Gov Brown: Fix California Roads & Infrastructure

Thought process in Sacramento - let's keep everyone busy and occupied with super-liberal outrage against POTUS - and may be, just may be, they won't notice that California's infrastructure has become so dilapidated, it needs a concerted and dedicated overhaul. After all, fixing this mess is hard and requires an honest man's job. Nah, it is much easier to just keep talking about women's rights, LGBTQ rights, Islamophobia, conflate legal and illegal, sorry, undocumented immigrants, protest and burn property protesting a speech at UC Berkeley and so on.

I've just one request Gov. Brown - can you please pay some attention to the infrastructure of a state of which you have been the longest serving governor (~15 years across two stints). You, Sir, have left the state's infrastructure in such a mess, it only takes one rainfall to bare all the potholes.

Have you visited the roads in the Bay Area lately. Hwy 101 in the area is just dangerous to drive on. And this was before the downpour. I've no idea how it is today, thankfully, I don't have to take it any more during my commute. The conditions of 880 and 680 aren't much better either, with my Waze constantly saying "Pothole on road ahead". Recently I happened to go to Oakland for some work, and there were roads where you had to find road in the midst of potholes.

Then there is the Oroville dam. Of course, we can't blame you for the dam failure. After all how could you have predicted the downpour. You were happily reminding us of the drought, caused by climate change, and all the time siphoning money off infrastructure maintenance to your pet ultra-left causes.

I pay state taxes to you - so we can live in a society where at least infrastructure is decent. You have a special gas tax here in CA. If you need more money, go lobby in Washington DC on our behalf to get federal funding, instead of fighting and alienating POTUS on every single issue.

Before you spend billions of dollars on your pet high-speed rail project, can you please turn your kind attention to things that matter to us today, you know, like roads and schools? The rich, with their private helicopters/jets and private schools, could not care less about these things. We, the working class (of every color, gender, orientation, nationality), pay a non-trivial amount in taxes so you can take care of these. Please do.

Best,
An Unknown CA Resident

Immigrating to the US: Top Five Things to Get Started

When you come here, most likely you have a passport, a visa and an I-94. Here are the top five things you will want to take care of, to get settled and go about your business:

1) SSN - Based on your passport, visa and I-94, you should be able to get your SSN. This is one of the first things you need to get done - a lot of things go easy (or become possible) when you have an SSN (and the SS Card). Generally, wait for about two weeks after your arrival. Then go to your local SS office with your docs. You can download the application up front, fill it up and go to the office. After verifying the originals, your application will be accepted. They will also issue you a letter stating the date on which you applied. Your card should come by mail usually in 2-3 weeks - important that you have an address where you can receive mail for the next few months at least.

By the way, when arriving to the US, you will need to provide an address where you will be staying. This can be a hotel address if that's where you'd be staying immediately upon arrival. Then when you move, you MUST notify USCIS of your new address - this can be done online.

2) DL - Once your SSN comes, you'd be able to apply for driver's license. Depending on where you are coming from, and which state you are living in, you might have to take a written test, a behind the wheel driving test or both. Important that you show your current DL - if you are lucky, they will issue you a temp license (mostly after the written test) that allows you to drive your vehicle alone. If you don't show your current license (or are unlucky due to a rule change etc), your temporary license will state that you must be accompanied by another driver while driving - needless to say, this can be a huge inconvenience.

3) Bank Account and Credit Card - Hopefully you already have a US bank account set up before you come via your company. If not, start the process almost immediately after your arrival - some banks might issue a Checking account even without SSN - check with multiple banks.
For credit card, usually banks might not issue a credit card up front. But you can go for what they call a "secured credit card" - basically you deposit some money with them, and they give you a credit card to use with that money as collateral (equal amount). This is quite important, so you can start building your credit score immediately. Needless to say, without a CC, life can be painful here. Get one soon.

4) Car - Assuming that you have your house figured out, the importance of having a car cannot be over-emphasized here in the US. This is a big country, with very sporadic public transportation. Initially your finances might be tight - if possible, bring some cash (or cash card) with you when arriving here. Car buying is one of the most stressful things you will encounter here. It is a total scam. Everyone is out to simply "get you". Worst case, you can be even sold a lemon, with little recourse. Spend some time researching your options - there is a lot of information on the web. If you are going for a new car (I'd advise against it), you can pay a lot of money extra if you are not careful. If you are going for a used car, make sure you are not buying a lemon. KBB, CarFax, local mechanics - these can be your friends.

5) Whatever you are doing for yourself (DL, bank a/c, SSN, credit card etc), do it for your better half as well. If not right with your processes, at least keep all of the above for her in mind, to be done at the earliest possible. Why?  It'd be far easier for your spouse to get on with life if they can have all the paper work done, without just relying on your paper work all the time. If they can't get an SSN due to VISA type, get an ITIN. Definitely get a DL at the earliest and the rest as well. Set them up for success, not dependence on you.

Once you have done the above five, your stay here should be largely set. The US is an amazing country, unlike most - found largely by immigrants, with a very work oriented culture (despite what you might see on TV reporting on deluded marchers every day these days).

Enjoy!

No, My Name is not FNU! (And how I changed my name)

[This is not legal advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.]

After three decades of living life with just a single name, and withstanding curious looks, harmless (but repetitive) humor and airport scrutiny, I changed my single name to a proper name - you know - the one with a First Name and a Last Name. Yes, this is a story of how I gave up and blended in.

In the land of the free and home of the brave, one is not free to have a single name. All the systems (with a few exceptions) mandate that you put two names. So even if you have just a single name, technically you are dealing with two names all the time, except that the second name given to you can be arbitrary and can change from one system to the next. Some examples:

1) FNU <your name> : FNU stands for First Name Unknown
2) <your name> LNU: LNU stands for Last Name Unknown
3) <your name> <your name> : just repeat your name twice to make it two names
4) NO GIVEN NAME <your name>
5) UNKNOWN <your name>
6) NO FIRST NAME <your name>

I had most of the above names reflected across various documents. These might look humorous initially but believe me, after the third time (and for the next hundreds of times), it will start to wear on you. Especially when people (like my new dentist) who you have just met, want to know your entire history of why you just have a single name (sitting in an awkward position under a dentist and being asked these questions specially make it difficult to say "none of your business").

So, I finally decided enough was enough - let me change my name to a proper <first name> <last name>. And here is the process I followed here in California. Let me just say - IT IS NOT AS CUMBERSOME AS YOU MIGHT THINK. It just takes a bit of time.


Steps at a high level:
1) Fill up forms - all are available online. For CA residents, all information is available here:
http://www.courts.ca.gov/22489.htm 
(forms are really easy to fill - don't sweat and spend time in getting them reviewed  - DIY).


2) Go to your local area superior court - exact court name is published online as well. File a civil court case. Take a date about eight weeks from that day of filing. Pay attention to where you have to show up and when - ask the court clerk. Address will also be written on the paper the clerk returns to you.

3) Go to a newspaper (court clerk will tell you the options in your area) - the newspaper will publish your Ad for four weeks (once per week). They will also directly send the proof of publishing to the court - so you don't have to do anything.

4) Show up at the court (this court can be different from the court where you filed your civil case in step 2 - pay attention).

5) The judge will call you (you will see a number of other people also there to change their names - hurray, you are not alone!). The judge will read (spell out) your new name - pay attention to the spelling. There is no real questioning on the reasons - so no need to be afraid or to prepare for anything.

6) The judge will sign.

That's it - your name is changed legally. You will get the original court order.

7) Go to the clerks to get a few attested copies of that original court order. Just in case.

Drive back feeling elated and lost at the same time.

Bootnotes - For many folks, this might be their first visit to US courts (as it was for me). Just make sure you give yourself plenty of time when you go for the hearing (step 4). There could be security checks, and parking issues. 

In my case, I went to the court and kept looking for Dept 24 (where I was supposed to go). After some searching, I finally got an opportunity to ask someone. He didn't know but a person in the elevator overheard my question and shouted "across the street" just as the elevator door was closing.  Obviously I didn't know if that answer was for me, and didn't even know if the same court had a part II across the street. But I pursued and finally got to the right place in time! Bless that person!

AFTER THE LEGAL NAME CHANGE
With a court document in hand, part II of your fun has just begun (this is where I am right now). Things to take care of, mostly in this order as far as I know (AFAIK):

1) Go to your Social Security office - take a number under "name change category". At the window, show court order (bring your work authorization). They will take your old SS Card. You will be mailed a new SS card in about two weeks. You should be able to open an online SS account now!

2) DMV - Update your name on your DL, and on your vehicles titles. They will ask for the new SS card.

3) Green card - Apply online for a replacement, with name change as a reason. Check USCIS website for getting your I-94 updated if you are on a VISA. In either case, you might have to go for an in-person interview.

By the way, you can also get your name changed when you are applying for US passport. Then you don't have to follow the State process.

4)  Request name change at all your banks, financial institutions, office records, benefits, reward accounts/frequent flyer accounts etc. lease agreement, phone/internet contracts, utilities etc.

Note: File your taxes with your new name (AFAIK). However do  not change the name on your W-2 while entering W-2 data. Your W-2 records should match whatever IRS has on their files.

Have fun, and hope this was helpful. Feel free to share your experiences as well.

Again, this blog is not a substitute for legal or tax advice. Consult an attorney for legal advice.