Dear all...

I finally got into Boston on a K1 visa on the 10th October and was met by the usual obstinate INS official at the immigration desk. When I asked him about my entitlement to work, he got me an I-765 application for an EAD and that was it, so assuming that this was what was required, we filled this in and filed it on the 15th of October.

On Friday (November 9th), we received notification that the forms had been received and that the EAD would be processed in 80 days (!!!) Being somewhat alarmed by this, we contacted the INS and were informed that actually I was entitled to work right away and that the officer at Logan should have stamped my passport to make that happen. We have apparently now wasted $100 to apply for an EAD that will be out of date before it arrives. On top of that, we will then have to re-apply for an additional EAD once we are married on the 30th December.

Plan B is for us to bring the marriage forward to as soon as we can and re-file, but is there anyone out there who can please tell us definitively just WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!!!! We cannot survive on one income and can't wait six months for me to have work authorisation.

Please help us!

Nick and Jenny

Unfortunately neither of you have seen the posts that clearly state that filing the I-765 at the service center when entering as a K-1 is a no-no and that you should have walked yourself into the local INS office and gotten the temporary 90 day EAD there instead and at no cost to you.

What you have described is something that is not news to the NG in general and any of the regulars would have been happy to share that information with you if you had not seen prior posts and/or read the FAQ on the subject.

Sorry for the inconvenience and waste of money for you.

Rita