F1 to UN Visa..

[Little_My 464]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this question, but we'll see.

So. I am currently an F-1, graduating in May. Recently got married to my USC husband, and I was about to send out my AOS package today or tomorrow, when something came along that might change things..

I might have a possibility for a position at the UN. Which might include a possibility of a UN Visa.

So - does anyone know if I can go from F-1 to UN Visa before I have officially graduated, or would that cause some problems? In this case I would hold off on sending the AOS, and wouldn't go for GC until the UN Visa runs out - i.e. until my assignment ends.

Anyone here with experiences or information about this type of a situation?

Also, additional question in case I do go the AOS route - what is the average time for EAD to arrive in NYC after submitting AOS package?

[Little_My 464]

Well, for future reference for people in a similar situation, I can now answer my own question..

It is possible to go from F-1 to G-4 visa, which is the visa most foreign employees of international organizations have (such as the UN, World Bank, IMF, ILO etc.) . From what I've gathered so far, it would also be possible for me to finish my graduate program with the G-4 while also already working. However, G-4 application usually needs to be submitted before entering the United States, through a U.S. embassy in another country (does not have to be applicants home country). The application itself, when done like that, only takes a couple of business days.

For people like me, who are already in the U.S. under another non-immigrant visa status, it gets trickier. Doing AOS from F-1 to G-4 is possible, but takes much much longer - around 3 months.

So, to answer my own question - Getting EAD through the GC application is faster.

(Sad part is that under the G-4, I would not have to pay taxes in the U.S.. With a green card I do. Can't win every time, right?)