Neferure

Thanks for the replies... We are hoping for sooner than 90 days! 65 or 70 sounds decent....

How long is it taking to get employment authorization back when applying for AOS? We just sent in our forms today (Chicago lockbox). We are hoping that the employment authorization will come before the Permanent Residency (green card).

If you file for the EAD now, then it will cost $380, and it will expire when the I-94 does. It takes around 90 days to receive the EAD, so it is a waste of money, as you would have no time to actually be employed using it. File for AOS along with the EAD and AP as soon as you marry and have your marriage certificate from the court. The fees for the EAD and AP forms are waived when filed with the I-485, and the EAD will be good for a year and can be renewed for free if you still have not received your green card before then.

You must have the EAD or green card along with the SSN in order to work. If working

~ Moved from K-1 Process to Working and Traveling During US Immigration - topic about working, not K-1 process ~

Thanks for the replies...

Jay-Kay, what is the AP form? I did read to file the EAD with the I-485, but not familiar with what AP is? (My fiancé was put on AP - administrative process - with the embassy.... is this something similar or ?)

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone can help me out with the topic of Employment Authorization (EAD).

My fiancé recently arrived in the U.S. and our wedding is not until March 28th. He would like to start working ASAP. We are considering filing for EAD now, but if you file it with your Adjustment of Status (AOS) after the wedding, there would be no extra fee. It also looks to me from looking at the USCIS site that he wouldn't be able to file an EAD until we file the AOS anyway.

Another interesting thing to me is that we already filed for his Social Security number and on the paper they gave him to sign, it stated that he would be eligible to work. But then it said on the letter they gave him that employment had to be approved through the Dept. of Homeland security. So, I'm thinking this means he can't work and would need the EAD even if the SS office said he can work. Anyone familiar with this???

Hi,

When I arrived in the USA back in November on my K-1 visa I went and applied for my SSN. No issues there. SSN number and card received.

Now, 3 months later, I have received my EAD, do I need to go back to the Social Security off to show them I am now eligible to work, or can I just start working without notifying Social Security?

Thanks!!

Did you apply for your EAD separately (before you filed for AOS). My fiancé is arriving Wednesday, and he would like to begin working asap. Our wedding is March 28th, so he would like to get things moving before the wedding. I know we have to send in AOS paperwork for him right after the wedding, but I read somewhere that the EAD was part of the AOS so that you don't have to pay separately for both. Or, when you apply for AOS do they send you the EAD first?

Also, I see that most people are going to get their SS card right away. I'm thinking we should do this so that he can open a bank account, etc.... correct?

Thanks in advance for any info you can give!

This just happened to my fiancé today! He booked his ticket on Emirates coming from Dubai and had a stop in Toronto, Canada (he was supposed to switch planes with a different airline). They stopped him either when he was checking in or heading through security. They told him that he needed a Canadian visa, even though he was in transit. I thought that was the most ridiculous thing, ever! But, rules are rules....

So, instead of him arriving this evening, he had to switch flights so that he flies into JFK. He does have one stop in Milan, Italy but he is not getting off the plane. The person changing his ticket said it would not be a problem as he would be in transit and is not getting off the plane. I also looked this up to make sure it was true and it stated that he would not need a visa in that country if he was in transit and could prove by showing his ticket.

Hi all,

Wondering if anyone here could help me out with the next steps to take when my fiancé arrives in the US (besides getting married!)?

I have read that we should go to the Social Security office and get him a card/number. I know that he will not be able to work with his K1 visa and that we need to wait for work authorization until we are married and send in proper paperwork for permanent residency.

What about driver's license? I know this may vary state to state. My fiancé does have an International Driver's license, but I'm thinking he will need to apply for a state issued license.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give...

I just want to go because I'm anxious lol

Okay so iA I'm going.

I wanted to ask anyone who's went in for a visa pickup, what happened? Explain to me how everything went down?

Please and thanks so much.

Me too I've been asking but no one has replied ahhh. This is killing me lol. It's almost here. Lol can not wait

When my fiancé went in to pick up his visa, he simply went to the Embassy and they gave him back his passport with the visa in it along with a sealed packet that he is not to open. When he gets to the US, the customs officer will open the packet and look over whatever documents are in there.

Also, the visa stated that it was issued on October 28th... He didn't receive it until November 26th. It expires on April 22nd. So they held onto it a whole month before issuing it to him. SMH.

At least he now has it in his hand and was able to return to work to finish out his rotation. We will finally be together on February 21st of 2014!

Hi all.. great news today! My fiancé FINALLY received his visa today! We are so very excited! Looks like "my visa journey" with this embassy at least, is complete!

I wish everyone here luck and that your process goes quickly. Hopefully they will work on the horribly long wait times.

For those of you that are in the U.S. - please contact your congressman with your situation and explain the wait times/poor service that you are or have experienced. Maybe they will eventually get a clue as to what actually happens there. From my experience, it does help to contact your Congressman, as every time that I did it seemed that things started to move with our case.

My fiancé finally got a call from the Embassy to come and pick up his passport/visa. His appt. is tomorrow at 10am. FINALLY going to be done dealing with this Embassy.

I did have to contact my Congressman again to get this moving. It seems that every time I contacted him there was movement with his case. So, anyone who is having a hard time I suggest contacting your local representative.

I told him to call me as soon as he gets done at his appointment, so I will post here to let everyone know how it went for him.

Hi just keeping you all updated my wife got approved today:)) her visa pickup date is 12/4.

I attended the interview with my spouse. (Our interviewer was the same lady as H93.) The Interviewer said we had everything ready and organized, she did not ask my spouse anything only me. It was a really short interview, they only questioned me since my English was well, all they asked from my spouse was her passport/ID.

*my thoughts to you all is have everything organized/up to date, have a bunch western union receipts, make sure you LABEL names, dates, and locations on your wedding photos and other pics, have proof that you have something connected to the states job,bills, receipts. Make sure u renew police certif. every 6months.

Congrats on your wife's approval! So did they give her a slip saying to come back on that day to pick up the visa? My fiancé is still waiting to get his passport back with the visa in it. He didn't mention that they gave him any slip of paper saying when to come back. They said they will call him when ready. It has been over 2 weeks, and the CEAC site says "Ready - Issued". It also says that if he doesn't hear within 10 days, to contact the Embassy. We have both tried to contact them, and no reply, just the generic response to the message you send. Getting extremely frustrated again, as my fiancé needs to return to work in another country but can't because they are holding his passport. Not sure what to do about this... thinking about contacting my Congressman again as every time I have contacted him and he checks into the case, things seem to start moving.

Question for missing you babe and neferure.

When both your husbands got the 221g refusal sheet was Administrative Processing checked on it?

Because my husband's sheet just has 'Domicile,' checked. We sent in the papers yesterday BTW. Anyway, please answer my Q and thanks.

He never told me that he got a sheet. I know he had to send in a written statement from his ex-wife saying they were truly divorced and also they wanted her phone number. On this past visit they told him they needed his birth certificate translated, which they did not tell him on the previous visit. I swear they are doing any and everything to slow things down!

They need his passport to print his visa. And I don't think they'll give it back until they have. I wouldn't ask for it back until the visa is in your hands as it would most likely delay your case.

Was your husband's appointment a visa pick up? Or was he just getting his passport back?

This was for visa pick up. They took his passport last week so that they could issue the visa. No word back from them, so now he has to reschedule his flight back to work AGAIN. He has been in contact with someone he knows that works in the Embassy and they are trying to help him in getting his passport back (hopefully with visa in it). Hopefully he will hear this weekend.

My fiancé is still waiting to get his passport back with the visa. They told him 2 - 3 days and they would call him to come and pick it up. His appointment was last Tuesday. They did call and tell him to come to the Embassy today, and once again when he arrived he was not on the list. He had to send an email to the Embassy again (they messed up his original appointment last week, wasn't on the list the first time). I told him that they were going to try to pull something like this as 2 - 3 days in Embassy speak is obviously 2- 3 weeks or longer. He's quite upset at this point because he has a flight scheduled to go back to his work in Algeria as of Saturday and needs his passport to get back to work. Hoping that they can at least get his passport back to him tomorrow. Ugh... I cannot wait to be done with this Embassy!

Congrats!!! What did he bring with him to the interview? What questions were asked? Details ?

Thanks!

He was told to bring his passport with him. He did bring all the paperwork he took last time, just in case. He met with the case worker at the embassy, and this was the same person who did his interview last time (in June). He didn't say she asked any questions. She just said that everything was approved and she would take his passport, then would receive a call in the next 2 - 3 days. So, he's thinking he'll get the call this weekend. I'll post it here when he actually has it in his hands!

Congrats Nefeure, I have a question , did they give him a small paper that says comback on ( certain date) for visa pick up or the consular just said that his visa will be issued in two or three days

3ammer,

He didn't tell me that they gave him a paper. The woman that he spoke with said he will be receiving a call to come and pick up his visa when ready. He had to tell her specifically that he needs his passport back ASAP, because he has to return to work out of the country. Hopefully he will hear something this weekend.

So he went to his appointment today at the scheduled time. He saw the same woman who interviewed him and she told him everything is looks good and took his passport and said that the visa would be issued in 2 - 3 days! So, hopefully 2 - 3 days doesn't mean 2 - 3 weeks in Embassy time! LOL Just relieved and happy to hear that we are almost at the end of dealing with this process!

Good luck to all in their upcoming appointments.. you will all be in my prayers!

My fiancé had his appointment with the embassy today. He arrived before his scheduled time and waited for 3 hours only to be told he was not on the appointment list! He wasn't the only person told this! They are so very disorganized.... He wrote them an email when he got back home and they called him and apologized for the inconvenience and told him to come back at 10am tomorrow. Hope they have everything straightened out now and he will be on the list.... Can't wait to be done with this process!

Hi all,

Good news, my fiancé finally got a call to come to the Embassy after being on AP since June. His appointment is on October 21st. Hoping that they will issue his visa on that day because we have been waiting so long! Finally seeing a light at the end of the tunnel....

Congrats to all those that finally got their appointments!!

oh ok yea i guess everytime they lookinto ur case they have to update it . anyway congrats and i hope we get somethin this week inshallah and another quastion they called to his cell right

I do believe they called his cell. His brother got the message in Yemen and contacted my fiancé at work. I never got any info from the Embassy, like an email.. Because the last time they rescheduled his appointment, they emailed me about the change.

neferue-did ur visa case status change yet or not did u check before they called nd im guessin when u went to the congressmen it worked afterall .iv been on ap for 3 nd 1/2 months now

It still says AP, but the case updated status was today's date.

is his job that imporant that they wont let him go to the embassy they just dont want him to go nd if ur husband gets his visa will he still work at that job or will he leave it ?? nd im happy to hear that can u tell me how long have u waited on ap

Well, it would be very hard for him to leave as he works out of the country (in Algeria). He has an audit this week at work and his leave isn't until mid October. He doesn't want to burn bridges with the company he is currently with, so it is best for him to ask for reschedule. He already emailed them, but the IV address isn't working and keeps bouncing his emails back. He just sent a message to the NIV section and it seems that email is working.

We have been waiting on AP since June 23rd.

Just got some wonderful news!! My fiancé received a call this morning from the Embassy telling him to come in on September 19th at 10am to drop off his passport and receive his visa!! I could not be more excited!!

However, his current job is preventing him from going to the appointment on that date.... He has to email the Embassy to reschedule the appointment to mid October. At least we are finally getting somewhere!

I hope and pray for the best for all of you! I really do think contacting your Congressman makes a world of difference! At least we know that there is someone at the Embassy working on things, so hopefully those waiting on AP will get called very soon!

hey guys i got a letter back from ivsanna they just stated that i have to wait till they finish with the ap on my husband nd that there sorry for it takin long anyway i guess its nothing to be so happy about but atleast they are starting to reply to us now.

So you must have sent them a letter about your AP going over 3 months? It is really good to hear you received a reply, at least they are looking at your case and hopefully they have your visa for you shortly! We are one month behind you in AP, so maybe it won't be long for us too.

Hi all,

Heard some more disappointing news today.. that they will be closing some Embassies on and around Sept 11th. They are fearing an attack again.

Hopefully all stays calm and quiet and they don't close for too long.