What to do while waiting for the EAD?

[debbiedoo 2,339]

54 minutes ago, bloggerstomper said:

it's not if you take into account the cost of travel for my fiancee to get married in here, the cost of translating all the official Spanish documents etc.

thanks for giving no information and being snarky. I'm sure when you went through the process you liked when people treated you like that

It costs my fiance $1000 between gas, time off work and miscellaneous expenses every time he comes to see me (every 3 weeks). That is me (us) and my (our) requirements to be in a relationship. We decided that at the very beginning. I would not be with him if we did not get to see each other regularly. When I go up there, it costs me $500 in plane tickets (if its just me and not my kids, too), plus dog sitter, plus babysitter, plus airport parking. So...between $700-900. I typically fly up 2 or 3 times a year. We have been together for almost 3 years and the LONGEST we have gone without seeing each other is 6 weeks, and that in the first year of our relationship. Some say we are lucky. I say we are committed and in a bonafide relationship.  People choose to get into whatever kind of relationship they get into. That is their choice and perfectly okay. If the distance and time apart and length and cost of the immigration process is a factor, that is something they should have taken into consideration. 

 

You also dont have to pay to have translations done.  There is no requirement that any special person, group or organization does it. just that they personally certify they are fluent in both languages. 

 

No one is being snarky. The truth of the matter is this is a long process, and expensive process and too many people jump in not knowing what they are getting into (time wise and financial wise). Everyone on here is either going through the process or has gone through the process. The process is what it is. No one likes it. No one enjoys it. those facts do not change the process. @Roel and myself tend to be very blunt. It's not a personal attack, it's just we dont bother to sugar coat basic information that is easily obtainable and should have been researched before even beginning the process. 

[ClickityClackity 134]

1 minute ago, debbiedoo said:

It costs my fiance $1000 between gas, time off work and miscellaneous expenses every time he comes to see me (every 3 weeks). That is me (us) and my (our) requirements to be in a relationship. We decided that at the very beginning. I would not be with him if we did not get to see each other regularly. When I go up there, it costs me $500 in plane tickets (if its just me and not my kids, too), plus dog sitter, plus babysitter, plus airport parking. So...between $700-900. I typically fly up 2 or 3 times a year. We have been together for almost 3 years and the LONGEST we have gone without seeing each other is 6 weeks, and that in the first year of our relationship. Some say we are lucky. I say we are committed and in a bonafide relationship.  People choose to get into whatever kind of relationship they get into. That is their choice and perfectly okay. If the distance and time apart and length and cost of the immigration process is a factor, that is something they should have taken into consideration. 

 

You also dont have to pay to have translations done.  There is no requirement that any special person, group or organization does it. just that they personally certify they are fluent in both languages. 

 

No one is being snarky. The truth of the matter is this is a long process, and expensive process and too many people jump in not knowing what they are getting into (time wise and financial wise). Everyone on here is either going through the process or has gone through the process. The process is what it is. No one likes it. No one enjoys it. those facts do not change the process. @Roel and myself tend to be very blunt. It's not a personal attack, it's just we dont bother to sugar coat basic information that is easily obtainable and should have been researched before even beginning the process. 

OMG I already knew that you couldn't work while waiting for the EOD. I wanted to know people's experiences, if they worked remotely for companies in their home countries, etc. I have researched as much as possible and furthermore, posting questions in this forum is part of the researching process. 

And if you are wondering, we have not filed the k-1 visa yet, we are doing it Monday next week and since I'm an anxious person I want to make sure 100% that everything is perfect, even if I have to double check once, twice or a bazillion times. 

[debbiedoo 2,339]

1 minute ago, bloggerstomper said:

OMG I already knew that you couldn't work while waiting for the EOD. I wanted to know people's experiences, if they worked remotely for companies in their home countries, etc. I have researched as much as possible and furthermore, posting questions in this forum is part of the researching process. 

And if you are wondering, we have not filed the k-1 visa yet, we are doing it Monday next week and since I'm an anxious person I want to make sure 100% that everything is perfect, even if I have to double check once, twice or a bazillion times. 

double and triple checking everything is good!

 

there are many posts on how people pass the time while waiting for EAD.

 

I still say, especially since you havent filed yet, the CR1 would be the best option.  cough up the money and take a trip. get married. spend more time together. The time apart is not much different at this point and they will not have to wait for an EAD and worry about how to kill 6 months at home without losing their mind

[ClickityClackity 134]

47 minutes ago, debbiedoo said:

double and triple checking everything is good!

 

there are many posts on how people pass the time while waiting for EAD.

 

I still say, especially since you havent filed yet, the CR1 would be the best option.  cough up the money and take a trip. get married. spend more time together. The time apart is not much different at this point and they will not have to wait for an EAD and worry about how to kill 6 months at home without losing their mind

Now I'm seriously consider going to the states, getting married in Vegas, go back home and apply for the CR.

[debbiedoo 2,339]

Just now, bloggerstomper said:

Now I'm seriously consider going to the states, getting married in Vegas, go back home and apply for the CR.

that, honestly, would be how I would do it.

 

We filed K1 for our own reasons, mainly because of a pension I have from my ex that I lose once I remarry. If not for that, we would have done the CR1.

[ClickityClackity 134]

3 minutes ago, debbiedoo said:

that, honestly, would be how I would do it.

 

We filed K1 for our own reasons, mainly because of a pension I have from my ex that I lose once I remarry. If not for that, we would have done the CR1.

We just wanted to not have to spend much more time apart, but if we marry in the states I then get to have the marriage certificate in engrish!

[Going through 5,671]

If you can, whichever route you choose (CR1 or K1) I suggest if you can take some time off when your significant other arrives so that  you can help him/her settle in to their new surroundings----show them how to get to where the grocery store is, the coffee shop, library etc. in your neighborhood.  Teach them how to handle basic public transit---basically little things that a USC takes completely for granted that would be completely foreign to the foreigner during the first days/weeks they are on their own while you're at work.  

[ClickityClackity 134]

38 minutes ago, Going through said:

If you can, whichever route you choose (CR1 or K1) I suggest if you can take some time off when your significant other arrives so that  you can help him/her settle in to their new surroundings----show them how to get to where the grocery store is, the coffee shop, library etc. in your neighborhood.  Teach them how to handle basic public transit---basically little things that a USC takes completely for granted that would be completely foreign to the foreigner during the first days/weeks they are on their own while you're at work.  

I'm actually the beneficiary!! hahaha but that's still useful!

[Jorge V 195]

3 hours ago, bloggerstomper said:

yikes. that's almost as long as it takes to get the green card eh?

It's taking much longer than that actually. Recently AoS has been taking longer than a year for many people. I wouldn't expect your green card in 6 months.

[ClickityClackity 134]

4 minutes ago, Jorge V said:

It's taking much longer than that actually. Recently AoS has been taking longer than a year for many people. I wouldn't expect your green card in 6 months.

yikes. Well, it's a matter of waiting and deciding. If I can keep my Spanish job and work remotely it would be a godsend

[Jorge V 195]

6 minutes ago, bloggerstomper said:

yikes. Well, it's a matter of waiting and deciding. If I can keep my Spanish job and work remotely it would be a godsend

Yes unfortunately it's a lot of waiting.

 

Be careful working remotely before getting your EAD.  The US considers where the work is done, not where the employer is based. In theory working remotely in the US for a Spanish company is considered US based work and is not allowed while awaiting your EAD. In practice this is a gray area at best. I personally wouldn't risk it as it could jeopardize your petition. 

[ClickityClackity 134]

2 hours ago, Jorge V said:

Yes unfortunately it's a lot of waiting.

 

Be careful working remotely before getting your EAD.  The US considers where the work is done, not where the employer is based. In theory working remotely in the US for a Spanish company is considered US based work and is not allowed while awaiting your EAD. In practice this is a gray area at best. I personally wouldn't risk it as it could jeopardize your petition. 

well ain't that a (removed). 

Edited August 28, 2018 by Ontarkie
bypassing language filter

[Pennycat 880]

3 hours ago, bloggerstomper said:

OMG I already knew that you couldn't work while waiting for the EOD. I wanted to know people's experiences, if they worked remotely for companies in their home countries, etc. I have researched as much as possible and furthermore, posting questions in this forum is part of the researching process. 

And if you are wondering, we have not filed the k-1 visa yet, we are doing it Monday next week and since I'm an anxious person I want to make sure 100% that everything is perfect, even if I have to double check once, twice or a bazillion times. 

Remote work isn't permitted either. The K1 visa really really is not most people's best choice (and I say this as someone who did it, and would do it for us in our circumstances again). You may save 3 or so months of separation but you pay for that over and over again in fees, and time being unemployed and arguably more importantly, time to naturalization (which I know seems like a distant concern now but trust me on this one). 

 

For us, my husband is from Costa Rica, had only left his country once (to neighboring Panama), never been on an airplane, was only so/so on English, had never been to a city the size of the one he was moving to (because cities that size don't exist in his country), never seen a subway system, nothing. Even if he landed with a green card and was able to work the very next day, we would have done exactly what we did-- have him spend 6 months volunteering at the local animal shelter, taking community English classes and working on a beat-up motorcycle we bought for him. Just to get used to life here, getting around, making friends, learning English etc. In that situation, it made sense to just start the clock ticking on this "adjustment time" rather than waiting more time for something we didn't need or prioritize right away. Another family situation where the K1 makes sense is people who are planning on the spouse being a stay at home spouse/parent. That's a lot of people for sure, but obviously not all. 

 

Someone who doesn't need or want any kind of "down time", or who is planning on working outside of the home is MUCH better served by the CR1, in both the medium and long term even if they need to wait a little longer for it in the short term. If the short term is more important than medium and long term considerations, great, that's a reasonable choice just as long as you know what you're sacrificing.  

[KozmicBlues 592]

Here's what my husband does while waiting for his EAD (4 months pending): 

1) Play lots of video games

2) Watch lots of Netflix, Youtube, etc.

3) Cook your wife delicious Indian food

4) Play with the dogs/take them on walks

5) Read lots of books

6) Sleep....a lot

 

In all seriousness, maybe you can volunteer as long as it's not considered work. If money isn't an issue then you can also look into taking some courses at a local college. It's gonna be boring and frustrating, so just try to enjoy it while it lasts - cus' it's not often that someone gets to have a 4-6 month forced break from working!  

[ClickityClackity 134]

1 minute ago, KozmicBlues said:

Here's what my husband does while waiting for his EAD (4 months pending): 

1) Play lots of video games

2) Watch lots of Netflix, Youtube, etc.

3) Cook your wife delicious Indian food

4) Play with the dogs/take them on walks

5) Read lots of books

6) Sleep....a lot

 

In all seriousness, maybe you can volunteer as long as it's not considered work. If money isn't an issue then you can also look into taking some courses at a local college. It's gonna be boring and frustrating, so just try to enjoy it while it lasts - cus' it's not often that someone gets to have a 4-6 month forced break from working!  

thank you for your answer! I'm actually going to apply for an EMT course in the local college, since it's two months and it will fill most of my time!