When can she work?

[RESQU]

I would like to hear from the married guys a "best case worst case" time frame on when your wife legally allowed to get a job.  {Moderator: if your think this should go into the visa section?}

Assuming fluent English upon arrival and marriage ceremony in the 50-60 day mark.  How long approx. with her arrival on a K-1 will she be allowed to work? 

Thanks for your help.

[ConnerVT]

Short answer: 90 days from the date that USCIS acknowledges the receipt of her AoS and EAD (Employment Authorization Document) applications.  These should be filed with USCIS right after your marriage.

Longer answer: The USCIS has been tasked to complete the EAD process within 90 days, as delays prevent new immigrants from earning an income.  Unfortunately, some areas move more slowly than others.  On the 91st day, your local USCIS office will issue a temporary EAD (if you travel to them and insist on it).

Of course, she will also need a Social Security Card.  The path of least resistance for this is to apply for one immediately after she arrives in the US.  Goes a lot easier if she has an employment stamp on her I-94 in her passport (as they routinely do at JFK).

Of course, she could begin work with her new SS# and employment stamp on her I-94 arrival/departure form in her passport, but her authorization technically expires once she marries (or at least, 90 days after her arrival in the US).  Some employers will be hesitant to hire her without either an EAD or green card in her hand.

[Son of Clyde]

One thing about the SS card.
My wife could not get one immediately because she had to be in the USCIS system first. This can take from 2 weeks to a month.
Just wanted to mention this in case you would need to travel a long distance to the SSA office. They will just send you home and tell you to come back in 2 weeks.

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/index.php?autocom=custom&page=ssn

[stlouis777]

Here's a job, she doesn't have to say a word.

Just stand there straight and look great.

Just make sure she has plenty of water....

[RESQU]

Thank you for the info guys.  She is already almost fluent with English so I am worried about her getting bored while I am at work.  I think one or two University classes would be a good idea.  I was thinking macro and micro Economics to help her understand our economy and more about business here.

[jb]

RESQU,

Much would depend on what she wants to do.  If she's near fluent in English I would figure she's well educated in some field.  If she wants employment in some specific area, she might have some trouble, if she just wants a job at the Mall, she can probably go to work as soon as she has all her documents.

The "How Long???" question is pretty much up to you.   How fast, after the wedding,  can you file the BCIS forms for the EAD and how quickly can you get to the SS Office once you have the EAD?  That's how long it will take.

[beattledog]

Why should she work when she comes to this country?  She needs to get accustomed to the cutoms of this country, including shoping so that she can spend YOUR MONEY

Beattledog

[catzenmouse]

A couple of thoughts here:

 If she is here on a K1 and you get married before the 90th day go to the SSN office right away with your certified marriage license/ID's and get her a SSN right away. It will come with a not on it saying "Not Valid For Employment" or something like that. This way she will already have the number when she gets the EAD and will not have to wait any additional time. If you go after the 90 day mark you will not get one until she has the EAD.

 When you have the SSN get her a bank account and put her name on a utility bill. This will start her residence requirements for any University/College classes that she may want to take. Before she has been here a year you will pay the Out of State fee which is generally 3 to 4 times that of an In State student.

 Also check the requirements of your local school before you try to enroll her as they may not let her in without a valid status document from USCIS. Remember that almost any degree she has will mean little or nothing here so she may have to re-educate herself in the chosen field before she can return to it.

 Before she can legally work she could do odd jobs like baby/dog/house sitting which is all basically "under the table" type of work. Sorry, that is just the way it is for the first little while.

Ken

[jb]

Ken,

Yeah, sometimes it's tough for these gals to find meaningful employment.  Flippin' burgers is one thing, working in a professional field is quite another.

I'm thinking of a topic for the FAQ section on the "How To" of getting a FSU degree evaluated to American Education Standards.  We have discussed it before, but it's somethng that comes up often enough that we should have it written down somewhere.

Whadda ya think?

[catzenmouse]

I'm thinking of a topic for the FAQ section on the "How To" of getting a FSU degree evaluated to American Education Standards.  We have discussed it before, but it's somethng that comes up often enough that we should have it written down somewhere.

Whadda ya think?

I think that would be an excellent FAQ as it does come up a lot in the course of getting her into the flow of life/work/school in her chosen country. Perhaps some of the folks from outside the US could add the version of this process from their country.

Ken

[Son of Clyde]

Question about work.
Other than having to take out a business loan, how difficult would it be for a RW to open a small restaurant or diner? This is for a RW with a 2 year green card. My wife is one outstanding cook.
She actually was thinking about this but changed her mind thinking it might not be profitable.
In the Russian Community I think a decent Russian restaurant could be very profitable.

[BC]

My wife being a professional cook also brought up this possibility.

Dealbreaker was that we would end up having very little time for ourselves and the kids, quite contrary to our desire to build a solid family.

The decision was mutual.

Of course as the kids grow she may dabble part time or more in other business ventures.

A restaraunt is like diving right in to the deep end of the pool.. endless hours of work that in the end may weigh heavily on the relationship.

[Turboguy]

From what I have read, restaurants have one of the highest failure rates of any kind of business.  Probably a lot of that is that it is an easy business to get into.  Many people think, I am a good cook I will open a restaurant.  A restaurant takes many skills beside cooking, advertising, accounting, personnel management, marketing and purchasing just to name a few.

Personally I think someone could get rich with a chain of Russian restaurants done properly.  Not aimed at the Russian community but rather the Americans who are tired of Chinese, Thai, etc.  Russia has a lot of good foods that are very unique.  I think if there was one in a location right along the Lone star steak houses and Red Lobsters and there were lots of good unique foods, a Russian decor, maybe the waitresses dressed like KGB agents except for mini skirts, some guys coming out and doing a cossack dance, I have a feeling someone could charge top dollar and have a line of customers waiting to get in a mile long.  Anyone takes this idea and makes a few million you owe me a free dinner.

[dostogirl]

I would like to hear from the married guys a "best case worst case" time frame on when your wife legally allowed to get a job. 

I guess mine was "the worst case", it took me almost 8 months to get my docs done though we filed everything in a timely manner.  It significantly damaged our financial situation, because we expected that I'd start working right away.

[groovlstk]

Question about work.
Other than having to take out a business loan, how difficult would it be for a RW to open a small restaurant or diner? This is for a RW with a 2 year green card. My wife is one outstanding cook.
She actually was thinking about this but changed her mind thinking it might not be profitable.
In the Russian Community I think a decent Russian restaurant could be very profitable.

Clyde, I'm not sure what the population and demographics in your area are, but a safer and more manageable alternative is to have your wife set up her own business cooking for other families. One of my friends is a fantastic chef, but after giving birth to her first child she decided the restaurant business was simply too demanding on her time. Now, she cooks for other families. There are many wealthy yuppy families in her area (Philly) with working moms and dads who don't have time to cook. So she will cook them a full five days worth of dinners, put the food in tupperware containers, label the containers, and then deliver them to her clients. She'll usually advise them to store the first two days' dinners in the fridge, and to freeze the remaining three. Obviously, some foods don't freeze well so her menu isn't unlimited, but outside of delivering the food all of her workday is spent in her own kitchen, and her initial investment was minimal. Occasionally, one of her clients has a dinner party and she'll cook on their premises, but she can pick and choose according to how much time she has.

[Durk]

          Groov great idea! There may be a license required and that could
cause a problem. The kitchen should have a Philly HD Cert. and that may or
may not be approved for a person from the FSU based on SS and EIC
requirements. The license would have to go in Clyde's name to get it open.
Best to check with your state requirements. Things will be different from
state to state and large cities may have county or city specs as well.

[Jet]

From what I have read, restaurants have one of the highest failure rates of any kind of business.

Hovering somewhere around 90%  and it'll take @ 30 or 40 grand just to get the doors open on a relatively "turn key" operation.

Personally I think someone could get rich with a chain of Russian restaurants done properly.  *snip* I think if there was one in a location right along the Lone star steak houses and Red Lobsters and...

In the Early 90s Darden Rest. Inc. (Subsidiary of General Mills and owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze & Smokey Bones) Came out with a chain concept called "China Coast" A mid maket chain approach to chinese quisine. The food was absolutely fantastic (I built the first several prototypes so I had more than a few occasions to eat there) price point was good as was the atmosphere. By all accounts they should have gone over wonderfully. They bombed MISERABLY! first 5 stores were closed within 6 months! People have preconcieved notions about food, chinese is supposed to come from dirty little take-out only dumps, or cost a small fortune. Russian food is supposed to be 54 variations of beet soup served by fat irratable babushkas dressed in olive drab aprons. You and I know better, but John and Jennifer Smith in Boise, Idaho - DON'T! That's just the way it is....

[Jet]

          Groov great idea! There may be a license required and that could
cause a problem. The kitchen should have a Philly HD Cert. and that may or
may not be approved for a person from the FSU based on SS and EIC
requirements. The license would have to go in Clyde's name to get it open.
Best to check with your state requirements. Things will be different from
state to state and large cities may have county or city specs as well.

Here in FL she'd need a "certified food handler's license" issued by FL Dept of Business and Professional Regulation upon passing a 4 hour test encompassing all aspects of food storage, preparation, cooking, and sanitation. She'd also need to file periodic HAASP reports with the state Dept. of Agriculture...

[Turboguy]

In the Early 90s Darden Rest. Inc. (Subsidiary of General Mills and owner of Red Lobster, Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze & Smokey Bones) Came out with a chain concept called "China Coast" A mid market chain approach to Chinese cuisine. The food was absolutely fantastic (I built the first several prototypes so I had more than a few occasions to eat there) price point was good as was the atmosphere. By all accounts they should have gone over wonderfully. They bombed MISERABLY! first 5 stores were closed within 6 months! People have preconceived notions about food, Chinese is supposed to come from dirty little take-out only dumps, or cost a small fortune. Russian food is supposed to be 54 variations of beet soup served by fat irritable babushkas dressed in olive drab aprons. You and I know better, but John and Jennifer Smith in Boise, Idaho - DON'T! That's just the way it is....

Any concept restaurant is a toss of the dice.  Around here it is hard to go a city block without a Chinese restaurant.  We joke that we are eating cat and still go quite often.   A long time ago we had one of our local chain restauranteers come up with a concept for Italian food he was going to franchise nationally.  I went there the second day and the line was a block long.  I went back a week later and was almost alone in the place.  The dropped their concept a few months later.  It was actually along the lines of what Sbarro came with later.  Restaurants can be an expensive gamble.  Of course once in a while there is a big winner and many that make it just barely make it.

[RESQU]

Good info, thank you everyone!

She has two degrees, one in English and the other in Marketing or Sales.  I think she would prefer to work in an office, but it may not be possible for some time.  The FAQ on FSU degree certification is an awesome idea!

I tried to steer her a little bit toward going to RN school here, but she has no interest at all. (RATZ!!!)  RN's earn great money and the schedule is good.

I want to give her realistic answers to her questions and concerns.  I know she wants to work as soon as possible.  I think getting her degrees in Russia certified will do alot of good.

[catzenmouse]

RESQU,

 Another way to get her out there and involved is to find out about volunteer activities. Perhaps someone would be able to use her marketing talents at a hospital or school.

Ken

[PeeWee]

Good info, thank you everyone!

She has two degrees, one in English and the other in Marketing or Sales.  I think she would prefer to work in an office, but it may not be possible for some time.  The FAQ on FSU degree certification is an awesome idea!

I tried to steer her a little bit toward going to RN school here, but she has no interest at all. (RATZ!!!)  RN's earn great money and the schedule is good.

I want to give her realistic answers to her questions and concerns.  I know she wants to work as soon as possible.  I think getting her degrees in Russia certified will do alot of good.

i was talking to Lena about her interest in a career in medicine. Nursing was one of the fields that she had indicated an interest in. She is now a doctor. Was a surgeon but now works in a 9 to 5 clinic in Russia. English classes first and then if she wants still wants it then I would not be opposed to it.

Peevee

[BC]

Although men there are 7 Ukraine technicians working at my company. There manager tells me that he would hire more of them if he could find them. They are much better techs than their American counter parts are.

Peevee

Why not just let her work at your company?

Or maybe follow your footsteps as a fiction writer?

[PeeWee]

Why not just let her work at your company?

Or maybe follow your footsteps as a fiction writer?

I will be gone from that company within the next 6 months. But I do have an idea. The company that I am headed for, a start up, would have an number of jobs that any RW might be able to do. I don't think it is up to me what it is she wishes to do. As I said before if she wants to go to med school then I will make that happen. If she wants nursing then I will make that happen. I don't know why any man would place a limit on what it was his lady could or should do. She has her dream and it is up to me to figure out how to make that dream come true.

It's not what we want it is what she wants. Did you dictate to your wife what it was that she should do? Why would we?

Peevee

[BC]

PeeWee,

I guess I must have misunderstood your use of 'my company'.. vs something like 'where I work'.

My wife is interested in working, maybe even in my business but we discussed this and mutually decided to hold off a bit until our toddler starts school.  The 'full time' motherhood concept was a part of her adjustment.  She initially felt a tad bit guilty that she was not contributing financially to our household (as she was accustomed to back home). Some convincing discourse was needed to show her true worth as a mother, also in financial terms.. 

With a smile she agreed, then told me she wanted her 'salary' 

I told her 'ok', but not to forget that she lives in a very high rent district..