What did you do while waiting for work permit arrival?

[Nmk1 5]

My poor husband is eager to work and sick of being home. What did you do to pass the months while waiting for the work permit?

[awills729 1]

My husband netflixed for 4 months, LOL

have any friends that might need any odd jobs done?

[Nmk1 5]

Basically what he's doing now.

I don't have friends, period, haha.

[awills729 1]

haha, my husband was just as anxious. But with me working, and him not knowing anything about this country or knowing anyone other than me, netflix was his only option! Good luck! That's a hard one :/ Hope you live in an area where there are things to explore

[andy78 178]

He can go hiking, exercising, walking, doing volunteer work, attending courses, learn how to fix the house, etc...

Anything except sittting on the couch and watchinv TV.

[Russ&Caro 1,549]

Is volunteer work allowed?

[heo luoi 206]

we were making a baby

We found out a couple days after her EAD showed up and maybe sourcing 2 job opportunities.

its hard I tried to keep my wife motivated/disciplined but its tough.

focused on her English, learning to drive...etc.

Now w/ the morning sickness its super hard.

Edited May 4, 2016 by heo luoi

[Caryh 5,206]

Is volunteer work allowed?

Volunteer work is allowed. As long as it was volunteer work previously and not a job position being done for free that was previously a paid position. In other words volunteering with a charity, church or good works organization of some sort.

I believe their description of volunteer work includes something about there must not be a possible expectation of pay or benefit at a future date.

[Caryh 5,206]

When my wife was waiting, and she had worked for many years in her country, she mainly went crazy waiting. There was only so much cleaning, watching tv, and looking on the internet for possible future jobs she could do in a day. I'd drop her off at the mall on my lunch break sometimes, then pick her up after work. I was lucky enough to work close enough to home to be able to spend lunch with her.

No matter how much I told her she just needs to relax and enjoy the time for now, as it wasn't going to come back once she started working. She kicks herself for not following that advice now. But then it wasn't in her nature to not work.

[Nmk1 5]

When my wife was waiting, and she had worked for many years in her country, she mainly went crazy waiting. There was only so much cleaning, watching tv, and looking on the internet for possible future jobs she could do in a day. I'd drop her off at the mall on my lunch break sometimes, then pick her up after work. I was lucky enough to work close enough to home to be able to spend lunch with her.

No matter how much I told her she just needs to relax and enjoy the time for now, as it wasn't going to come back once she started working. She kicks herself for not following that advice now. But then it wasn't in her nature to not work.

That's what I keep saying!!!!! So it's normal for our significant others to feel a bit trapped and get a bit down? Also, how long did it take for all your s/o's to recieve the actual permit?

We are way ahead on the baby making. I'm due next month. ?

[KayDeeCee 4,895]

~ Moved from K-1 Process to AOS from Work, Student & Tourist Visas Progress Reports - topic is about waiting for EAD- AOS from tourist visa ~

[pch1 64]

That's what I keep saying!!!!! So it's normal for our significant others to feel a bit trapped and get a bit down? Also, how long did it take for all your s/o's to recieve the actual permit?

We are way ahead on the baby making. I'm due next month. ?

Maybe he can learn how to changer diapers and how to feed a baby to start with. lol

Kidding aside, he can do volunteer work, he can go to community college and take some courses...As time gets closer to receiving work permit, he can apply for work and some employers would wait for him until he gets is work permit.

[Nmk1 5]

Maybe he can learn how to changer diapers and how to feed a baby to start with. lol

Kidding aside, he can do volunteer work, he can go to community college and take some courses...As time gets closer to receiving work permit, he can apply for work and some employers would wait for him until he gets is work permit.

Maybe he can learn how to changer diapers and how to feed a baby to start with. lol

Kidding aside, he can do volunteer work, he can go to community college and take some courses...As time gets closer to receiving work permit, he can apply for work and some employers would wait for him until he gets is work permit.

When would you suggest is an appropriate time to begin applying?

[Caryh 5,206]

When would you suggest is an appropriate time to begin applying?

Took 65 days for my wife's EAD to be approved, but I've heard they're running long now. She started applying about month after the NOA1. When her card came, some friends she had made working in a factory said they were hiring, she just needed to show up on a certain day and she'd be hired as a temp. So she went in the week her card arrived. She hated the work, but the next week one of the jobs she applied at hired her.

[Pennycat 880]

My husband has been taking English classes at a church's community center 3 mornings per week (a really surprisingly robust program-- 9 levels and 10 or so students per level), and volunteers at our local animal shelter the other two days per week. He joined a free poker league (play for chips and points in the standings-- prizes for the winner of the night, at for the top few at end of the season, no real gambling) and plays there 2 evenings per week (and maybe on the weekend if I'm off at my second job but not usually). His English has improved by leaps and bounds, he's made a lot of friends/acquaintances of his own through all of these activities (and learned a LOT about other countries through English class, it's a Model UN there, and they all bring food in to share!) , has learned his way around faster than he would have otherwise (bike/metro/bus/walking). It's been great.

And that's why we weren't in a huge hurry for EAD-- I knew I'd want him to finish out the English class semester either way. Now, we took TOO long of a lag time and the semester is finished this week and EAD won't come till the end of June but... ah well.

Those 2 evenings per week for poker are perfect, too. One is on my trivia night so I can go play with my team and not feel bad (language barrier plus American-centric trivia), and on the other night I have the house to myself and that's when I cook up a storm, uninterrupted (I'm a "get out of my kitchen", wooden spoon weilder, always have been lol-- I really like a good kitchen project) and catch up on my shows like Downtown Abbey and Call the Midwife and other things I couldn't force him to watch if I tried