What can I do while I am waiting to receive my EAD card?

[rimini 4]

My husband filed a petition for my green card in October, but my OPT expires on December 12 and I still have not received my renewed EAD card.

I took my biometrics yesterday (December 4). Now, my boss wants to know when I will receive my new EAD card. Should I tell my boss to go to hell and that I will come back when Uncle Sam decides to send me one, when he feels like doing so?

Meanwhile, since my income and my husband's income are both necessary to cover all monthly bills and expenses, should we also tell our landlord to go to hell and that we will pay rent only when Uncle Sam decides to send me an EAD card?

Should I also tell all other service providers to go to hell and talk to Uncle Sam about their unpaid bills because it's because Uncle Sam that I cannot work and I cannot pay any bills.

Is this what Uncle Sam wants me to do? To send all my American fellow creditors to hell while I will be laying on the couch and doing nothing?

Thanks for your help/support and thank you for allowing me to vent my concerns.

[belinda63 3,038]

Since this was posted with an attitude. Lack of planning on your part does not constitue an emergency on mine.

[rimini 4]

Yeah, so according to you, I should fall in love only with someone rich, is that the kind of planning they do in Iran? Good job dude.

[Canerican 242]

What he is trying to say, I believe, is that if you knew that you were going to apply for the GC from an F-1 that you should have applied 60-90 days before your F-1 OPT was up so that you would be able to keep working. Unless I am wrong I believe that you do have to wait till your EAD comes in if your OPT expires before your EAD is approved and received in the mail.

[belinda63 3,038]

Yes, until your EAD is received you cannot work legally once the OPT expires. Now that your biometrics are done you can request an expediate for the EAD but it won't be received by the 12th even if it is approved. I suggest you plan accordingly.

[rimini 4]

Well, we would have applied 3 years ago if only DOMA (Defence of Marriage Act) wasn't in the way... and by now I would probably be working at a much better job instead of being on an OPT internship. Our plan was to move to Europe after my graduation, but when we heard in late December 2012 that DOMA was going to be overturned, we decided to wait until the Supreme Court made a decision.. well that Supreme Court decision was one of the very last they made.... waiting 6 months to hear it.... Now all the money we saved for Europe has been spent to pay for a lawyer and for the visa fees. We are broke and we are living paycheck by paycheck... The lawyer also took forever to get all the documents together in spite of the fact that I kept calling and nudging them almost every day.

Now we are stuck. I have grown such a big spite against any form of government. The government act just like a machine that does not look at what it encounters along its path. However, if there is something I like about the US government is that one can sue and recover damages for the torts my lawyer and the high court put on us because of DOMA. If things start to go downhill they are all going to hear from us.

The repeal of DOMA has retroactive effect. That means I have been denied my chance to marry my husband for almost 4 years, and the government left us suffering, worrying and hoping during all these years.

[Darnell 8,478]

OMG. OPT ? Having Bills ? what the heck ?

Working and 'living' on an OPT, yer supposed to leave the USA after OPT is completed.

However, you've done something else, and have a greencard in process. And you've accumulated bills. Who does that, when working on an OPT?

So, suck it up, wait till EAD in hand.

as to 'what to do' whilst waiting? Well, you could chase after an expedite on the EAD - there's several topics floating round here, for the 'how to do'.

[rimini 4]

As if there was a choice. Yes, we will have to suck it up....

[Ning 619]

Well, we would have applied 3 years ago if only DOMA (Defence of Marriage Act) wasn't in the way... and by now I would probably be working at a much better job instead of being on an OPT internship. Our plan was to move to Europe after my graduation, but when we heard in late December 2012 that DOMA was going to be overturned, we decided to wait until the Supreme Court made a decision.. well that Supreme Court decision was one of the very last they made.... waiting 6 months to hear it.... Now all the money we saved for Europe has been spent to pay for a lawyer and for the visa fees. We are broke and we are living paycheck by paycheck... The lawyer also took forever to get all the documents together in spite of the fact that I kept calling and nudging them almost every day.

Now we are stuck. I have grown such a big spite against any form of government. The government act just like a machine that does not look at what it encounters along its path. However, if there is something I like about the US government is that one can sue and recover damages for the torts my lawyer and the high court put on us because of DOMA. If things start to go downhill they are all going to hear from us.

The repeal of DOMA has retroactive effect. That means I have been denied my chance to marry my husband for almost 4 years, and the government left us suffering, worrying and hoping during all these years.

Isnt this a story of two people that made decisions that affected their lives? Money spent on lawyers? Visa fees? All of that led to what unfolded.

Stuck? Angry with the government? The govt that allows me to bring a loved one? The govt that allows me to sue?

Why didn't you move to the loved ones country to end the suffering, worrying and need for hope? One plane ride to nirvana. You do have a choice.

[CCB 3]

Call and have your EAD expedited due to severe financial loss

[rimini 4]

@Ning sure! I will give you my Paypal email, Just wire transfer over to me $3,000 and it's done! Oh well, sorry, we have to wait because my husband has family in the US and I have family in Italy. So you want one of us to be denied re-entry for what you call Nirvana? Ignorance is bliss, man.

[rimini 4]

That damn work authorization card also contains advance parole. I really am stuck. Maybe I should say it in Italian... sono bloccato in America!

By the way, we do not plan to spend the rest of our life in the US and we would like to keep the option of seeing each other's family. Breaching my immigration status would just prevent us from being able to see each other's family.

I am also concurrently applying for my husband's European citizenship, which will take about 3 years from the date of wedding for him to get. My hate for the government is not just a hate for the US government. I just think this immigration is BS. There are Mexicans everywhere who just come to the US and give birth to a baby just so they can stay in the US. And there are North Africans who sail in a crappy boat across the Mediterranean to dump themselves on the Sicily coast without any documents so they are forced to stay on European soil because nobody knows from what country they come from.

We are not that way. We are really in love and the government had done all kinds of wrongdoing upon us. I am so frustrated.

And I am a Republican too.

Edited December 6, 2013 by rimini

[MochaMichou 26]

All I can say is that we are all in the same situation. My husband got fired 1 week before marriage. He is now getting unemployment and Thank God that he also saved some money for this kind of emergency. Im the beneficiary and Unemployed and still waiting for EAD to start looking for work. we cut down on all luxuries and the small income that we have, we are using wisely to pay for rent, bills and necessities. Hang in there. its just a couple months (3-4 months) until you get your EAD or maybe before that. I hope you guys can live on just one income for the next 4 months.

As for your employer, you can ask him to hold the position for you. He might be THAT nice and hold it.

your comment is funny especially the north africans one Im north african ( very close to Italy ) but I took a plane instead of a boat lol.

Its seems like you are frustrated with the whole process. Then again, I assure you that everyone here is frustrated too but lets look at the bright side. Within 3 months from now you will have your green card in hand and everything will be much easier.

The government is treating all of us the same really. Its an immigration process and it takes time. Your EAD will arrive anytime soon so fingers crossed for you.

[MochaMichou 26]

That damn work authorization card also contains advance parole. I really am stuck. Maybe I should say it in Italian... sono bloccato in America!

By the way, we do not plan to spend the rest of our life in the US and we would like to keep the option of seeing each other's family. Breaching my immigration status would just prevent us from being able to see each other's family.

I am also concurrently applying for my husband's European citizenship, which will take about 3 years from the date of wedding for him to get. My hate for the government is not just a hate for the US government. I just think this immigration is BS. There are Mexicans everywhere who just come to the US and give birth to a baby just so they can stay in the US. And there are North Africans who sail in a crappy boat across the Mediterranean to dump themselves on the Sicily coast without any documents so they are forced to stay on European soil because nobody knows from what country they come from.

We are not that way. We are really in love and the government had done all kinds of wrongdoing upon us. I am so frustrated.

And I am a Republican too.

another option is to get a letter from employer and call USCIS for infopass to fasten your EAD. the letter should show real necessity for an early EAD. That might work with you.

[rimini 4]

It sure is going to be a sad Christmas this year.... Actually my employer is awesome... he said he would take me back as long as this is not going beyond the end of January... We are also cutting on everything and eating frozen $1 boxed dinners from Dollar Tree every day. We knew this was going to happen and we actually planned financially. I am venting because it is wrong to put us in such a miserable situation just because of red tape. I think it is undue suffering.

Edited December 6, 2013 by rimini