-Bluebell

Hi,

I��?ve been reading some really great advice here but I can��?t quite
find the answer to my question, so I��?m hoping someone has time to read
this and help me out.

I��?m British and I came to the US 4 years ago on a J1 visa as I was
training ��? I then got accepted on to an MA course so I��?m now on an
F1 visa. I graduate in Dec 2007 which is also when my visa runs out.
When I graduate I��?ll be a fully fledged art teacher ��? incredibly
useful, I know!

I��?ve been with my boyfriend (who is a US citizen) for almost 5 years
and weâ�?�?ve decided to get married, SOâ�?Šdo I have to get a fianc�?©e
visa before we get married if I��?m in the country legally already? Do I
have to return to the UK at any point? (We intend to marry this side of
the pond) Should we wait until after I graduate to get married, or
should we run out and do it tomorrow? I already had to change my status
here once and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!

Obviously with such a wonderful and useful degree under my belt I
didn��?t really think I had many work prospects ��? art teacher isn��?t
really one of those essential topics considered to be needed to save the
youth of today, (although I have written many essays which counter that
belief!) plus I didn��?t think I��?d have much chance of getting
sponsorship. Does that situation change if I apply for an EAD? Can my
then husband be my sponsor and I can apply for a job like any other fool
with my degree, or do I still have to prove that I can do the job better
than anyone already living in the US? Can I apply for an EAD before I
get offered a job if I��?m married?

Some fool told me that I have be married for 3 years before I can work
here and until then my husband has to support me, which although he
could technically do I doubt if it would be his dream come true. Thats
not true, right?

I already have a SS number and have been paying taxes the entire time
I��?ve been here ��? I have my own health insurance ��? and
unfortunately I am not a person of extraordinary ability in the
artsâ�?ŠYET!

Thanks for any and all time and help, Bella

--

Peachfaith

> Hi,
>
> I��?ve been reading some really great advice here but I can��?t quite
> find the answer to my question, so I��?m hoping someone has time to
> read this and help me out.
>
> I��?m British and I came to the US 4 years ago on a J1 visa as I was
> training ��? I then got accepted on to an MA course so I��?m now on an
> F1 visa. I graduate in Dec 2007 which is also when my visa runs out.
> When I graduate I��?ll be a fully fledged art teacher ��? incredibly
> useful, I know!
>
> I��?ve been with my boyfriend (who is a US citizen) for almost 5 years
> and weâ�?�?ve decided to get married, SOâ�?Šdo I have to get a fianc�?©e
> visa before we get married if I��?m in the country legally already? Do
> I have to return to the UK at any point? (We intend to marry this side
> of the pond) Should we wait until after I graduate to get married, or
> should we run out and do it tomorrow? I already had to change my
> status here once and it was a NIGHTMARE!!!
>
> Obviously with such a wonderful and useful degree under my belt I
> didn��?t really think I had many work prospects ��? art teacher
> isn��?t really one of those essential topics considered to be needed
> to save the youth of today, (although I have written many essays which
> counter that belief!) plus I didn��?t think I��?d have much chance of
> getting sponsorship. Does that situation change if I apply for an EAD?
> Can my then husband be my sponsor and I can apply for a job like any
> other fool with my degree, or do I still have to prove that I can do
> the job better than anyone already living in the US? Can I apply for
> an EAD before I get offered a job if I��?m married?
>
> Some fool told me that I have be married for 3 years before I can work
> here and until then my husband has to support me, which although he
> could technically do I doubt if it would be his dream come true. Thats
> not true, right?
>
> I already have a SS number and have been paying taxes the entire time
> I��?ve been here ��? I have my own health insurance ��? and
> unfortunately I am not a person of extraordinary ability in the
> artsâ�?ŠYET!
>
> Thanks for any and all time and help, Bella

Hi there! You do not need to apply for a fiancee visa before you get
married. I am also here on F-1 and I just got married last summer. I
am continuing my schooling until I graduate and that's what's keeping me
here legally until I file my AOS. I would suggest that you get married
well before your visa runs out so you have time to file your AOS before
your F-1 expires. Once you are I-485 pending (USCIS has your app.) you
are legal until a decision is made.

About the working, when you file your AOS you should include with it the
work authorization form (I-765). It will take 90-120 days for them to
process that and it will allow you to work while your AOS is pending.
And, you can work anywhere you would like, just like a regular citizen.
Once your AOS is approved and you have have your GC you can also work
anywhere (expect for jobs that require you to be a citizen like the post
office and stuff, but I think you get what i'm saying). You do not have
to wait 3 years or anything like that.

I hope that helps!

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