Unpaid Internship before receiving EAD on AOS

[EveBlad 0]

Hello,

I am currently doing an Adjustment of Status from a J1 visa to a marriage based green card. We submitted the AOS application in September 2022 and I am currently not working as I am still waiting for my EAD since my J1 visa expired in October 2022. I am getting so restless not working or doing anything with my time and was looking into doing some unpaid internships. Would this be allowed to do before I have my EAD? 

I have also read a few places that if I do work, I will probably be forgiven since I am married to a US citizen, but not sure if it is worth to risk it? Anyone has experience with this??

 

Looks like the EAD processing time is around 10 months right now so I have another 5 months to go without working... Not sure how the USCIS expects people to not work for almost a year 🤨

 

Thankful for any advice!

[SalishSea 16,826]

31 minutes ago, EveBlad said:

Hello,

I am currently doing an Adjustment of Status from a J1 visa to a marriage based green card. We submitted the AOS application in September 2022 and I am currently not working as I am still waiting for my EAD since my J1 visa expired in October 2022. I am getting so restless not working or doing anything with my time and was looking into doing some unpaid internships. Would this be allowed to do before I have my EAD? 

I have also read a few places that if I do work, I will probably be forgiven since I am married to a US citizen, but not sure if it is worth to risk it? Anyone has experience with this??

 

Looks like the EAD processing time is around 10 months right now so I have another 5 months to go without working... Not sure how the USCIS expects people to not work for almost a year 🤨

 

Thankful for any advice!

No, it is not allowed without work authorization.

 

USCIS doesn’t make people choose to adjust status, rather than returning home and waiting in the queue for a spousal visa (thereby being able to work).   That’s on you.