Get a job before Green Card?

[GregBu 1]

My wife's interview went great. She has a few loose ends to tie up in Canada, but we are expecting her to move down the second week in March.

I know from checking the forums that it typically takes about a month for her Green Card to show up.

Our question is, can she get a job before then, or does she have to wait for the actual card?

On a side note, I wanted to once again thank everyone here. You've been fantastic, couldn't have done this without you, seriously.

[Darnell 8,478]

oh goody !

when she comes through the POE, she'll get a stamp in her passport that validates her VISA to be used as a temporary green card, I-551 document .

about 10 days later, she can go into SSA office, apply for SSN in VISA NAME -

then go back 2 days later to SSA office and get the #. with these 2 things, she can work.

If you are diligent, can be done in less than 2 weeks of POE date.

[YuAndDan 153]

IN a word YES!

The passport will have an I-551 notation, this WILL serve as green-card until physical card arrives in the mail.

Conceivably take a job same day as arrival in the USA.

I will add, this is one of the things that makes a CR or IR visa great, and a K-Visa not so great.

Edited February 9, 2011 by YuAndDan

[Flames9_RN 358]

Yes one can get a job! What has happened to others---is that the company may just hold ur 1st paycheque until you get ur SSN #. Some get the SSN # right away. some do not!!

Even if you checked off the box on the DS-230--many times the SSN does NOT arrive. They recommend you wait approx 10-14 BUSINESS days after you POE and if no SSN card---then simply download the form from http://ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html take ur passport and birth certificate (or green card if it luckily has arrived) and goto ur local SSN office and inquire about its status. Most likely one has not been issued--THEN WHAMMMOO--you pass over your already filled out form and ur passport and birth cert. Should arrive 1-2 weeks later in mail! I do believ you can go back in person the next day or so and they can verbally tell you the #. i was told they can not tell you the # over the phone

You dont have to download the form ahead of time---just trying to save you time at the SSN office, thats all

[GregBu 1]

Yes one can get a job! What has happened to others---is that the company may just hold ur 1st paycheque until you get ur SSN #. Some get the SSN # right away. some do not!!

Even if you checked off the box on the DS-230--many times the SSN does NOT arrive. They recommend you wait approx 10-14 BUSINESS days after you POE and if no SSN card---then simply download the form from http://ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html take ur passport and birth certificate (or green card if it luckily has arrived) and goto ur local SSN office and inquire about its status. Most likely one has not been issued--THEN WHAMMMOO--you pass over your already filled out form and ur passport and birth cert. Should arrive 1-2 weeks later in mail! I do believ you can go back in person the next day or so and they can verbally tell you the #. i was told they can not tell you the # over the phone

You dont have to download the form ahead of time---just trying to save you time at the SSN office, thats all

Thanks all for the replies. She's been going out of her mind with boredom and is anxious to get a job immediately.

[Tim and Erin 3]

Wow...I don't know how I missed this information. I just checked my own passport (my POE was early December), and all I have is my visa pasted into my passport, and a card with my departure number stapled to one page. I don't have any I-551 stamp or notation in it. Now what? It sure would be nice to be able to work earlier than I expected to.

[YuAndDan 153]

Wow...I don't know how I missed this information. I just checked my own passport (my POE was early December), and all I have is my visa pasted into my passport, and a card with my departure number stapled to one page. I don't have any I-551 stamp or notation in it. Now what? It sure would be nice to be able to work earlier than I expected to.

K-1 is not a green-card visa, it is non immigrant and will not have that notation.

I-551 means green card.

K-1 needs to adjust status to get green card, this is why I say K-1 is not so great.

[Darnell 8,478]

Wow...I don't know how I missed this information. I just checked my own passport (my POE was early December), and all I have is my visa pasted into my passport, and a card with my departure number stapled to one page. I don't have any I-551 stamp or notation in it. Now what? It sure would be nice to be able to work earlier than I expected to.

Ya, I'm with Dan on this one -

you missed it, because it doesn't exist for you.

It doesn't exist for you, because of VISA TYPE.

Sorry.

[Tim and Erin 3]

So I have to wait until I've adjusted status? Bummer.

[Flames9_RN 358]

http://www.visajourney.com/content/compare

+ and - of each visa type!

[Danu 19]

So I have to wait until I've adjusted status? Bummer.

Not necessarily until adjusted but until you submit AOS, if you also submit the work visa with it. I got my work auth about a month before I got my GC.

[HeatDeath 430]

Not necessarily until adjusted but until you submit AOS, if you also submit the work visa with it. I got my work auth about a month before I got my GC.

Just to clarify, by "work visa" he means "I-765 EAD application", and by "work auth" he means "EAD card".

Once you have an EAD card in your hand, you can work for a US employer. If you file the I-765 at the same time as the rest of your AOS packet, which you should do as soon as possible after you marry [as in, in the next couple of days], you should get your EAD card in about 6-10 weeks.

Edited February 10, 2011 by HeatDeath

[Danu 19]

Just to clarify, by "work visa" he means "I-765 EAD application", and by "work auth" he means "EAD card".

Once you have an EAD card in your hand, you can work for a US employer. If you file the I-765 at the same time as the rest of your AOS packet, which you should do as soon as possible after you marry [as in, in the next couple of days], you should get your EAD card in about 6-10 weeks.

Oops, yeah totally ment EAD. Sorry >< Just started working again and my brain is on the fritz.

(also just for future reference, I'm a girl )

[coraliesolms 47]

I came up against some objection while I was still waiting for my actual greencard. Some business owners are skittish I guess. I had one guy flat out tell me they wouldnt hire me until I had my greencard in hand. Even though I had my visa and welcome letter with me!

Oh well, it took 5 weeks for it to get to me (3 weeks after SSN) and I was employed shortly after that. Just a heads up that some people are wierd about having the actual card in hand.

[Ken&TJ 0]

K-1 is not a green-card visa, it is non immigrant and will not have that notation.

I-551 means green card.

K-1 needs to adjust status to get green card, this is why I say K-1 is not so great.

Do you know if it's possible to get EAD at entry into the USA from Canada on a K1 Visa? I thought I read somewhere that it's possible. My Fiance will be POE on 2/15.