K1 Approved - Now on to sorting out my work situation!

[payxibka 10,045]

Sorry but all that changed 4 days ago. K-1 visa holders can no longer get the employment authorization at point of entry, and if they do it is not valid. The wording of the I-9 document which employers have to complete for all employees was changed (clarified they say) so that you must have either a green card, an EAD or a specific visa to work for a specific employer in order for the authorization stamp to be valid. It was effective February 2.

As has been pointed out, applying for the EAD separately from the I-485 is expensive and gives little result. In fact, in our case, we applied for both at the same time and got the green card first! Your best bet is to move up your wedding and get the AOS filed as soon as possible.

Actually not... the USCIS has delayed implementation by 30 or 60 days... Memo was published on or about Jan 26, 2009.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

I am feeling more and more like the best thing to do would simply be to drive to Vegas on the day of my arrival, get married in an Elvis drive-thru wedding and then send off all the paperwork for adjustment of status and work visa right away!

Anything else seems too much of a headache!

Why drive to Vegas? Our neighbor happens to be one of 5 JP's in our county, she came over one evening and did the ceremony in our living room. Send off the AOS the next day. You can have your fiance meet you at DFW with the JP in tow and do it in the lobby at DFW.

Yeah, the option about the 90 day temporary work authorization has been eliminated.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Sorry but all that changed 4 days ago. K-1 visa holders can no longer get the employment authorization at point of entry, and if they do it is not valid. The wording of the I-9 document which employers have to complete for all employees was changed (clarified they say) so that you must have either a green card, an EAD or a specific visa to work for a specific employer in order for the authorization stamp to be valid. It was effective February 2.

As has been pointed out, applying for the EAD separately from the I-485 is expensive and gives little result. In fact, in our case, we applied for both at the same time and got the green card first! Your best bet is to move up your wedding and get the AOS filed as soon as possible.

Actually not... the USCIS has delayed implementation by 30 or 60 days... Memo was published on or about Jan 26, 2009.

Good info, though I know two couples who have entered JFK since that time and neither were given the stamp though they asked fo it. In September my wife was given the stamp at JFK without asking.

So, in effect, it seems to have gone away. Of course, someone already here with the authorization may get away with it for the next 60 days and I know they do not make an issue of it at AOS interviews. My wife contiued working her "small job" after her temporary authorization expired and before she had her EAD (already had filed) and she bragged all about it at the AOS interview, how she had this "small job" working with the public to improve her English. They neve batted an eye or asked a question.

[inGODShands 0]

CONGRATULATIONS!