Just got the acceptance letter, can my wife apply for work?

[chrislyse 0]

We never received the EAD approval notice back, my wife has been waiting to find a job. We did get back the advanced parole and just today we got the CF1 acceptance/approval letter (saying her card should be in the mail in the next 3 weeks).

Does she automatically have the right to work with the green card? Does she have to wait for the actual card or can you use the NOA for this?

Thanks.

[HeatDeath 430]

She can work when she has one of either the EAD card, or the GC, in her hand. She can apply for work whenever she wants, as long as her employer understands that she will not be able to start until she receives one of those two cards.

The GC says right on it that the person it identifies has authorization to live and work in the United States. No other paperwork is technically required to prove employment eligibility, although the employer will almost certainly need a Social Security number from her as well.

The NOA, unfortunately, does not authorize her to work, in and of itself. Her employer would need to see an actual GC, or an actual EAD, within 3 days of her official on-paper start date.

You may just be members of the exclusive but rapidly growing club of people who get their green cards before they get their EADs. It's a big change from not that may years ago, when GCs could take 6 months to a year or more to be approved.

[chrislyse 0]

Thanks for the info!