Full Version: Work permit while waiting for green card
VisaJourney.com > General Family Based Immigration Topics > Working & Traveling prior to getting a Green Card
I'm terribly sorry, but as you can see, I'm clueless when it comes to this immigration mess. I need as much help as I can get. Anyway, my husband wants badly to be able to go out and work, but we're still waiting to hear about that blasted I-130 (we're both here in the US). Is it possible for him to file for one of those temporary work permits even if he doesn't have a job? Has anybody had experience trying to get one? How long did it take? Because if it's going to take as long as the green card, then no sense adding to our frustration. If it came through fairly quickly, though, it would be a real weight off of our shoulders.
QUOTE(babbred @ Nov 24 2007, 01:36 AM) 
I'm terribly sorry, but as you can see, I'm clueless when it comes to this immigration mess. I need as much help as I can get. Anyway, my husband wants badly to be able to go out and work, but we're still waiting to hear about that blasted I-130 (we're both here in the US). Is it possible for him to file for one of those temporary work permits even if he doesn't have a job? Has anybody had experience trying to get one? How long did it take? Because if it's going to take as long as the green card, then no sense adding to our frustration. If it came through fairly quickly, though, it would be a real weight off of our shoulders.
Are you US citizen? Is your husband going to apply for "adjustment of status" in the USA? CR/IR-1 (you posted under) are visas for foreign spouses to come to the USA... not applicable if the spouse is in the USA, unless he/she is here just to visit and is planing to go home to get visa and come back. So regarding work permit, it depends on the above...
QUOTE(babbred @ Nov 24 2007, 01:36 AM)
I'm terribly sorry, but as you can see, I'm clueless when it comes to this immigration mess. I need as much help as I can get. Anyway, my husband wants badly to be able to go out and work, but we're still waiting to hear about that blasted I-130 (we're both here in the US). Is it possible for him to file for one of those temporary work permits even if he doesn't have a job? Has anybody had experience trying to get one? How long did it take? Because if it's going to take as long as the green card, then no sense adding to our frustration. If it came through fairly quickly, though, it would be a real weight off of our shoulders.
Ok you say you are waiting to hear about the I-130..... Have you file for AOS along with the I-130? You say that you are both in the US, if so what visa did you enter on or did you use the VWP/Tourist visa... If you have only filed the I-130 have you got a Receipt for it yet?
If you have the receipt and you have not filled for AOS then you need to do that as soon as you can... you will need to include a copy of the i-130 receipt (NOA1) along with the AOS packet... when you are filing for AOS you can also file for Employment Authorization (EAD) so that he can work....
The Guide at the top is very Good and easy to follow and it will explain the process of getting a greencard when both people are already here in the US...
http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.ph...page=i130guide2
If you need more help or have other questions please just give us a shout....
Kez
Moving to the correct forum...
I'm sorry. Let me clarify. (It was late last night when I posted so I was tired. 
)
We're both here in the US. I'm an American citizen, and my husband is British. We came here for my sister's wedding in September and simply stayed on. (So yes, my husband entered as just a tourist.) We filed the I-130 as soon as the dust had settled from the wedding. We had thought about filing through the American Embassy back in London, but we thought as long as had to come to the US anyway, we might as well just stay. We didn't think we could afford two sets of flights. Of course, that was when we thought it wouldn't take very long for the paperwork to get processed. (sigh) Now part of me wishes we had gone back to Britain and done it there. Oh, well. As hubby would say, "It's done and dusted," so we have to move forward.
So here we are, struggling on one income while poor hubby itches to go and get a job. I had seen EAD's mentioned on the USCIS website, but I got confused. Do you have to have a job to apply for one? Or can you apply for one in order to get a job? About how long would it take to arrive? (If it's going to be several months, then we might as well just wait for the green card.) We're a little tight for money, but man, if it meant hubby could go get a job while waiting around we'd gladly scrape the money up.
As for receipt, don't get me started.
We're one of those poor applicants who are still waiting in limbo, without hearing anything. 90 days they said...I'm counting the days and then somebody's going to hear about it. We do have a postal receipt, however, showing that the Texas center received the application.
)We're both here in the US. I'm an American citizen, and my husband is British. We came here for my sister's wedding in September and simply stayed on. (So yes, my husband entered as just a tourist.) We filed the I-130 as soon as the dust had settled from the wedding. We had thought about filing through the American Embassy back in London, but we thought as long as had to come to the US anyway, we might as well just stay. We didn't think we could afford two sets of flights. Of course, that was when we thought it wouldn't take very long for the paperwork to get processed. (sigh) Now part of me wishes we had gone back to Britain and done it there. Oh, well. As hubby would say, "It's done and dusted," so we have to move forward.
So here we are, struggling on one income while poor hubby itches to go and get a job. I had seen EAD's mentioned on the USCIS website, but I got confused. Do you have to have a job to apply for one? Or can you apply for one in order to get a job? About how long would it take to arrive? (If it's going to be several months, then we might as well just wait for the green card.) We're a little tight for money, but man, if it meant hubby could go get a job while waiting around we'd gladly scrape the money up.
As for receipt, don't get me started.
We're one of those poor applicants who are still waiting in limbo, without hearing anything. 90 days they said...I'm counting the days and then somebody's going to hear about it. We do have a postal receipt, however, showing that the Texas center received the application.
...and you did not send I-485 the same time as I-130?
The best way is to send those 2 petitions at the same time. Otherwise, you are just delaying AOS for no reason..
Anyway, seeing that you are from Dallas, look into DORA program!
The best way is to send those 2 petitions at the same time. Otherwise, you are just delaying AOS for no reason..
Anyway, seeing that you are from Dallas, look into DORA program!
QUOTE(jula @ Nov 25 2007, 04:00 AM)
...and you did not send I-485 the same time as I-130?
The best way is to send those 2 petitions at the same time. Otherwise, you are just delaying AOS for no reason..
Anyway, seeing that you are from Dallas, look into DORA program!
The best way is to send those 2 petitions at the same time. Otherwise, you are just delaying AOS for no reason..
Anyway, seeing that you are from Dallas, look into DORA program!
We couldn't afford to file them at the same time. Another mistake. We should have found the money somewhere. This has definitely been one of the worst mistakes I've made in life.
What's DORA?
Update: I just did a Google search and all I got were sites for "Dora the Explorer." Help!
Ok, I just found it. We might be in trouble, though. On the USCIS website, it says "As applied to the Dallas District Office, this Notice is effective October 23, 2006 and will terminate on September 21, 2007." Does this mean that it's no longer being run? 
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