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U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to increase the amount of time a grant of employment authorization is valid for applicants seeking adjustment of status under Section 245 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
 
Background:
 
When an applicant applies for adjustment of status, he or she may also apply for employment authorization so that the applicant may work in the United States while waiting for a decision on the adjustment application. Currently, USCIS issues adjustment applicants Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that are valid for 1 year. However, in the interest of reducing the burden on both the agency and the public, because the current median processing time for certain adjustment of status applications is close to or greater than 1 year, USCIS will now issue initial and renewal EADs to adjustment applicants that are valid for 2 years. Replacement EADs will not be affected by this update; USCIS will continue to issue replacement EADs with the same validity dates as the original EAD.
 
This guidance, contained in Volume 10 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately. The guidance contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.
 
Policy Highlights
 
Updates the validity period for initial and renewal EADs issued to applicants for adjustment of status under INA 245 from 1 year to 2 years.
 
Citation
 
Volume 10: Employment Authorization, Part B, Specific Categories, Chapter 4, Adjustment Applicants Under INA 245 [10 USCIS-PM B.4].
 
Reference:  https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/policy-manual-updates/20210609-EmploymentAuthorization.pdf

Hi there,
Since this post, I have flown 2 more times into the US from Montreal to Pennsylvania via American Airlines. My employer granted me permission to work via VPN while in the US; my fiance's internet is actually better than my Canadian internet...lol.
 
I always had a return ticket. And although documents were not requested on any of my 3 trips, I had with me copies: of utility bills, rent receipts, letter of employment confirmation, paystubs, and our K1 paperwork.

I read a news article that stated if they can't reach you by phone, they will send the local police to your home to check on you. Don't know how many times you need to miss their call in order for them to do that though.

I flew from Ottawa to Pennsylvania on May 1st to visit my fiance and returned May 17. I flew American Airlines and told customs I was visiting my fiance, that I knew I had to self isolate for 14 days and that I had been working from home since Mar 24 (which I have been). On those conditions, he "granted me permission to enter the US" - his words.
 
Upon returning to Ontario last Sun, I've had one call from Public Health of Canada and 3 calls from the Ontario Ministry of Health (2 missed, 1 talked to), to ensure I was adhering to the mandatory 14 day isolation.
 
Btw, I'm in the process of K1.

I flew from Ottawa to Pennsylvania on May 1st to visit my fiance and returned May 17. I flew American Airlines and told customs I was visiting my fiance, that I knew I had to self isolate for 14 days and that I had been working from home since Mar 24 (which I have been). On those conditions, he "granted me permission to enter the US" - his words.
 
Upon returning to Ontario last Sun, I've had one call from Public Health of Canada and 3 calls from the Ontario Ministry of Health (2 missed, 1 talked to), to ensure I was adhering to the mandatory 14 day isolation.
 
Btw, I'm in the process of K1.

I bank with RBC and have had a US-based account with them for years (went to school in US back in 2012-2015). RBC in the US is a virtual bank, but I can withdraw at PNC Bank when I am stateside. TD CanadaTrust also has the same US banking availability and they do have physical banks in some states. All you need to do is transfer from your Canadian account to your US account. This makes it safer than carrying a lot of cash with you when you move.