What to do in the time between POE - Green card?

[tkelt 11]

Hi everyone,

I entered the U.S. on August 3rd on a K1 visa. I'm unable to work until I adjust my status and receive my green card. The process can take 3+ months. My fiancee is a school teacher, so she will be at work every day starting September 1st. She just moved to this town a year ago and neither of us have any friends here, and I'm unsure how to fill up my time while I am unemployed.

What did you do while you weren't able to work? How did you get through the down time? I'm so afraid of going nuts with all the down time! We live in a very small town so there aren't a TON of volunteering opportunities but that's certainly something I can look into.

[Dashinka 24,653]

I know with Katya, she spent a lot of time on long walks exploring her new home. We also got a puppy to help keep her company on the walks and at home when I went back to work. I also adjusted my schedule to be there as much as I could, but I realize this may not be possible with your spouse being a teacher. If you have any hobbies, this would also be a good time to catch up on them. Another idea is to check out the local community education programs, you may find some interesting subjects to help with the waiting time.

Good Luck!

[ch3john 308]

Just to clarify, you will need to file for EAD at the same time you file AOS. EAD will give you permission to work until you receive your green card. A green card can take several months to receive depending on the workload at the field office yours is sent to. It's also a good idea to file for AP at the same time in case you need to leave the country unexpectedly. Both EAD and AP are no charge when filing in conjunction with AOS.

Sorry I couldn't answer you question though. My wife came here on K1 also but spent her time caring for our newborn which kept her plenty busy

Good luck!

[tkelt 11]

Just to clarify, you will need to file for EAD at the same time you file AOS. EAD will give you permission to work until you receive your green card. A green card can take several months to receive depending on the workload at the field office yours is sent to. It's also a good idea to file for AP at the same time in case you need to leave the country unexpectedly. Both EAD and AP are no charge when filing in conjunction with AOS.

Sorry I couldn't answer you question though. My wife came here on K1 also but spent her time caring for our newborn which kept her plenty busy

Good luck!

how long does it take for EAD to be approved?

[Penguin_ie 5,995]

Make some friends! Look at events at your local library or hobby-shop-of-choice, check out meet-up.com and or local Facebook groups for your religion/ hobby/ political leaning etc.

Explore the area; if you can drive, great! If not, walk or get a bike. Playing a game like geocaching,l Ingress or Pokemon Go can give you a reason

There may not be a lot of advertised volunteering opportunities, but that could be because they don;t think they'd get anyone. You may need to be pro-active and offer to help walk dogs at the local shelter, or read to senior citizens at a home. Maybe your spouse's school has volunteering opportunities at the school library or garden or recess supervision? Volunteering can also help by giving you a US based reference.

Lastly- you cannot work, but you CAN apply for jobs. Get your resume ready, talk to some job agencies and see what is out there, make profiles on Monster and Indeed ....

[Sev15 20]

how long does it take for EAD to be approved?

The EAD takes approximately 90 days where as the green card can take up to a year, you should also file for AP so that you can leave the country if you need to and return without any problems.

If you decide to file for these, be sure to include a copy of your AOS Notice of Action (I-797C) as a receipt, this way you don't have to pay the filing fees.

Edited August 23, 2016 by Sev15

[Yilees 1]

You can think about getting your driver license if you have not got one. Get to know what is around you.

[RedSheep 0]

Get your drivers license! That keeps you busy studying for the test, going to offices to gather all the papers and so on.

[lurdino 9]

One thing that I've found helpful is not to think of yourself as unemployed. So I get up when my wife gets up for work, get showered and dressed, etc.

Find a couple of projects that you can do by yourself (like train for a half-marathon or learn a language or start a vegetable garden) and find a couple that you can get involved in with the community, like volunteer with Girl Scouts or an animal shelter or something. (I've been trying to write a book, doing some DIY around the house, and I've applied to volunteer at the local zoo.) I know you said you live in a tiny town, but you should check MeetUp.com and any community centres for stuff you could get involved in.

But also - don't beat yourself up if you lounge around a little. It can be hard to stay motivated and it's okay to veg out with Netflix for a while. Find things that keep your spirits and your self-esteem up. I started doing maths classes on Khan Academy just because it's difficult and absorbing and gives me a boost. Getting your drivers license might do the same.

Since my wife works full-time, I've (voluntarily) taken on responsibility for keeping the house clean, doing the laundry, even doing most of the meals. Usually this would be something we split 50-50 (we lived together for seven years before I moved to the States) but taking it on makes me feel like I'm pulling my weight without having to dip into the money we saved up. And as I know it's temporary it can be fun to do the 60s housewife thing.

Since your fiancee is new to the area too, there are also things you could do together. Does she have anyone at work that you could invite around for dinner? Or you could see if there's anything nearby that you could get a Groupon for?

My friends who have immigrated or even just moved to a new city have always said that it can take up to two years to really feel like you're settled in a new place, have new friends, etc. I find that kind of comforting.

[Vengatore 53]

I had the same dilemma (I'm entering the US in 1 week) and I decided that I am going to volunteer.

It is a great way to get yourself busy, explore your city, help your community and make new friends all in one!

I am sure that there are a lot of organizations in your city that you can contact, you will find something to do for sure!