Apply for F1 OPT now or wait until AOS EAD?

[ilovecurry 0]

Hi everyone!

 

My fiancé and I are getting married in May, which is when I planned on starting the AOS application, but I realized I have to apply for F1 OPT within the next week or so since I'm almost done with my degree program. The options I've thought of are:

 

1. Start filing for AOS asap (after getting "married" on paper) and not do F1 OPT

2. Apply for F1 OPT now, start AOS application in May without I-765 (work authorization), assuming F1 OPT will get approved 

3. Apply for AOS in May with I-765 and not do F1 OPT

 

What would be the best course of action here? Also, I live in a city with long processing times (ugh) so I wouldn't mind applying for AOS as soon as possible.

 

Thanks! 

[Ontarkie 14,358]

~~Moved to AOS From Work, Student and Tourist Visas, from AOS Family K1/K3 P&P - the OP is here with a student visa and planning to aos.~~

[KashaN1 0]

Do you have a job lined up? It seems to me that various companies are not interested in OPT EADs because the program is intended to be short term and students technically might require sponsorship for H1B to remain working. An AOS EAD doesn't have that limitation. 

[arken 4,197]

My suggestion:

 Apply for OPT now and then file for AOS with EAD(for free) once married.

 

This will allow you to work sooner provided you get the related job. OPT and AOS-EAD are two independent items. Once you get EAD down the road, if you are happy with OPT job, stay as is, if not go look for new job with EAD. 

[maisfree 12]

11 hours ago, arken said:

My suggestion:

 Apply for OPT now and then file for AOS with EAD(for free) once married.

 

This will allow you to work sooner provided you get the related job. OPT and AOS-EAD are two independent items. Once you get EAD down the road, if you are happy with OPT job, stay as is, if not go look for new job with EAD. 

I fully agree with this suggestion. I also applied for F1 OPT (STEM extension in my case) before applying for AOS EAD. You have a while until you get married in May. If you apply for F1 OPT EAD now, you'll be able to start working sooner. 

[dinsosai 0]

In my case, I apply for AOS first then OPT. At the first, I was worry my OPT might not approved. But both AOS and OPT were approved. I got OPT EAD card in 3 months. I was waiting for EAD from AOS for 8months  due to they asked for more documents. So, don't worry. Summit both of them. Good luck

[mydas28 19]

Apply for OPT for now and apply for AOS/EAD ASAP when you get married. From my experience with CPT, OPT, OPT extension, H1B and then GC EAD it will take anywhere from 3-7 months to get any of them approved. In case of CPT, OPT, OPT extension you can apply for expedite if it has been more than 90 days but for GC EAD, you can apply for expedite if you have an offer letter in hand (does not matter how many days have passed since you applied).

 

Most companies currently are more inclined to NOT hire if you are on any visa that requires sponsorship.