how do you keep occupied?

[CardiffIan 0]

From what i've been reading it can take several months to get a work permit after you're married. So you can't work. No work permit means no driving licence. So you can't drive.

So my question is - what do you do?

Can you take internships or voluntary positions without breaching visa conditions? Or are you able to do adult evening classes or similar? Or do you just use the free time to write that one great novel that everyone has inside them?

[*JG* 2]

From what i've been reading it can take several months to get a work permit after you're married. So you can't work. No work permit means no driving licence. So you can't drive.

So my question is - what do you do?

Can you take internships or voluntary positions without breaching visa conditions? Or are you able to do adult evening classes or similar? Or do you just use the free time to write that one great novel that everyone has inside them?

Jomo learned the bus schedules, visited malls, worked for a friend of mine for a while, cruised the internet, worked puzzles, took up some home repairs, cut grass, cooked, cleaned, did laundry, studied for driver's licence test, walked the neighborhoods around our house, went to the gym, etc.

It was a long tough 6 months. The fact that I worked 2 jobs made him time doubly boring.

[together2love 0]

I did get my license here in OR coming on a K1 visa, so that was great. But, I did all the house work, and painted the entire house on my spare time. Which took up most of it!

[raymaga 25]

I've been here in the U.S. for almost 3 years now, and have only worked part-time since then.

Right now, I only work 2 or 3 days a week, but I find I have lots to do on my days off. I do all the household chores so that when my husband gets home from work, we have our evenings free to do whatever we want. And on weekends, we aren't doing errands or housework, we are doing fun things or working in the yard together, which we both enjoy a lot.

I must be one of those "weird" people who enjoy my time off at home. I never get bored during the day. If I have spare time, I either check in at VJ, read a good book or chat with friends on msn.

[laptop 0]

Hi There

Not having work authorisation should not affect you with regard to getting a driving licence.

I have been here now for 6 months on my K1 Visa - and am still waiting for AOS - I did, however receive my work authorisation 3 weeks ago.

You can take up any voluntary work you want - I have been volunteering at the Sheriffs Department in the Dog Pound - walking and feeding the dogs and doing the paperwork on adoptions. I have also been on their local TV station showing the dogs in their weekly program as they like my accent! lol.

I got my driving licence 3 weeks after i arrived here - as soon as i had my SS Number.

Best of luck with whatever you do.

[Amby 490]

Neil is VERY bored all the time. We got him a moped so he didn't have to rely on me to take him everywhere, but he's only used it once the whole month he's had it. I'm not working right now because I'm in the process of opening a bakery/cafe. When I'm not on the computer working on stuff or filling out paperwork I try to come up with something new for us to go do each day. I try to come up with things that will occupy time but also not cost a lot of money. A few weeks ago we took a day trip to see the St Louis Arch, we'll drive to the next town over to do our grocery shopping just to get out of the house, pick a different park to take the dogs for a walk in, browse the library and get some movies (new releases & free to get), work in the garden, etc. Just be creative and enjoy having some time in your adult life where you don't have to work for once.

[Darkchild80 0]

My hubby abused himself in Canada. He worked two jobs, 7 days per week! He arrived and took his time resting. He will never have the chance in his life again to lay around for 3 months. I am lucky because I teach and I have the summer to unwind. So, my hubby watched tv, worked out at the gym, and slept. Now, he is working again! NO MORE BREAKS

[GabachaYucateca 0]

laptop...I think you have the most original answer! No job? Be on TV!

I think I'm going to make a list of all of these things all of you have come up with to occupy your time. I would put my fellow to work on painting the house, but we rent and apartment!

Let's see, I'll try to get the boy to do the following: ESL classes, replace my paid dogwalker, maybe help the landlord with stuff under the table, hang out and fish with my dad, learn the public transit system, volunteer at the community center I work at, cook, clean, do English homework I give him.

[no one 0]

From what i've been reading it can take several months to get a work permit after you're married. So you can't work. No work permit means no driving licence. So you can't drive.

So my question is - what do you do?

Can you take internships or voluntary positions without breaching visa conditions? Or are you able to do adult evening classes or similar? Or do you just use the free time to write that one great novel that everyone has inside them?

While waiting for my work permit, I volunteered at the local hospice, read a lot (I love public libraries!), self-studied Chinese, took over many of the house chores, watched movies, played with our pets, and played on our Wii & Xbox 360

Not sure about your state, but here in California, we can get our driver's licence without the EAD, with the condition that once you have your EAD/Green Card, you'll have to renew your licence.

[Cassie 8]

Hi There

Not having work authorisation should not affect you with regard to getting a driving licence.

many VJ'ers (I being one of them) have reported that some states will not issue a DL to a K-1 visa holder unless they either had an EAD or green card, so that is a legitimate concern.

to the OP: I re-organized parts of the house, learned my new city, volunteered a little bit, and so on.

[MariaEric 0]

I am starting to notice it more now that I have been here for about 2 months and a half. I watch tv,clean the house, read books, read VJ, check a dozen times if we were touched, normally talk to Eric a few times a day while he is at work. I do not complain though he works only 4 days a week 7 to 15 so we have a lot of time which is great!

It was not so bad until we sent all the papers for AOS/EAD, cause i was not waiting for anything to happen...while now i am counting days again...LOL i do not know if that makes much sense, since technically we are closer now to be done with immigration for a while

maria eric

[akdiver 3]

From what i've been reading it can take several months to get a work permit after you're married. So you can't work. No work permit means no driving licence. So you can't drive.

My wife volunteered at the local library. They put her right to work on the cash register in the gift shop and other things (note, volunteering is not employment). This let her get out and about, learn the ways of the U.S., practice English, and resulted in a positive reference when she went to apply for jobs.

Cheers!

AKDiver

Edited April 4, 2007 by akdiver

[Suzanne and Gary 0]

My husband is doing the same as most. Getting lots of house repairs done. We are snagged with the driver's liscense now as he was turned away. His temporary work permit wasn't enough and they siad he needs a letter showing his status is pending so I guess we wait for this mystery letter or the EAD which should come this summer. Hes' working part time doing labor jobs and driving as you have to in California. SO no insurance/ driver's liscence - lovely how screwed up the whole process is.

[no one 0]

My husband is doing the same as most. Getting lots of house repairs done. We are snagged with the driver's liscense now as he was turned away. His temporary work permit wasn't enough and they siad he needs a letter showing his status is pending so I guess we wait for this mystery letter or the EAD which should come this summer. Hes' working part time doing labor jobs and driving as you have to in California. SO no insurance/ driver's liscence - lovely how screwed up the whole process is.

Just replied to your PM...

Your husband's lucky to have a temp work permit. I was going nuts not being able to make money!

Does your husband have a driver's licence from the UK? He's allowed to use that until he has his EAD/Green Card.

[ajames79 0]

My Chris gets here in May.

He plans to do several different things...

fishing.

home repairs.

hiking.

look for a new car.

gonna "volunteer" at my company.

I am sure that there are lots of volunteer positions, but something someone mentioned in another thread was volunteering for Habitat for Humanity...

Everytime I've done it I had a lot of fun. Met new people in the area and felt good too!