You CAN legally obtain a job prior to your EAD!!!

[PachucoBro 3]

Everyone always wants to know if or how to work/get a job as soon as you enter the US.

Lots of people say you can't or that it is illegal or other things that are not true.

My wife speaking barely any English what-so-ever began work shortly after entering the US because she was bored at home.

She worked at a mexican restaurant under the table where on the owner was a legal resident. Two other ladies worked there as illegals in the US and not legal to work. She worked there only until we had my wife's SS 'number' the actual card is not necessary to start working. Now a days you do need the number though for many large comapnies like Wal-Mart, Target and Sears use it to start the computer application process. Mom and Pop employers can accept the receipt given to you when you apply for the SS card. Your employer is not allowed to pay you though prior to making a copy of your SS card. That could be 2-3 weeks in most cases.

After she knew her SS number we applied at Sears Grand (national compay with HR department etc.) and she was hired and was in training within 7 days. We got in good with the hiring supervisor who really thought my wife would do well in the position she was appling for.

All my wife used to get that job was a receipt from the SS Administration showing the actual SS number (not the actual card, that was still in the mail), her passport and her I-94 in her passport.

We now are sending out the AOS this week and her I-94 expires on DEC 26, after which she will continue to work and have her taxes taken out of her check as usual. If we are asked after DEC 26 about the expired I-94 (which I seriously doubt) we will do our best to stall so she can continue to work until Sears says, "Sorry you can't work here anymore until you have a current EAD."

Until then my wife will continue to enjoy her job, the independence and confidence it creates in her life here in a different country and the extra bucks it puts in our pockets to send to her family and for good times to behad here together!

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Something about the words LEGAL and UNDER THE TABLE doesn't sound right here

[PachucoBro 3]

Something about the words LEGAL and UNDER THE TABLE doesn't sound right here

Here we go... please tell me you were just trying to be funny.

The title is you CAN work legally as my information shows you can wait for your SS card, etc.

In our case my wife not speaking much english and used to having a professional career go tbored sitting at home cleaning. Fearing that my wife may get terribly home sick I went to several different nearby businesses looking for something my wife could help with for FREE!

The first person to accept my offer of FREE help was the restuarant owner. After she worked 3 days he felt she was such a good worker that he would pay her at the end of each day in cash for working 3-4hours per day. Hmmm... I'm an american, but I'll be d*mned if I tell me wife, "No, honey give that man's money back because it is ILLEGAL!"

H*ll I worked for contractors at age 12-14 during the summers for cash under the table. I garauntee all you nay-sayers pay some kid who is under age 16 money at some point in your life. Maybe you have received money for work as a teenager. What is the difference??? Please explain it to me?

Also while you are explain also explain why when you file your I-485 AOS paperwork (typically the time in which you are also waiting for your EAD) that your male benificiary aged 18-26 's information is at the date of your submission sent to the national selective service authority and though you can not work 'LEGALLY' the USA can call up your fiancee to go off to IRAQ and battle terrorists?????

Good grief peolpe is it really that horrible to have your fiancee TRY to get a job to keep them busy, active and even earning a few bucks so they can feel like they are actually DOING something while here in the US and not just living off of you?

[nathmc31 0]

Something about the words LEGAL and UNDER THE TABLE doesn't sound right here

Here we go... please tell me you were just trying to be funny.

The title is you CAN work legally as my information shows you can wait for your SS card, etc.

In our case my wife not speaking much english and used to having a professional career go tbored sitting at home cleaning. Fearing that my wife may get terribly home sick I went to several different nearby businesses looking for something my wife could help with for FREE!

The first person to accept my offer of FREE help was the restuarant owner. After she worked 3 days he felt she was such a good worker that he would pay her at the end of each day in cash for working 3-4hours per day. Hmmm... I'm an american, but I'll be d*mned if I tell me wife, "No, honey give that man's money back because it is ILLEGAL!"

H*ll I worked for contractors at age 12-14 during the summers for cash under the table. I garauntee all you nay-sayers pay some kid who is under age 16 money at some point in your life. Maybe you have received money for work as a teenager. What is the difference??? Please explain it to me?

Also while you are explain also explain why when you file your I-485 AOS paperwork (typically the time in which you are also waiting for your EAD) that your male benificiary aged 18-26 's information is at the date of your submission sent to the national selective service authority and though you can not work 'LEGALLY' the USA can call up your fiancee to go off to IRAQ and battle terrorists?????

Good grief peolpe is it really that horrible to have your fiancee TRY to get a job to keep them busy, active and even earning a few bucks so they can feel like they are actually DOING something while here in the US and not just living off of you?

Here is what is missing from your little analagy;

1. It is illegal to work cash in hand. (at 16 or at 60)

2. It is illegal to work without an EAD if you are immigrating without a green card. You need the EAD.

3. If your missus had her Social Security card and showed it to Sears they wouldnt have hired her, because its states on the card that she needs WORK AUTHERIZATION.

4. I agree that it isnt fair that peoples spouse's have to sit at home doing nothing, waiting for permission to work. But that is the LAW. Dry your eyes. Bucket loads of us are waiting.

Dont post comments saying that the advice given here is 'false', ect in relation to working before being given permission, because the only false informaiton that has been writen here is from you.

PEACE OUT B)

[Aymerlu 3]

Hmmmmm......sitting here looking at my husbands SS card and it says "Not without legal authorization from DHS!!! Oh......this thread is gonna get hairy!!!

[PachucoBro 3]

Here is what is missing from your little analagy;

1. It is illegal to work cash in hand. (at 16 or at 60)

2. It is illegal to work without an EAD if you are immigrating without a green card. You need the EAD.

3. If your missus had her Social Security card and showed it to Sears they wouldnt have hired her, because its states on the card that she needs WORK AUTHERIZATION.

4. I agree that it isnt fair that peoples spouse's have to sit at home doing nothing, waiting for permission to work. But that is the LAW. Dry your eyes. Bucket loads of us are waiting.

Dont post comments saying that the advice given here is 'false', ect in relation to working before being given permission, because the only false informaiton that has been writen here is from you.

PEACE OUT B)

1. Cash in hand is not illegal in itself. It is up to you as the employee to pay your taxes like a good citizen and the same to the employer to fill out the proper paperwork for employment and their share of the taxes OR their 1099s for contractors.

2. This is TOTALLY WRONG and is the biggest thing I have a problem with people disseminating to new people going through this process. A K Visa is allowed to work PERIOD! SSA.gov - My immigration document shows K-1. How do I get a work Social Security number? All you need is a valid I-94 and a SS card.

3. Well do you think a huge NATIONAL company like Sears, who has been in business since before some of our parents were born, would hire someone without SEEING their SS card? SSA.gov - Do legal aliens need a Social Security number to work?

4. That is NOT the LAW! It is your interpretation of the law. I'm not crying because my wife is working and loving it while you sit at home waiting. I sure hope I can help all those others you mention waiting with you because that is what this forum is about. Get up off your couch and TRY to make things happen.

All anyone can ever tell you if you TRY to get a job is.... NO!

I have never seen a message posted on here saying... I went to get a job and was hired, but when I showed them my passport and unexpired I-94 they told me they could not hire me.

This tells me one of two things and more than likely both...

1. People aren't trying to go get jobs with what documentation they have.

2. Those that TRY actually get hired and start working and don't have a reason to say such things.

[cheeky^Wolf 0]

Maybe you should call USCIS and tell them your story.

Good luck with AOS!

[kitkat1 5]

Everyone always wants to know if or how to work/get a job as soon as you enter the US.

Lots of people say you can't or that it is illegal or other things that are not true.

If you had read through the most recent threads on this topic, you would see that it was mentioned that there ARE jobs where an EAD is not required i.e independent contractor, nanny, etc. Also, showing your physical SSN is not actually a requirement (although it is the most common thing employer asks for).

What you are missing here is the rather important detail about whether or not your wife was ALLOWED to work in the kind of jobs she took. She wasn't. She isn't. She is not employment authorized . You can spin it anyway you want - but she is NOT allowed to work in the jobs she worked. And those employers are the ones who would pay the price if she is caught. (Might want to take down the links to any personal information . . . we are not alone here)

[PachucoBro 3]

Hmmmmm......sitting here looking at my husbands SS card and it says "Not without legal authorization from DHS!!! Oh......this thread is gonna get hairy!!!

Please tell me your husband is using his to work. What side of the fence do you fall on?

Well let me help push incase you are on the wrong side...

The words written on his SS card means that if he has a K visa that is valid and not expired, he can work legally. If it is passed the expiration date on the I-94 then he must have an EAD to 'legally' work in the US.

There are only THREE types of SS cards issued by the SSA. SSA.gov - What types of Social Security cards does SSA issue?

1. Says nothing on it - allows you to work without restriction.

2. Says "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" - You can not use this card or number to work with 'legally'.

3. Says "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" - is only issued after the SSA person at the counter verifies that your visa and I-94 permits you to work then they stamp this on your card and you can work until your I-94 expires.

I swear I will get banned from this forum before I start telling people to just sit and wait for an EAD months after the immigrating person entered the country while ILLEGALS continue to take jobs that should go to those who are able and willing to work.

[PachucoBro 3]

If you had read through the most recent threads on this topic, you would see that it was mentioned that there ARE jobs where an EAD is not required i.e independent contractor, nanny, etc. Also, showing your physical SSN is not actually a requirement (although it is the most common thing employer asks for).

You are correct that jobs such as independent contractor and nanny or whathave you are way to get around that. Great, my wife did not want to be nanny and not speaking English would have made it hard to talk to the right people to become some sort of consultant or what have you.

What you are missing here is the rather important detail about whether or not your wife was ALLOWED to work in the kind of jobs she took. She wasn't. She isn't. She is not employment authorized . You can spin it anyway you want - but she is NOT allowed to work in the jobs she worked. And those employers are the ones who would pay the price if she is caught. (Might want to take down the links to any personal information . . . we are not alone here)

My wife WAS ALLOWED to work based on the many SSA links I have posted above... She had a valid unexpired I-94 and an unexpired foriegn passport. That is all that is needed to prove eligibility to work in the US as shown on ANY I-9 form which shows approved documents for identification and employment eligibility.

She has only worked for companies since entering the US, one was under the table (kinda like when people pay the 12 year old down the street to mow the yard on a regualr basis or kids make lemonade on the corner) and the other is the one she has now with SEARS Grand (you know the national company that has been around since horse and buggies?).

As for being afraid. I think with as many illegals here in Texas and most of them working as they need to to live... My wife who is here legally and married to a US citizen who makes $50k+ a year and worked illegally for 7 weeks taking about $100 a week for 3-4 hours of work a day will be last on their list.

I do not promote working illegally, I merely am stating a fact of my experience here in Texas and several other states I have lived in other the years.

[Aymerlu 3]

Hmmmmm......sitting here looking at my husbands SS card and it says "Not without legal authorization from DHS!!! Oh......this thread is gonna get hairy!!!

Please tell me your husband is using his to work. What side of the fence do you fall on?Well let me help push incase you are on the wrong side...

The words written on his SS card means that if he has a K visa that is valid and not expired, he can work legally. If it is passed the expiration date on the I-94 then he must have an EAD to 'legally' work in the US.

There are only THREE types of SS cards issued by the SSA. SSA.gov - What types of Social Security cards does SSA issue?

1. Says nothing on it - allows you to work without restriction.

2. Says "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT" - You can not use this card or number to work with 'legally'.

3. Says "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" - is only issued after the SSA person at the counter verifies that your visa and I-94 permits you to work then they stamp this on your card and you can work until your I-94 expires.

I swear I will get banned from this forum before I start telling people to just sit and wait for an EAD months after the immigrating person entered the country while ILLEGALS continue to take jobs that should go to those who are able and willing to work.

NO, he's not ILLEGALLY working because we're currently waiting for his EAD.....THAT'S THE SIDE OF THE FENCE I FALL ON. I agree with the other posters that some employers do not ask to see a SS card. When I worked for a large hospital, there was a policy "no proof of SS card, no employment" even after the individual was hired, they were given so many days to show proof. Reason being, there were many illegal immigrants working at the hospital and that hospital was fined a big a$$ fine. Ok, so Sears didn't ask for a SS card from your wife. That could fall back on the human resources department there too. That's their problem and that company will be the one paying fines later. Maybe everything will be fine in your case or maybe their will be consequences with your AOS.

ETA: I'm just gonna shut my mouth!

Edited December 21, 2006 by Aymerlu

[no name 1]

Where's Yodrak when you need him?

[Girona40 0]

Work Authorization

You may want to take a look at this.

[Girona40 0]

Work Authorization

You may want to take a look at this.

Or even this one from the Office of Special Counsel at the Justice Department.

Employment Verification

If you look under the section entitled "How can employers verify their employees' employment eligibility in a non-discriminatory manner?", you will find the answer.

[KarenCee 3]

Let's hope some of these posters who insist we don't need EAD's to work will see this and finally understand what the rest of us have been *trying* to get across this whole time.

Oy Vey!