Immigration

USA 13 min read

US Credit for Sri Lankans: A Newcomer's Guide

You found the perfect apartment, but the landlord wants a six-month security deposit. The reason? You have no US credit history. Your solid financial standing back in Colombo means nothing here. This frustrating scenario is a common roadblock for newcomers. The American financial system operates on...

Jan 13, 2026 1

USA 13 min read

Starting a US Business: A Sri Lankan's Guide

Did you know that immigrants in the United States are nearly twice as likely to start their own business as native-born citizens? It’s a powerful statistic that probably doesn’t surprise you. You’ve likely carried that entrepreneurial spark with you, the same energy that fuels the bustling markets...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 13 min read

Sponsoring Family: Financial Requirements Guide

That six-figure salary you worked so hard for? It might not be enough to sponsor your family member for a green card. Many people believe a high income is an automatic approval, but this misconception leads to frustrating denials. The U.S. government cares less about your gross pay and more about h...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 12 min read

Sri Lanka: Real Estate vs. Stocks Investment Guide

I was having coffee with a friend in Colombo last week, and he was wrestling with where to park some savings. "Should I buy a small plot of land down south," he asked, "or just put it into a few good stocks on the CSE?" It’s a classic Sri Lankan dilemma, and honestly, the old answers don't always h...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 12 min read

IRS & Sri Lanka: Reporting Foreign Income & Savings

An inheritance from a relative in Colombo lands in your Sri Lankan bank account. You might see it as a private family matter, but to the IRS, it's a potentially reportable event. Ignoring this could be a severe misstep, as willful failure to report foreign accounts can trigger penalties up to 50% o...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 14 min read

US Banks for Sri Lanka Family Support: A Guide

There's a persistent myth that opening a US bank account from abroad is impossible without a Social Security Number and a plane ticket. You've likely felt this frustration. You're trying to manage payments from US clients or platforms, but every online form seems to reject your application, forcing...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 14 min read

Best USD to LKR Transfers 2025: Low Fees

Having analyzed hundreds of international transfers, I’ve seen the same costly mistake repeatedly: focusing on the advertised transfer fee while ignoring the hidden exchange rate markup. A service might promise a "$2 fee" but then build a 4% margin into their USD to LKR rate. On a $1,000 transfer,...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 14 min read

US State Incentives for Sri Lankan Immigrants

The federal immigration process can feel like an endless maze of complex forms and discouragingly long waiting lists. You've likely spent countless hours researching visas, only to find the options are limited or the competition is immense. It's a frustrating cycle that leaves many skilled professi...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 15 min read

US Citizenship Timeline for Sri Lankans

I’ve consulted with hundreds of Sri Lankans who have successfully secured a US visa, and the celebration is always based on the same misunderstanding. They believe the clock on their citizenship journey starts ticking the moment they land at JFK or LAX. This is a costly assumption. Your path to bec...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 14 min read

Advance Parole to Sri Lanka: Maintain US Work Status

Holding your Advance Parole document feels like a paradox. You're thrilled at the prospect of visiting family in Colombo or Kandy, but a wave of anxiety follows. What if there are issues at the port of entry? Will this trip jeopardize the work status you've so carefully maintained? This isn't just...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 15 min read

STEM OPT Guide for Sri Lankan Graduates in the US

Did you know that a significant number of STEM OPT extension denials are not due to a student’s qualifications, but to simple, avoidable errors on the Form I-983 Training Plan? For many Sri Lankan graduates, this document is the final hurdle, yet it’s where a vague job description or a mismatched c...

Jan 12, 2026 1

USA 11 min read

Green card pathways: Employment-based vs. family-based

A developer in Colombo gets a job offer in Silicon Valley, beginning the complex PERM labor certification. Her cousin in Kandy has a U.S. citizen sibling file an I-130 petition, starting a different kind of waiting game. Both want a green card, but their paths, timelines, and risks are worlds apart...

Jan 12, 2026 1