STANDARD DOCUMENT/PROJECT DOCUMENT

Client:

N/A
Project:

N/A
Equipment:

Equipment tag no.:

N/A

N/A

Document title:

GUIDE FOR EXPATRIATE ENGINEERS ONBOARDING FROM

SINGAPORE TO THE US Q1/Q2 2015
Rev.:

Reason for issue:

For Use

Date:

Author:

Checked:

Approved:

10.Mar.2015

DFW

R. Carroll

R. Carroll

This document and all information and data herein or

herewith is the confidential and proprietary property of
Managed Pressure Operations and is not to be used,
reproduced or disclosed in whole or in part by or to anyone
without the written confirmation from Managed Pressure
Operations.
Project
No.

Document
Code

USN

Acceptance code (Norsok):

Code 1:

Code 2: Accepted with comments

included
Code 3: Not accepted, revise and
resubmit

Revision No.

Code 4: Issued for information

A
Customer doc. no.:

Customer p.o. no.:

Customer revision:

Total no. of pages:

Revision History

Rev.:

Chapter:

Description:

Accepted

Code 5: Interface information as

clouded is accepted and
frozen
Signed
by:

Date:

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

XXXXXXXX

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
2 of 7

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

XXXXXXXX

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
3 of 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
1.

Introduction....................................................................................................................................... 4

2.

Visa Processing................................................................................................................................ 4

3.

Essentials in the United States........................................................................................................ 5

4.

Arrival in Houston............................................................................................................................. 5
4.1

Your First Week....................................................................................................................... 5

4.2

First Day at MPO Houston...................................................................................................... 6

4.3

Driving in the US..................................................................................................................... 6

4.4

Day 30 in Houston................................................................................................................... 7

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

XXXXXXXX

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
4 of 7

1. Introduction
This document is a guide for all engineers coming to the MPO Houston office in 2015 as expatriates in the
United States (US).
The purpose of the document is to make the transition into the US as smooth as possible.
The scope of this document covers all engineers coming from Singapore to the Houston office.

2. Visa Processing
The procedure for processing a visa application for entry into the US is as follows:
1. After your visa application is submitted, the visa agent processes your application.
Note: The majority of applications are approved.
2. Following visa approval, an interview is held at the US consulate from which you are based.

If you are or were based in Singapore, you will have to return to Singapore. If you are or were based in
India, you will have to return to India. Similarly, expatriates based in another country will have to return
to that country for the interview. It is recommended to explore the below US consulate website for
getting familiar with VISA fee payment and appointment procedures
http://www.ustraveldocs.com/sg/sg-niv-visaapply.asp

During the interview at the consulate, you will be informed that your visa application was formally
approved.
Consular officials will take possession of your passport for approximately five days until your visa has
been inserted into your passport. During this period, you will not be allowed to travel outside your
country.

3. Take note of the following regarding your visa:

If you receive your visa at a different time from your family members, they can have their visa interview
at a different country as required.
For example, if your family (partner and children) are in India and you are in the US with your visa,
your family can interview in the US consulate in India. There is no requirement to travel back to
India to be with your family.

If you want your family to have a visa at the same time, they must be present with you.
Your visa will not be active until you land in the US and pass through Customs.
4. When you enter the US with your visa for the first time, bring a completed Form I-797 or I-129S.
Note: This requirement is stated on the visa so that Passport Control can stamp the form and activate
your visa.
5. After activation, you may enter and leave the US until the visa expires.

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

3.

XXXXXXXX

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
5 of 7

Essentials in the United States

In the US, it is essential that you have the following:

A social security number

Health insurance
A bank account
A car or other form of travel
A job

The most important of these, at least initially, is the social security number, as you will not be able to get a US
employee ID number, health insurance, or bank account without it.
To obtain the first three mentioned above, proceed as follows:
1. Apply for a social security number at a local Social Security office.
2. Upon receiving your social security number within approximately seven days, inform your Human
Resources (HR) representative so that you can get your employee ID number and badge.
3. Open a bank account at a local bank.
Note: Inform your bank in your home country that you will be traveling to the US as you will need a line
of credit from your country until you are able to set up a bank account in the US. It is advisable to
have a line of credit and sufficient cash on hand to last at least one month.
4. Activate your health insurance through your HR representative, but do not rely on HR to enforce
this. HR may forget, in which case you could be outside the enrollment period.

4. Arrival in Houston
4.1

Your First Week

During your first week, you will be required to:

1

Land in Houston (most likely at George Bush Intercontinental Airport if traveling directly from

Singapore).
2 Confirm the address of your accommodation with HR.
3 Take a taxi to your accommodation (ask for a receipt from your taxi driver).
4 At your accommodation, confirm travel arrangements to and from the office with HR.
5 Walk to and from work (if feasible); otherwise, take a taxi or free shuttle (if available).
Note: If taking taxis, always keep receipts
Note: Prior to begin your travel, it is advised to send a copy of your travel itinerary to HR (shall be
addressed to Angel Garmon, a.garmon@managed-pressure.com). So that HR can make
arrangements for pick up from airport, and make arrangements with corporate apartments.

4.2

First Day at MPO Houston

On your first day at the MPO Houston office, follow this checklist:
1

Confirm the date and time that you will meet with your initial contact at the office.

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

XXXXXXXX

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
6 of 7

Proceed to the Aker receptionist on the fifth floor to obtain your Briarpark pass to be able to

3
4

enter the building.

Proceed to the MPO Houston office on the third floor.
Ask HR to take your photo and assign you a permanent badge (otherwise, you will have to

go to the fifth floor every day to gain entry).

Ask HR to familiarize you with the HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) aspects of

6
7

working at the MPO Houston office.

Proceed to your supervisor at the office; your workspace should be set up and available.
Arrange with HR to travel to and from the local Security Office so that you can obtain a

social security card.

If driving, collect your rental vehicle from HR or the rental company; keep all rental

paperwork and receipts.

After the first day of work, start looking for long-term accommodation (i.e., a house or

apartment) and a car, as company-provided lodging and transportation are provided for one
month only.

4.3

Driving in Houston

If you intend to drive in Houston, take note of the following:

If you already have a driving license from a country covered under Texas law, you may drive for 90
days before you must take a Texas driving test.

Warning: It is illegal to drive without a valid driving license.

It is advisable to obtain and review a free copy of the Texas Driver Handbook at:
http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/internetforms/Forms/DL-7.pdf.

It is highly recommended to familiarize yourself with the basic rules of the road such as:

Drive on the right-hand side of the road.

Stop completely at all stop signs and red lights; stopping is not optional.
Turn at red lights only if traffic/pedestrians permit.

Managed Pressure Operations

Client:
Client
Equipment:
XXXXX
Doc. no.:
Title:

XXXXXXXX

4.4

Project:
Date:
Rev.:
Page:

8XXX XXX
DD.MMMM.YYYY
A
7 of 7

Day 30 in Houston

Take note of the following:

This is the last day that MPO will pay for accommodation and car rental.
By this time, you should have:

4.5

Found an apartment or house to move into by the following day.

Obtained a car as Houston is a big city with poor public transportation and expensive taxis.
Obtained your social security number.
Obtained an employee ID number and badge.
Set up your health insurance and banking accounts.
Set up payroll direct deposit with HR.

Issues and Concerns

Address any issues or concerns to your point of contact, supervisor, or HR representative.