K-1 Visa

[BH45 0]

Well, I'm back. So far this is what I've discovered.

Twice in the past 2 days, I've been told that I needed to apply for the EAD along with my I-129F. Both the USCIS walk-in office and the POE, Sault Ste Marie Officer Anderson told me that all K-1 visas should be stamped "Employment Unauthorized" unless the applicant has filed the EAD.

No where in this process did I once see where I was to apply for that prior to moving here. Obviously I missed something and something really important.

So when sending in my documents for EI, I will submit both the terribly I-94 and its stamp, along with the RM 00203.5 dcoument. Nothing like having conflicting things but not much else I can do.

How everyone else missed this stamp, I don't know. Anyone care to share what I must have missed in filing my documents.

Thanks,

[Carlawarla 1]

You're confused. I'm confused! You can't apply for EAD until you apply for your AOS package, (AP and EAD included), AFTER you get married in the US, which is AFTER you use your K-1. It takes approximately 3 months (could be more!) to get your EAD after you've sent in the paperwork. AFTER you're in the USA and married. I have no idea what you're talking about....I can only assume you mean the Employment Authorization stamp that you MAY get at a POE crossing. Not all the crossings know what anyone is talking about...some know what you're talking about but won't give it to you...some say they USED to give it out. It's basically a ####### shoot. I'm assuming you didn't get it.

Having it or not having it is irrelevant to your wanting to apply for EI benefits. By virtue of that photocopied document, it states you are eligible to work with a K-1. You're really not, but the Cdn. government thinks you are? I know, it's confusing. Don't worry about the "stamp" now, it's too late.

[BH45 0]

Hi Carla

The POE literally stamped my I-94 in red "EMPLOYMENT UNAUTHORIZED". When I spoke to them this morning, I was told that unless the EAD has been applied for, everyone should get that stamp.

I worked at municipal government level and it was crazy but dang it all this is just ..... I don't know what.

[Emancipation 2]

I worked at municipal government level and it was crazy but dang it all this is just ..... I don't know what.

This is ... sorry have no advice, it just seems silly what they are saying!

[anxiouslywaiting 0]

I didn't get either stamp, employment authorized or unauthorized however when I spoke to my lawyer right after I got settled she advised me that they should've stamped me employment authorized. She is now in the process of getting a hold of a friend of her's at a nearby airport to make an appointment with me to go and have him stamp my form employment authorized. According to her I need it. So I have no idea. She told me that I might have a problem obtaining a SSN without the stamp so I"m confused.

[BH45 0]

I didn't get either stamp, employment authorized or unauthorized however when I spoke to my lawyer right after I got settled she advised me that they should've stamped me employment authorized. She is now in the process of getting a hold of a friend of her's at a nearby airport to make an appointment with me to go and have him stamp my form employment authorized. According to her I need it. So I have no idea. She told me that I might have a problem obtaining a SSN without the stamp so I"m confused.

When I applied for my SSN the lady there was very confused. She told me the either don't stamp the I-94 which is ok or they stamp it Employment Authorized. I have no idea anymore....no clue where to go. Right now I guess I wait until our AOS, EAD and AP are filed in August.

[melusine 5]

i think it was just a power trip from the guy at the border...

just relax, marry and file for AOS/EAD/AP all together.

[BH45 0]

i think it was just a power trip from the guy at the border...

just relax, marry and file for AOS/EAD/AP all together.

It may have been. That stamp is going to hold up a lot of things for me.....EI and my SSN which will hold up my obtaining an IL driver's licence.

By holding my EI up....will affect my credit tooo.

[SapphireDreams 71]

^Just curious as to why it would affect your credit?

I don't think it's worth stressing over. I would just enjoy your time with your fiancee/hubby and apply for your AOS/EAD/AP. In a matter of months you will forget that stamp even existed!

[Emancipation 2]

^Just curious as to why it would affect your credit?

Personally I ran into this.. there was a delay in EI so I couldn't pay my bills back in Canada So.. I had a few late fees and a few late payments on my cards that i have NEVER had before

[CBR 0]

Are you sure this is going to hold up your SSN?? I don't see why it would as most people aren't given the stamp but they have no problem getting a SSN.

When I applied for my SSN the lady there was very confused. She told me the either don't stamp the I-94 which is ok or they stamp it Employment Authorized. I have no idea anymore....no clue where to go. Right now I guess I wait until our AOS, EAD and AP are filed in August

This is correct...people either get a stamp saying "employment authorized" or they don't. There was only ONE person I have seen on VJ who said theirs says "employment UNauthorized" which is very weird.

If you don't get the SSN you can still drive in IL for up to a year on your Canadian driver's license. By then hopefully you'll have your green card and/or SSN for sure.

[BH45 0]

^Just curious as to why it would affect your credit?

I don't think it's worth stressing over. I would just enjoy your time with your fiancee/hubby and apply for your AOS/EAD/AP. In a matter of months you will forget that stamp even existed!

I have loans and other bills that need to be paid in Canada. So ya I'm a little stressed. I am enjoying my time with my fiance when he isn't working. Once everything is done and over with, you are right I will forget about that stamp, but until then....

[BH45 0]

Are you sure this is going to hold up your SSN?? I don't see why it would as most people aren't given the stamp but they have no problem getting a SSN.

CBR - the SSN office has to verify the document I provided them. With it being stamp "Employment Unauthorized", the office has to contact USCIS. She checked while I was there and my file hadn't been put in the system yet. She told me it can take up to 8 weeks for the verification. So I wait to see what comes next.

[Texanadian 10]

Personally I ran into this.. there was a delay in EI so I couldn't pay my bills back in Canada So.. I had a few late fees and a few late payments on my cards that i have NEVER had before

Ahhh, but your Canada credit rating has nothing to do with your US credit rating. We all are treated as 18 year olds who have zero credit history when we move to the USA.

Something tells me that filing for an EAD before crossing the border would result in:

a) the EAD not getting approved, since you're a foreigner who hasn't activated a K-1.

or

B) people STILL wouldn't get the stamp. Because hey, you've got the EAD now.

Canada EI will surely get a chuckle out of this. What dumb border agent stamped this? Pffft. How little they know. APPROVED.

[BH45 0]

Personally I ran into this.. there was a delay in EI so I couldn't pay my bills back in Canada So.. I had a few late fees and a few late payments on my cards that i have NEVER had before

Ahhh, but your Canada credit rating has nothing to do with your US credit rating. We all are treated as 18 year olds who have zero credit history when we move to the USA.

Something tells me that filing for an EAD before crossing the border would result in:

a) the EAD not getting approved, since you're a foreigner who hasn't activated a K-1.

or

B) people STILL wouldn't get the stamp. Because hey, you've got the EAD now.

Canada EI will surely get a chuckle out of this. What dumb border agent stamped this? Pffft. How little they know. APPROVED.

I hope you are right Texanadian