Waiting for AOS/EAD - how do people spend these 6-9 months without work?

[LJVotolato 13]

9 hours ago, JanRich said:

What state are you in? We have been trying to get mine but they won’t allow me until I get my 485 receipt

I'm in LA - I will certainly look into this!

[Vegas i-751 66]

On 5/15/2022 at 7:42 AM, Loren Y said:

When my wife arrived on a K1 we had no issues with this. she started language school a week after arriving, then after about 2 months of that, she enrolled in the school she needed to get certified and licensed in her current field of work. course was 20 weeks, plus 80 hours or more of hands on training, and then a State exam after all of that, so it worked out well for us ( Granted EAD/AP was only like a 5-6 month wait then max). Another plus obviously we live in a pretty popular city with decent public transportation options and limitless things to do (Vegas), so it wasn't as bad for her. If you are stuck at home in a middle of nowhere location with nothing to do, I can see it being an issue. Like others have said, you have to find something to keep busy, and tough it out.

Didn’t you expedite per your timeline? I think OP is asking those who didn’t expedite and patiently waited it out. 

Edited May 18, 2022 by Vegas i-751

[Loren Y 2,755]

7 minutes ago, Vegas i-751 said:

Didn’t you expedite per your timeline? I think OP is asking those who didn’t expedite and patiently waited it out. 

Yes, did do an expedite,  but it was late in the process, because we ended up getting the ead/ap just before the expedite was approved.  It still took a while back then, even with the expedite it was about 5-6 months to get, so I don't think the expedite helped in my case.

[Vegas i-751 66]

4 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Yes, did do an expedite,  but it was late in the process, because we ended up getting the ead/ap just before the expedite was approved.  It still took a while back then, even with the expedite it was about 5-6 months to get, so I don't think the expedite helped in my case.

Awesome!!!! Can’t wait to these processes be done. Sick of it. Just n400 to go Las Vegas 

[Loren Y 2,755]

12 minutes ago, Vegas i-751 said:

Awesome!!!! Can’t wait to these processes be done. Sick of it. Just n400 to go Las Vegas 

Yep, will be sending that early November this year. N400 and done 

 

[Vegas i-751 66]

19 minutes ago, Loren Y said:

Yep, will be sending that early November this year. N400 and done 

 

I can thankfully file next month 🙏

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,092]

On 5/15/2022 at 4:21 AM, LJVotolato said:

So how do you spend your days? Legit question. I have tons of hobbies but not being able to work and not being able to go back home (since I don't have my advance parole)  is very frustrating. Seems like a silly question, I know I know. I've waited months to ask it for that very reason.

First we had a couple weeks where I took off and we basically had a vacation / get to know San Diego period (along with actually getting married).

Then we had a ceremony-type thing to plan and AOS paperwork to file.

And by then my wife was getting pretty bored even though my condo was better decorated and cleaner than it had ever been previously, but a couple months after said ceremony-type-thing we were expecting a baby, so she didn't start looking for work when she got her EAD.

[Redro 4,611]

P.S 

I'm loving the photo they've decided to use for this topic... is this you right now @LJVotolato? 

 

[TabeaK 517]

On 5/15/2022 at 4:17 PM, RamiZest said:

I absolutely love your response. I talk alot to my fiancé about this and have assured him that everything will be just fine. Plus, I think he could really use this break. Truth is, when he starts working I will eventually transition to working from home in order to raise our future children. This down time is also a great opportunity to prepare oneself for employment. Look into business endeavors, make connections, research, relax and help out at home and make the weekends little vacations. We're still waiting on our freaken NOA 2 so I can't wait til we are at the AOS phase. 

Wishing everyone a happy life with the one you love ♥️

Do not underestimate the adjustment it takes for the immigrant to come in and go from a busy productive life to a homebound person without a purpose, rights to travel and stuck in an USCIS quaqmire of indeterminate length. If my husband at the time had told me "just use use break", I probably would have bit his head off. Thankfully he is very empathic and understood how bad that period of waiting for AP/EAD was for me - and back in my day you actually got the EAD/AP in 3 months. 

 

Attitude is critical, so kudos to everyone raising this with their partners early, but accept that this will most likely suck for your partner and is not a rose-tinted vacation period.

 

I wouldn't touch the K1 with a bargepole agin...

[kiwibean 45]

It was hard!  My husband and I weren't really prepared.  He was using to living the single life, and I was used to having lots of friends, family and a job.  I eventually got into volunteering, and through connections I made there I found a (completely unrelated) job for when my work permit did come through.  I spent a fair amount of time bored out of my brain though.  And I couldn't drive either - it was tough!  I got really good at taking the bus places.

[Redro 4,611]

20 minutes ago, kiwibean said:

It was hard!  My husband and I weren't really prepared.  He was using to living the single life, and I was used to having lots of friends, family and a job.  I eventually got into volunteering, and through connections I made there I found a (completely unrelated) job for when my work permit did come through.  I spent a fair amount of time bored out of my brain though.  And I couldn't drive either - it was tough!  I got really good at taking the bus places.

Where were you based in Boston proper on the outskirts? 

[kiwibean 45]

53 minutes ago, ROK2USA said:

Where were you based in Boston proper on the outskirts? 

We lived in Colorado then.

[martinzl 91]

On 5/16/2022 at 1:55 PM, JanRich said:

What state are you in? We have been trying to get mine but they won’t allow me until I get my 485 receipt

Maryland.  In Maryland, even undocumented aliens can get a driver's license. But even if you can't get a license, in Maryland, passing a driver's education course is a requirement and if you have a similar requirement, you can at least take the course while waiting for your green card.

[travusb 69]

My wife and I got a puppy during this time. It was a great opportunity because she could be home for potty-training and training as a puppy.

We just had our AOS interview a couple weeks ago and the puppy is ready to be home alone once we get her greencard and she finds a job, coming home at lunch to have a bathroom break and play session of course.

 

She was starting to feel the pain of not doing anything until we got the puppy. I think she's really enjoyed training and playing with her during the early development. She's a preschool teacher so it was kind of like she had a job again.

[poh 125]

On 5/15/2022 at 1:21 AM, LJVotolato said:

I'm getting frustrated waiting for my AOS approval and just want to assure that I am not realizing something that everyone else here is. Do people really NOT work for those 6-9 months it takes for your AOS to be approved? I applied for my EAD with my AOS in December 2021 and it says the case is pending.

 

So how do you spend your days? Legit question. I have tons of hobbies but not being able to work and not being able to go back home (since I don't have my advance parole)  is very frustrating. Seems like a silly question, I know I know. I've waited months to ask it for that very reason.

Yes, my wife was trapped at home.  She wanted to work so badly.    Going to school especially if you are learning English helps.  In your community there must be some sort of ESL program at local educational institution near you   She met new friends  from her country and other country and established business contacts.  In one case she met a father of a business owner where she landed a job. 

I think although you can't work you can meet well rooted folks in the community that may be of great resource when you are legally allowed to work.  My wife was tempted to start working as soon as she arrive US via K-1. In Vietnam, She knew a client that introduced her to a relative that owned a business in US.   But tempting as it was, I made sure she didn't break law by starting employment without a EAD.  The owner wasn't to happy about her now starting work at her business. I was upset with her knowing that she does not have EAD but was offered a job.   Basically she is tempting her with work but jeopardizing her legal status.  Watch out for people like these!!   She was not too happy about it and eventually gave up hiring my wife.  But eventually everything worked out and wife is working after receiving EAD.  

 

So what you are experiencing is not unique.  We all are going through it. Just bear with it best you can.   Good luck to you.  

 

Edited June 5, 2022 by poh