Volunteering or participating in academic studies before EAD

[P055UM 281]

Hi All,

 

I recently entered the US on a K1 visa and am soon to be married to my fiancée!
 

I am looking ahead to the time after we marry but before I obtain EAD, and trying to itemise the things that I can/need to do in this period of necessary downtime. I have a number of administrative things to do, as well as some personal projects I need to work on. However I was wondering whether anybody has any experience with either volunteering during this time or participating in academic studies?
 

Volunteering is obviously unpaid, however usually the studies pay some sort of nominal rate. I would be interested to know whether anybody knows whether this is permitted in my particular case? I have done some research online but finding a clear answer is tricky.
 

To be clear, I have no intention of taking any action which would put my immigration status in jeopardy (we have waited too long and tried too hard for that), but if possible it’d be nice to give something of myself to the community here through these two routes.

 

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

[Chancy 6,241]

4 hours ago, AW1704 said:

I recently entered the US on a K1 visa and am soon to be married to my fiancée!

 

Not related to your question, but important so I'll ask anyway -- if you don't have SSN yet, have you already applied for one?  If not, I strongly recommend you make it your priority to apply before your wedding.

 

4 hours ago, AW1704 said:

I was wondering whether anybody has any experience with either volunteering during this time or participating in academic studies?

 

Here's another member who was also interested in volunteering --

 

 

Edited August 12, 2021 by Chancy
added link to similar thread

[P055UM 281]

13 minutes ago, Chancy said:

 

Not related to your question, but important so I'll ask anyway -- if you don't have SSN yet, have you already applied for one?  If not, I strongly recommend you make it your priority to apply before your wedding.

 

 

Here's another member who was also interested in volunteering --

 

 

Hi Chancy,

 

Thanks for the recommendation. I have already called the Social Security office and they will schedule me for a meeting after I have been in the country for two weeks, in order to allow the automated systems to update. Prior to my arrival, my fiancée confirmed with the same office that the application can come either before or after we are married (in our case it will be after due to the way the timings work out). Fortunately we are not changing names so that removes one complication. I note other forum members in our situation as well (i.e. SSN after wedding but before AoS) who successfully obtained the SSN, so fingers crossed

 

Also, thank you for the other link. I figured volunteering would be okay. Still curious about the participation in academic studies.

 

Thanks!