How soon can I apply for jobs in the USA while I wait for my immigrant visa? (CR1)

[Sabela 16]

Hi. I’m aware spouse visa holders (CR1) are able to start working once they stamp your visa (green card) at the border, but what about start working from an employer from abroad before that?  Asking bc it may take a couple of months before I’m actually able to move to the USA.  Would another alternative be to cross the border to "activate" my green card, go back home, finish packing, and start working from my foreign country? (I already have a SSN and have worked in the US before). Thanks

[iwannaplay54 985]

Activate, go back home, wrap your business up, and be back within 6 months

[Chancy 6,241]

*** Moved from IR1/CR1 Progress Reports to Working & Traveling During US Immigration ***

 

[Sabela 16]

Perfect. I assume there is no way to start working BEFORE my passport is stamped, even if the visa is printed on it. Correct? 

[Sabela 16]

I suppose the answer to my question is: "you can apply for jobs any time", but... When is it most sensible for me to do so? After interview, when I get my passport back with visa? Or do I need to cross the border to activate it first? (I already have a SSN because I worked in the USA before). Thank you.

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

please do a timeline on your profile

when did u apply?

what embassy are  u going thru?

 

you can send out resume anytime / and to as many employers as u need to 

make sure your cover letter indicates u are waiting for approval of the CR1 

[Marieke H 2,512]

It really depends on the kind of jobs you are wanting to apply for. If you are applying for jobs that need to be filled as soon as possible (food, retail, etc), it makes sense to wait until you are in the country and ready to start working. If it is a job requiring specific specialized skills/education/experience, the employer may be more willing to wait until you have work authorization and you can apply now (I would include a comment in your application with an expected timeline so they know you are not available immediately).

 

I was in a slightly different situation than you, but I had entered the US on a K-1 visa and was waiting for my EAD when I started to look at jobs. I found a job opening that looked like my dream job, decided to apply (mostly just to practice applying for jobs in the US), got interviewed and was offered the job. I was upfront about my status from the beginning, and they were having a hard time finding a suitable candidate with work authorization, so they were willing to wait for me.

[Ban Hammer 13,352]

related topics merged.
do not start multiple topics on the same subject as doing so can result in sanctions against one's account for spamming.

 

charles

vj moderation

[Sabela 16]

@Ban Hammer: I was not aware of this. I will take it into account.

@Marieke 

5 minutes ago, Marieke H said:

It really depends on the kind of jobs you are wanting to apply for. If you are applying for jobs that need to be filled as soon as possible (food, retail, etc), it makes sense to wait until you are in the country and ready to start working. If it is a job requiring specific specialized skills/education/experience, the employer may be more willing to wait until you have work authorization and you can apply now (I would include a comment in your application with an expected timeline so they know you are not available immediately).

 

I was in a slightly different situation than you, but I had entered the US on a K-1 visa and was waiting for my EAD when I started to look at jobs. I found a job opening that looked like my dream job, decided to apply (mostly just to practice applying for jobs in the US), got interviewed and was offered the job. I was upfront about my status from the beginning, and they were having a hard time finding a suitable candidate with work authorization, so they were willing to wait for me.

That is awesome! I am glad it worked for you on your favor, and that you applied for that job.  I will start looking for jobs once I get DQed (to have a closer timeline to when I will actuallly arrive in the USA) as I still feel it is pretty "far" from now (months). My case is a specialized job. Embassy: Spain. Thanks for sharing your story.

[JeanneAdil 6,514]

2 minutes ago, Sabela said:

@Ban Hammer: I was not aware of this. I will take it into account.

@Marieke 

That is awesome! I am glad it worked for you on your favor, and that you applied for that job.  I will start looking for jobs once I get DQed (to have a closer timeline to when I will actuallly arrive in the USA) as I still feel it is pretty "far" from now (months). My case is a specialized job. Embassy: Spain. Thanks for sharing your story.

u will have no issue getting work in the US

all jobs seem open as posted everywhere now

as we now have a personal shortage either from loss of millions /or people "just plain don't want to work"

[iwannaplay54 985]

On 3/12/2022 at 2:36 PM, Sabela said:

Perfect. I assume there is no way to start working BEFORE my passport is stamped, even if the visa is printed on it. Correct? 

No