Can I intern while waiting to AOS?

[lilsadie 50]

Hi! Im wondering if its ok to do Vol work or 'work experience' (unpaid) when I first arrive in the USA?

[khenzee 5]

It depends. I'm currently doing volunteer work which I need to do to get into grad school. When I had applied at the hospital they needed my social security number. I also volunteered at an elementary school and all they needed was my ID.

You can get a social security number a few months after you file for AOS though. Just make sure you also apply for an EAD and once you get it, use it to get your social security card.

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

You can't "intern" at something that magically becomes a job when authorized. You can't volunteer for a normally paid position. It is safer if the volunteer work has nothing to do with your line of work.

[NikLR 13,232]

No.

[lilsadie 50]

They don't make it easy do they? You would think they would allow you to gain unpaid experience when you get here so you can be 'Work ready' when you are eligible to be.

Does anyone know roughly how long it will be to be allowed to work if we apply for AOD 1 week after we arrive?

Looks like I'm having a long holiday!

Thanks for your help guys!

[aaron2020 11,651]

They don't make it easy do they? You would think they would allow you to gain unpaid experience when you get here so you can be 'Work ready' when you are eligible to be.

Does anyone know roughly how long it will be to be allowed to work if we apply for AOD 1 week after we arrive?

Looks like I'm having a long holiday!

Thanks for your help guys!

The purpose of the rule is not to prevent you from getting experience.

The purpose of the rule is to protect US workers from losing jobs to foreigners who will "volunteer" for 3-4 months.

Not a fair playing field if a foreigner could "volunteer" until the work authorization comes in and magically it's no longer an unpaid internship but a paying job.

The rule is also there to protect foreigners from being exploited.

Edited May 19, 2014 by aaron2020

[lilsadie 50]

The purpose of the rule is not to prevent you from getting experience.

The purpose of the rule is to protect US workers from losing jobs to foreigners who will "volunteer" for 3-4 months.

Not a fair playing field if a foreigner could "volunteer" until the work authorization comes it and magically it's no longer an unpaid internship but a paying job.

The rule is also there to protect foreigners from being exploited.

Very fair call! I didn't look at it from that point of view! I guess in the work I'm planning to do (Realestate) that wouldn't really be a big issue but I could see how it would be for other industries!

[NikLR 13,232]

It's an issue everywhere for anything. It takes about 90 days from the the start of AOS to get the EAD. The time will go by quickly. There is a way around it but most people don't want to wait for it. CR1 gives you a green card and ability to work upon entry.