What did you do while you were waiting for the EAD?

[Nissara 0]

I think sometimes Pui thinks her English is not good and does not have a lot of confidence in herself in her English. Her English is better then she gives herself credit for. She translated her own birth certificate for the AOS and when the AOS was pending she translated her brother's death certificate so she could get emergancy AP so she could go back home to her brother's funeral.

One of the reasons for her going to ESL classes was to get out of the house to do something. With all the time sitting around the house it just gives you time to think about "why can't I be working" or "why can't I do this until I get my EAD or green card". You have to give yourself something to do. In its own way it is a humbling experience not being able to work and being dependant on other people for everything. This is all part of the adjusting to your new home and life in the US. Sit back enjoy yourself because it sounds like the second you get your EAD card you will be working.

It is not easy being able to do a lot of stuff you had in Thailand and espically if you lived in Bangkok. There most everything you need very close or easy tranportation as they have in Bangkok. One thing to be doing is studying for your state's permit test so once you get the EAD or green card you can take the permit test depending on the state you live in. Here in my state you have to schedule your drivers test 2 - 3 months in advance because there is that much of a backlog so you migh want to check and see if your state has anything like that as well.

Thanks Andy and Pui for the advice and understanding. It is really difficult to be ok with this situation because first, not being able to work for 2-3 months makes me feel useless and stressed. I want to be able to help paying rents and stuff. Second, I have a great possible career, friends and family in Thailand but when I am here, it is like I have nothing. Sometimes I even hesitate if I made a right decision to come live here. I was in the US before as an exchange student to study econ one year in San Diego and I loved it but now it is different. Actually I tried to ask Thai people who lived in the US in Thai website before but it turns out that some of them, first thing they do is assume that I am gonna do illegal things and tried to scare me by saying if I do that, I am gonna get deported and stuff. They are hateful and I don't know why. I don't want to hear so I stopped using it but asked in the US web board instead. I didn't expect this again at all. But not all of thai people are like that, they are usually nice and helpful. Anyway, Andy and Pui, I think you are right, that the important thing is to get out of the house so I don't have time to think how useless I am. I had plan to take yoga class, join volleyball team, take care of my stocks, read books, prepare for CFA exam, and hang out more with my husband's friends. I hope they can keep me busy for these two months.

[Nissara 0]

I would recommend you to look into training courses such CNA, vet tech, ESL or cooking.

With Degrees from Thailand, it really is useless. I obtained a master from Kasetsaft university but it is NOT good enough for employer here. I went for an interview once as a graphic designer. The employer told me "I am afraid that your English is not good enough to communicate with our clients." So I decided to go back to school and I received my license as LPN and soon to be RN. So communicating wise, I am proficiency enough to talk to doctors, other nurses and patients. With U.S. College certificate and degree, it is so easy for me to get a job.

My point is if you want to get a job that requires skills, your English will have to be in proficiency level and you have some kinds of U.S. Education background. Otherwise, I know many of my friends work as cashiers at Walmart or wait at Thai restaurant.

All in all, while you are waiting for your EAD, prepare yourself-- English as professional communication, not just everyday use, skillful career training if you want to get a better job than being a labor job. Don't get me wrong, I wait tables to support myself for years. My goal is not ending up in the kitchen. So anyway, good luck with your decision.

Thank you for the advice ka. and yes ka I want to get a good job here.

[Cam54 84]

to the OP just find a volunteer position at a non profit org then, and you are adding absolutely nothing productive to this topic Ning so why continue. Regardless of my situation turning out to not be allowed Im a paid employee now so it is irrelevant and the OP now knows they should avoid it even if a lawyer oks it so add something productive to the original question or leave. What line of work were you in in Thailand Nissara?

[Ning 619]

to the OP just find a volunteer position at a non profit org then, and you are adding absolutely nothing productive to this topic Ning so why continue. Regardless of my situation turning out to not be allowed Im a paid employee now so it is irrelevant and the OP now knows they should avoid it even if a lawyer oks it so add something productive to the original question or leave. What line of work were you in in Thailand Nissara?

You are in violation of the TOS of this web site by advising people about how you broke the laws. You continue to give that advise now. You admit finally that you broke the law in taking a job. Its irrelevant now? Maybe because you didn't get caught. It was you that was advising people that a lawyer approved your job. Of course that same lawyer was paid by the company that wanted to use you as free labor. You went along with the idea because you wanted to cheat the system.

The only reason you now admit it is because of what you read that I posted here so others including the OPs husband could accept the laws and follow them. That is productive to me and I could care less what you think I should do.

Any effort at working as a volunteer at any organization is a violation of the law. Profit is irrelevant. Working is not allowed until the immigrant has the legal documents to do so.

[TBoneTX 45,234]

This post, nearly a verbatim quote from a respected VJ member, states the situation accurately:

You cannot volunteer for a job that would normally be paid without authorization. You cannot take a job for no pay that would normally go to someone else with pay. You cannot take a volunteer job on the promise to be paid in the future. There are restrictions on volunteer work.

You can volunteer in a "pure" volunteer capacity, say, at a soup kitchen or animal shelter. Those jobs are never paid and won't lead to a paid job.

[Cam54 84]

There we go Ning we were both misinformed and now we both know the rules, so you can stop chastising the OP for considering a volunteer job providing it is for a non profit company and won't lead to a job, because that we know is perfectly legal

[Nissara 0]

To answer Cam54, I graduated with economics degree last year but I like to work in finance field. I got a job at central bank of thailand but I can't take it because I moved here. I actually passed the test for the government scholarship that would send me to study master degree with risk management field in either UK or US but I also gave it up. and yes my parents were quite upset with my decision. So it is quite depressing for me for this waiting time. Anyway, I hope I can get bank-related job here first and then move to work in a consulting company. Thanks for sharing again Cam54 and I wish you good luck.

[Ning 619]

There we go Ning we were both misinformed and now we both know the rules, so you can stop chastising the OP for considering a volunteer job providing it is for a non profit company and won't lead to a job, because that we know is perfectly legal

I will accept what T has indicated as to volunteering at non profit places. However the O P never said she attempted to do that. It was your idea to have her attempt what you got away with. Much later you suggested the non profit angle.

It was and is the O P that made the honest statement where she said " When they know I do not have work permit they do not even want to continue talking". That had zero to do with a non profit and you know that is true.

[Cam54 84]

As you full well know Ning I entered this discussion under the belief that this was legal as did the OP, so get off our backs, there will be times in this process where you think something is acceptable and it is not, get over it.

[Cam54 84]

To answer Cam54, I graduated with economics degree last year but I like to work in finance field. I got a job at central bank of thailand but I can't take it because I moved here. I actually passed the test for the government scholarship that would send me to study master degree with risk management field in either UK or US but I also gave it up. and yes my parents were quite upset with my decision. So it is quite depressing for me for this waiting time. Anyway, I hope I can get bank-related job here first and then move to work in a consulting company. Thanks for sharing again Cam54 and I wish you good luck.

Hopefully you can figure out a volunteer opportunity that involves finance, Im sure there will be many non profit organisations that could use the help there, good luck to you too

[Ning 619]

As you full well know Ning I entered this discussion under the belief that this was legal as did the OP, so get off our backs, there will be times in this process where you think something is acceptable and it is not, get over it.

So here you are attempting to chastise me and you think that makes the horrible advise you gave the O P ok? No.

You entered the discussion advising the O P to do something similar to what you got away with. You and your employer knew what you were doing was wrong which is evidenced by you referring to the valuable opinion of that same companies lawyer. Why would you or they even need to ask the lawyer or the insurance company ? You just did what you wanted thinking as you do now that you got away with something; evidenced by your statement about relevance. You did get away with breaking the law. At least so far. So just accept that as fact and get over it.

I made a mistake about the non profit situation. However unlike you I have never broken the law to gain anything.

[TBoneTX 45,234]

Perhaps the employer in question broke the law; one or more attorneys would have to comment. To avoid giving other members a possibly wrong impression, and because the OP's question has been answered pretty well, this thread is closed and is not to be restarted. If any participant here has good cause to appeal the closure, hit the "Report" button beneath this post.

Edited May 20, 2014 by TBoneTX