JFK POE

[ELW 5]

Hi Imran and Safiya! There is no charge for the EAD at JFK, they give it for free and in fact you don't even have to ask for it, it is given automatically. It is valid for only 90 days though. That is hard because most employers do not want to give a job to someone whose work permission will run out in 3 months. My husband gave many job applications but finally only got some work in a gas station for a few weeks.

When you give the AOS application, the EAD once granted will be valid for one year, then it has to be renewed. But when the AOS is approved and green card granted (often within 3 months of applying, but sometimes delayed for a year or more), the separate EAD permission is not needed, because anyone with green card can work anywhere in USA (for the validity of the green card, usually for 2 years).

[Matt and Chandra 0]

Mazel tov & Swagatam, Mala! :dance:

[Imran's Wife 2B 0]

Hello ELW. Thank you so much for your response. I know the EAD given at JFK is temporary, but right now I'm thinking that would be a good idea. He would be able to work to save up for the AOS, I won't have $1,010 extra. I wonder if others that have gotten the EAD at JFK found the EAD useless. I wonder if it was hard to find a job with that. I know you said your hubby had a hard time. We are still waiting on our NOA2, so we still have lots of time to decide.

[maya62 7]

My husband got the temp EAD at JFK and I think both of us were really glad he did. He worked for the first 90 days instead of sitting around the house. He then took some time off while we waited for the 1 year EAD... we had pre-arranged this with the employer. I think it really helped his mental state to be a contributor right away, rather than a "dependent". I think maybe a lot of men have difficulty being a "dependent" when they have always been socialized to believe they should be "providers".

But everyone is different... it may not work for you, especially with that gap between the temp EAD and the 1 year EAD. Although some people believe you can work in between there... I haven't ever seen any conclusive documentation that it is OK or is NOT OK to work through that gap.

Best wishes!

Maya

[bszoom42 0]

I think it really helped his mental state to be a contributor right away, rather than a "dependent". I think maybe a lot of men have difficulty being a "dependent" when they have always been socialized to believe they should be "providers".

If I was in that situation, it would have helped me as well.

[ELW 5]

Working in between (after temp EAD expires and before one year EAD is granted) is not really legal. The arguments on VJ are from people who bend the law a bit...

I agree that generally it is really hard for guys to just sit around the house all day, they need to feel useful. While waiting to get a job, my guy found a great volunteer opportunity at http://www.volunteermatch.org/. I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to keep busy! (Also, volunteer jobs are useful as references on a resume and the volunteer work often leads to job opportunities later.)

[kitkat1 5]

My husband got the temp EAD at JFK and I think both of us were really glad he did. He worked for the first 90 days instead of sitting around the house. He then took some time off while we waited for the 1 year EAD... we had pre-arranged this with the employer. I think it really helped his mental state to be a contributor right away, rather than a "dependent". I think maybe a lot of men have difficulty being a "dependent" when they have always been socialized to believe they should be "providers".

But everyone is different... it may not work for you, especially with that gap between the temp EAD and the 1 year EAD. Although some people believe you can work in between there... I haven't ever seen any conclusive documentation that it is OK or is NOT OK to work through that gap.

Best wishes!

Maya

An employer could face problems because they need the EAD to comply with the I-9 form. But if they don't care and let the person continue working, that's their problem.

Anyway, great advice about working for 90 days and the mental state. I agree and think it could make a serious difference in frame of mind (especially for a lot of men -- and there's nothing meant to be sexist in that comment). We'll be routing through JFK just for this reason!

[journeyman 0]

Hello everyone,

i would really like to ask all those who have been thru jfk poe to share their experiences

although those from other poe experiences will also be helpful to know

thanks in advance ,

mala

I and my fiancee came thru the Seattle POE and it was smooth. Essentially this IV/NIV visa line was of 2 people only.

The officer asked 3 questions:

What do you do ?(for me)

Do you have any children ? (for my fiancee)

When are you getting married ? (for my fiancee)

He took a detailed look at all the documents in the brown envelope and then stamped the I-94, and showed us the way to the customs.

[journeyman 0]

Hi Imran and Safiya! There is no charge for the EAD at JFK, they give it for free and in fact you don't even have to ask for it, it is given automatically. It is valid for only 90 days though. That is hard because most employers do not want to give a job to someone whose work permission will run out in 3 months. My husband gave many job applications but finally only got some work in a gas station for a few weeks.

When you give the AOS application, the EAD once granted will be valid for one year, then it has to be renewed. But when the AOS is approved and green card granted (often within 3 months of applying, but sometimes delayed for a year or more), the separate EAD permission is not needed, because anyone with green card can work anywhere in USA (for the validity of the green card, usually for 2 years).

The validity of the GC is only 2 years these days ? I thought it was 10 yrs, isn't it ? The one that I had was valid for 10 yrs. (I had gotten it thru employment based category though not via family based category)

[maya62 7]

Journeyman,

K1 and K3 visa holders are usually given 2 year conditional permanent resident cards when they apply for adjustment of status because they are immigrating based on a fairly new marriage. I have heard of people whose AOS interviews were very close to their 2 year anniversaries, who got very sympathetic and alert IO's who waited to order card production until after that 2 year wedding anniversary and thus were able to order production of a 10 year green card. But most get 2 year cards first, then remove conditions and get 10 year cards.

Leastwise that's my understanding...

Cheers,

maya

[Imua 0]

Mala,

If you and hubby are still in NYC I hope you get the chance to come out to Queens, take the E.F. R or 7 train to Jackson Heights - 74th St. It's a real Little India(and Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal...). Lots of great restaurants and saree shops. Also there is another smaller Indian area in Manhattan around 28th St., but Jackson Heights is much more varied. I also happened to visit a largely Indo-Caribbean area this weekend -Richmond Hill. Very interesting how food and music blends Indian and native island elements. It's hard finding veg food there, but when my friend and I did, it was to die for...Based on that alone I could see G and I living there.