Question about AOS and EAD

[lincoln81 0]

Hello everyone!

I have a question for those of you who have already filed for AOS. ALthough it's a long ways away, me and my husband are just trying to figure everything out. I thought I read somewhere that now you HAVE to file for your EAD and your AOS together, is this true?

We were going to file for my EAD right after we got approved for K3 so I could stay here in Canada and work until it is approved or close to it. The reason being that we can't afford to have me just move down there and not work for the three months it takes to be approved. Also, if we filed EAD and AOS together right away and I moved down when my EAD is approved then that doesn't seem to give us time to prepare for our AOS. We don't have joint bank accounts etc yet as we were going to do all that when I moved.

In the guides it says that you can file them at the same time or separately but I wasn't sure if that was still the case.

Thanks for all your help guys.

[misa 2]

As a K3, you can most definitely file for EAD right after you cross over. The downside is that the cost of doing this would be an extra $300+ (not sure of the exact cost) since the cost of EAD is included with AOS but only if you file at the same time as AOS or afterwards -- not before. AOS is $1030 now. So you'd end up paying $1330+ if you file EAD separately and before AOS. Even if you file EAD before AOS, you will have to attend a biometrics appointment in the U.S. though so factor that in for travel costs.

Another option for you is to get the bank stuff and everything else set up prior to you coming and file AOS and EAD right after you cross. Some banks will allow joint accounts added without any problem. Same with utilities and other things like that. I was added as an "occupant" to my husband's lease even before I moved there. Get friends and family to send you and your husband mail at your husband's address after you cross over and save the envelopes. My checklist of stuff that I brought to my AOS interview is in my signature. Some of that stuff you can accomplish without you being there.

Edited October 29, 2007 by misa