How to ask about postponing the start date of a job due to EAD pending?

[JoJoJoJo 170]

Hi guys, I am new to work in the US, so not sure how to ask about this without losing the job offer, which was signed by both the employer and me.

 

I came to the US on K-1 and filed AOS and EAD in early October 2017. Now they are pending for over 110 days.

 

Early this month I got a job offer (I have been very clear about my immigration status when I applied for jobs to potential employers), and suggested to start in early February based on suggestions on VJ here as I could request expedition (Also multiple USCIS officers told me that it would take 2~3 weeks).

 

Now the expedition is pending for 2 weeks (since when I faxed the job offer (it took over 1 week to only receive their fax number...)) and it is cutting close to my tentative start date. I was wondering if you have any suggestions about how to postpone the start date, which I suggested in the first place.

 

(I just googled and found that normally US employers expect to start in 2 weeks once you accept an offer. In my country it is 4 weeks! This made me feel more difficult to ask...)

 

Edited January 24, 2018 by JoJoJoJo

[Marieke H 2,496]

Keep your employer informed about the EAD process. My employer wanted me to start 2 weeks ago, and I have been sending her updates twice a week, about phone calls to USCIS, my communication with the Senator's Office, etc. My employer is a state government agency, and they know the people at the Senator's Office quite well, so they are even in contact with the Senator's Office at the moment, hoping that that will help speed things up.

 

I also asked my boss if there was anything I could do to get ready to start working, and she gave me a few reports and websites that I can study to get familiar with the work. And I attended an informal staff meeting so I could meet my future coworkers. 

 

Basically, do everything you can to show them that you are eager to start working with them, and keep them informed about the process. 

 

I think it also depends whether or not they have other good candidates for the job. I think I am lucky, they don't seem to have other qualified candidates lined up for this job. My employer told me last week that I'm worth waiting for, so hopefully they'll wait a bit longer...

 

Good luck! Hopefully it'll come in time!

[JoJoJoJo 170]

10 hours ago, MariekeH said:

Keep your employer informed about the EAD process. My employer wanted me to start 2 weeks ago, and I have been sending her updates twice a week, about phone calls to USCIS, my communication with the Senator's Office, etc. My employer is a state government agency, and they know the people at the Senator's Office quite well, so they are even in contact with the Senator's Office at the moment, hoping that that will help speed things up.

 

I also asked my boss if there was anything I could do to get ready to start working, and she gave me a few reports and websites that I can study to get familiar with the work. And I attended an informal staff meeting so I could meet my future coworkers. 

 

Basically, do everything you can to show them that you are eager to start working with them, and keep them informed about the process. 

 

I think it also depends whether or not they have other good candidates for the job. I think I am lucky, they don't seem to have other qualified candidates lined up for this job. My employer told me last week that I'm worth waiting for, so hopefully they'll wait a bit longer...

 

Good luck! Hopefully it'll come in time!

Thank you very much! Really appreciate it. I have been in contact with my employer 1~2 times a week. Yeah, I will ask if there is some study I can do to make the transition smoother.

 

Good luck to you as well!!