I spent weeks and weeks researching all the companies, reading review after review on the websites from people who had the same dream as me.

After a month, I decided on a company that I felt offered exactly what I wanted, and made contact. Initially, I went through a long process of being approved for even starting the program. Not having a physical degree is extremely hard when it comes to proving knowledge and experience. So I continued to plod along completing form after form and obtaining letters of recommendations from current and previous employers. Eventually, I finished all the forms and paid all the money that was required from the company, and so began the long wait...

September

I arrived in LA late September to spend a month learning about the city, experiencing the change in culture and "hopefully" meeting the company I'd potentially work for. A couple of weeks past, and I still hadn't heard anything from my the company handling my papers.. I continued to chase everyday, getting more and more frustrated.. I felt like it was never going to happen. I sat on Zuma Beach in Malibu wondering whether I could actually pull this off.

October

FINALLY, I heard back from my paper handling company who provided the details of a potential company. I met the company on the 8th October (Which for anyone who knows me is my birthday!), so I thought this would give me some luck! I completed the forms and tests required by the company and also met with the CEO and Supervisor for a small interview; it went well, really well. I left the interview feeling optimistic and excited at the potential venture in front of me. After submitting a small review to the company about my experience and what I can offer them, I began the waiting game again.

Weeks went by, I completed more tests required by the potential company. As I said before, it's hard when you don't have a physical degree; you have to prove everything. I entered my final week in LA. My mood had dropped, I was depressed because I thought this dream was over. And then, while sitting in a brewery at Universal Studios, I received the email I'd been waiting for: "We'd like to offer you the job". I was ecstatic, I couldn't control my excitement.

I flew home later that week and shared the news with my family; who shared my excitement. But, I knew that this was only the start. I had the job, now I needed the visa. I began the second load of paperwork with my paper handling company. Now began the most stressful month of 2016..

November / December

November was a fairly quiet month in regards to this, I was making sure that I had finances in place just incase I was able to pull this off. In order to have everything in place in order to honour my potential start date of the 2nd January 2017, I had to hand my notice in at Capgemini; without knowing if I had a visa. This decision was extremely hard, Cap was a company I'd worked at for nearly 6 years, and I was taking a huge risk giving that up. But, I knew my dream and I was confident in myself, so on the 27th November, I handed my notice of leave to Capgemini. We hit December, and still not word regarding the final documents. I continued to chase, growing more and more frustrated as the days went by.

On December 14th, I received the final paperwork that I needed. I was now able to book my Visa appointment at the US Embassy.

06:00 London, 21st December. I travelled to London the night before to make sure I was up and mentally prepared for the interview. I walked to the embassy early; my appointment was at 08:30. I'd read about interview experiences and how gruelling the process was for people; this panicked me. I stood in the queue with many other visa hopefuls, and we were allowed in. I filled in yet another form, took my number and sat in what can only be described as church pews. My number was called and I walked to the glass window number 8 (my birthday, bit of luck again I guess). The officer took my finger prints and asked me a few simple questions. I was given a form and was told to join another queue.

I stood and waited for 15-20 minutes as the I creeped slowly towards the front. I was people watching, my favourite game, I watched how the officers were behaving towards other visa hopefuls, I watched how people were approved and denied in a matter of seconds until; it was my turn. I stood and waited to be called to the window, I was shaking and sweating. The officer must have called me forward, but I didn't hear. He shouted "PLEASE come forward!". I walked slowly to the window, dropping my umbrella in the process (Pull it together Dan, I was thinking). He took my forms from me, and began to enter the information into his computer. After a serious of small questions, he took his pen out, signed the form and said the words I'd waited almost 6 months to hear; VISA APPROVED.

The next few moments were almost a blur. I walked out the embassy onto a busy Oxford Street feeling like Will Smith in "The Pursuit Of Happiness", you know? when he gets the job he'd worked so hard for. I cried, a lot.. I cried because I'd been working at this for 6 months, I'd given up my job of 6 years for this, I'd not slept properly out of sheer worry. And finally, I'D DONE IT!

Now, I'm finishing this post 3 months into my adventure, I'd be lying if I said it's been easy, it's one of the toughest things I've ever done. But, I've met some incredible people and I'm determined to make this opportunity count.