Apply for jobs before EAD/Green Card?

[steve10c 0]

My fiance is Chinese and a student on an F-1 visa. I met her when I was a student at the same college and then I graduated and went straight to grad school. Since I've never applied for a real job I could be wrong about this, but I believe my fiance needs to start applying for jobs this fall (as a senior) to line up a job for after she graduates. We aren't planning on getting married until January 2013 because I want to do in my home state, make sure all my family can be there, etc. and then we'll apply for a green card for her so she can live/work here after school.

Can she still apply for jobs say in October 2012 if she intends to have a green card or EAD by August 2013 from our marriage? Will employers be less likely to hire her if she doesn't have the green card yet when she applies?

[Enigma11561 336]

She will need a EAD or green card to work. They will ask, if they are legit companies.

[ceadsearc 516]

She is welcome to apply. She will need EAD or GC to start working so obviously she would have to tell them that. If she is applying for jobs that have a later start date anyway, it may not matter. It is hard to say if a company will be less likely to hire her based on that but she doesn't have anything to lose by trying.

[Inky 1,111]

Can she still apply for jobs say in October 2012 if she intends to have a green card or EAD by August 2013 from our marriage? Will employers be less likely to hire her if she doesn't have the green card yet when she applies?

Why would any company give a job interview to someone in October 2012 if they are not legal to work until August 2013 - that is 11 months until the person could be hired and start working. I'm very sure they can find someone to fill the spot much quicker than waiting 11 months for someone.

Not to mention most applications have the question are you eligible to work. If you answer no which she would have to - your resume is thrown in the trash right away.

[steve10c 0]

Why would any company give a job interview to someone in October 2012 if they are not legal to work until August 2013 - that is 11 months until the person could be hired and start working. I'm very sure they can find someone to fill the spot much quicker than waiting 11 months for someone.

I don't know but a lot of firms recruit college students and they take resume drops in October and hire often by February for jobs that start in August. Sometimes firms will give return offers shortly after they finish with summer interns, but they know the students have 9 months left of school. (Apple does this.) I can't imagine it's that different for people that will end up getting H1-Bs (doesn't they employer have to sponsor meaning they have to get the job first?) or OPT since you have to prove the job itself qualifies for OPT meaning you can't actually be authorized ahead of time.

[garfield529 47]

I don't know but a lot of firms recruit college students and they take resume drops in October and hire often by February for jobs that start in August.

This does happen, but they will still want to do I-9 verification well in advance. Unless you know that she is applying for a job close to the time window when she would have either EAD or her GC then it may be a gamble.