EAD during or after K1?

[canuckmoran 7]

Good morning everyone,

My fiance and I are getting married and are in the process of waiting for the approval of our K1 (Filed in July 2010. When is the best time to apply for an EAD? Should I apply during my time before my wedding (May 2011) or should I do it apart of my AOS? Some direction would be helpful.

Thanks

Richard

[monyfer 27]

From the research I've done, it makes no sense to apply for EAD before you are married because it can take 2-3 months to process it (and by then your k-1 expires, at three months). I think we will wait to apply until after we are married when we start AOS.

[marriedtomrg 140]

Fees are subject to increase by November 2010.

If you apply before you get married (based on the date you provided, May 2011), it's $380.

If you apply after you get married (and file it along with AOS and AP), the $380 is waived.

AOS will increase from $930 to $985 by November 2010

Biometrics Fee will increase from $80 to $85

So currently AOS is $1,010 ($930 plus Biometrics) but by Nov 2010 it will be $1,070...if you file EAD and AP at the same time as AOS, EAD and AP fees are waived.

Good morning everyone,

My fiance and I are getting married and are in the process of waiting for the approval of our K1 (Filed in July 2010. When is the best time to apply for an EAD? Should I apply during my time before my wedding (May 2011) or should I do it apart of my AOS? Some direction would be helpful.

Thanks

Richard

[Inky 1,110]

PLease see the guides they are there to help you too!!

If you apply for EAD BEFORE AOS, then it will expire in 90days(the same time as the I-94), big waste of money.

[Jim101 0]

When my wife and I sent the Adjustment of Status we sent along the Employment Authorization with it. When we filed out AOS in November 2008 you could file the EAD for free. If you wait to file the EAD separately there will be separate charge of $130.00 as I recall. Maybe more, probably not less, by now.

Good luck!

Jim & Ana

[canuckmoran 7]

PLease see the guides they are there to help you too!!

If you apply for EAD BEFORE AOS, then it will expire in 90days(the same time as the I-94), big waste of money.

Hello Inky,

Thank you for your response. Good to know. My last question on this subject, do I have to wait to get my actual card or do I receive a possible temp document confirming that I am in the process of getting an EAD, thus start job hunting?

Thanks

[nickbits 43]

Hello Inky,

Thank you for your response. Good to know. My last question on this subject, do I have to wait to get my actual card or do I receive a possible temp document confirming that I am in the process of getting an EAD, thus start job hunting?

Thanks

Not that I am aware of. You're better off waiting until your EAD is in hand before you start looking or you might turn off some employers (since you wouldn't be work authorized).

[canuckmoran 7]

Not that I am aware of. You're better off waiting until your EAD is in hand before you start looking or you might turn off some employers (since you wouldn't be work authorized).

Hey Nickbits

Thanks for your input. In respect to the EAD and AOS, will I receive the EAD before the AOS file is completed?

Richard

[baron555 934]

Good morning everyone,

My fiance and I are getting married and are in the process of waiting for the approval of our K1 (Filed in July 2010. When is the best time to apply for an EAD? Should I apply during my time before my wedding (May 2011) or should I do it apart of my AOS? Some direction would be helpful.

Thanks

Richard

After you get married, which is after you are approved for the K-1 and come to the US, you file for the EAD along with the GC as part of the AOS process.

[Nik+Heather 121]

Start job hunting after you send in the EAD. If you get interviewed etc. and offered a job but they can't wait for the EAD, then you wouldn't have gotten that job anyway. BUT, if they can wait, then you'll have that job which you wouldn't have had if you had waited until the EAD was in hand. Does that make sense?

There is no prohibition legally for looking for work. You just can't actually start (even unpaid training) until you have the EAD card (the physical, plastic thing with your picture on it) in your hands. You can accept a job. You can sign the paperwork for your job, but you can't start until the EAD arrives.

In my experience, for most professional jobs have a set up time of a couple of weeks anyway while they set up the computer etc. I was more than a month from application to start date.

Edited September 30, 2010 by Nik+Heather

[marriedtomrg 140]

When you have a job offer, you can request for your EAD to be expedited. I've read about one VJ poster's experience here (mathranik): http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/274608-ead-expedite-successful/ I understand this is on a case-to-case basis, but at least you know it is possible.

[Veronik 19]

You'll receive your EAD before your green card. FYI, there's a Canada forum if you want to pop in!