Restrictions on Work with EAD?

[l7e7c7 0]

Hello fellow VJ members

I have a quick question. My husband just received his EAD. Before, he had a K1 Visa. He was going to interview at a company here in Cincinnati, but they told him that he needed his green card first.

Have any of you experienced anything like this? Are there limitations on your job search with an EAD? This was a big surprise to us, so we are looking for some answers.

Thanks

Laura and Juan

[Tygrys 143]

Some employers/positions may require permananet residency, some may require citizenship. For most employers being authorized to work will be sufficient.

[l7e7c7 0]

Thanks!

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

What they are asking is illegal, unless they comprise the very small amount of jobs that require LPRs or USCs only for national security clearance.

[LizLovesFlor 11]

It depends on what kind of job... Most should not ask abt it.

[AllYouCanEat 3]

I have not experienced any issues finding work with just my EAD yet.

[Dave&Roza 748]

Hello fellow VJ members

I have a quick question. My husband just received his EAD. Before, he had a K1 Visa. He was going to interview at a company here in Cincinnati, but they told him that he needed his green card first.

Have any of you experienced anything like this? Are there limitations on your job search with an EAD? This was a big surprise to us, so we are looking for some answers.

Thanks

Laura and Juan

You might want to show that employer that the EAD is on the list of acceptable documents to proove work authorization per the I-9 form. Most HR departments only deal with what they know. I had one tell me I had to show them my SSC and DL to complete the I-9 and I was using my US passport. I had to politely tell them that 1) the US passport is a List A document, and 2) my SSC is safely in a safety deposit box and that was about 1000 miles away and they was no way I was going to be able to get it to show her. You would not beleive how long it took to convience her to accept my passport as a valid document. It was because no one had used their passport before.

The only other issue the employer can have with the EAD is the expiration date, but you do have the ability and must show them your GC when the EAD expires. I think you just have someone who does not know what the EAD card is.

Good luck,

Dave

[Mel and Rudy 2]

I have had similar issues. Three prospective employers terminated all communications with me as soon as I told them I had an EAD with an expiry date.

It is illegal to discriminate on those grounds and I am planning to change my strategy now.

I just substituted 'Authorized to work in the U.S.' with 'Permanently authorized to work in the U.S.' in my resume. It would not constitute misrepresentation as I can always renew my EAD until the mandatory approval of my I-485 application marriage subsisting.

Only desperate employers for labor-intensive and minimum and near-minimum wage jobs seem to be ready to hire work-authorized individuals. NJ has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and that could be playing a part, too.

I suggest you refrain from explicitly revealing that you do not yet possess a green card in those words.

[HK12 273]

I just substituted 'Authorized to work in the U.S.' with 'Permanently authorized to work in the U.S.' in my resume. It would not constitute misrepresentation as I can always renew my EAD until the mandatory approval of my I-485 application marriage subsisting.

That is a great tip. My future employer (I am starting next month) was a little concerned as well when he saw the expiration date on my EAD. I had to explain to him that I am currently waiting on my GC, and that I can renew my EAD in case the GC has not arrived by the time my EAD expires. I also had a copy of my Social Security Card ready for him and explained to him that everything is 100% legal. Other than that, I luckily did not have any problems.

Edited June 24, 2013 by HK12

[newacct 688]

GC also has an expiration date. Why don't they have a problem with that?

[AllYouCanEat 3]

Because the EAD is a very short term work permit and employers don't like to train an employee, that might have to leave the company if the EAD won't get extended for whatever reason. It also indicates that it's tied to a visa that may or may not be renewed. Too much risk and obviously not worth pursuing for some companies.

GC also has an expiration date. Why don't they have a problem with that?

[katchoo12 8]

I had the same problem when looking for jobs in banking which most of my work experience and education is. They did not tell me up front that they could not give me an interview because I dont have my GC yet but only EAD, but it was pretty clear that they don't want to deal with EAD... As an immigrant, everybody expect us not to be picky and take whatever job is available (meaning minimum wage job), but when you have a good work experience and education it is kinda degrading and very depressing. I would not be happy to have to take that kind of job. Thankfully I do have enough savings to wait for the right job when i'll get my GC.