When can my fiance apply for work permit?

[Darren & Fern 0]

After my fiance and I get married in the US and everything is finalized, when can my fiance start working in the US? Does she need to apply for a work permit right away after we get married, if so how long does that take? Where do I go to file for a work permit?

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Once she arrives in the United States, you have 90 days to get married. Once you do that, she can file for Adjustment of Status ... with that, she can also file for her EAD (employment authorization document) ... it takes about 2-3 months, usually.

So, the faster you get married and the faster you get all the paperwork in order, the faster she'll be able to work.

Also remember that in order to work, she will need a social security number. It's suggested to apply for that around 10 days after entering into the US.

[Andrea&Henry 311]

I just got mine yesterday and I filed for my AoS on july 19... As soon as you get marry, apply for her AoS. You need to prepare and send a package (AOS) just like you did with her k1. You need to wait for noa1, biometric appointment, pay a fee. The work permit is not something you go and get, you need to file within her greencard package.

Edited October 1, 2012 by Andrea&Henry

[Darren & Fern 0]

Alright, sounds good. Thanks for the help. My girlfriend has a social security # but just will need the AOS once we get married.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Alright, sounds good. Thanks for the help. My girlfriend has a social security # but just will need the AOS once we get married.

Excellent. AOS is $1070, by the way. And if you apply for that EAD as well as AP (permission to travel, basically) then the fee for those two are waived. It's highly suggested to file for all three at the same time. Good luck!

[Andrea&Henry 311]

FYI, if she got her SSN before marriage she should have it change before you guys get married. Reasons? If she wants to change her lastname for yours, is recommended to have all her documents under the same name, so she needs to back and have a new one. Second, if she got her SSN without her Work permit or a greencard (something that shows legal bonds with US), usually this kind of SSN says NOT ALLOW TO WORK. She can keep this one, but after getting her EAD she should go a change it

[Moomin 292]

FYI, if she got her SSN before marriage she should have it change before you guys get married. Reasons? If she wants to change her lastname for yours, is recommended to have all her documents under the same name, so she needs to back and have a new one. Second, if she got her SSN without her Work permit or a greencard (something that shows legal bonds with US), usually this kind of SSN says NOT ALLOW TO WORK. She can keep this one, but after getting her EAD she should go a change it

It says valid for work only with DHS authorization. As long as one gets that(EAD or greencard) later on, it poses no issues to have the writing on there. There is only a slight risk of it becoming an issue when removing conditions or losing greencard and having to show proof of work authorization to an employer.

She can't change name on it before they marry. Are you sure you don't mean before filing for AOS?