Can someone tell me what is an EAD?

[juzagrl]

They said that once you get this document, you can start working even without the green card? Although, I am still far from migrating, I just want to know how things work. Thanks

[suzanne4, RN]

The EADS are only available if one is in the US and adjusting their status to be able to work here. For nurses to be able to get the EAD, visas must be current and the US government is accepting the I-485. The petition or application for the EAD is actually separate from the I-485, but this needs to be able to be submitted. Only the I-140 is being accepted now. Dependent visas in almost all cases do not permit this, especially the H-4 visa.

The issue to be aware of if when they had that little glitch last summer and the government was forced to accept the I-485 when there were no visas available, there were over 800,000 petitions submitted for this. With only 140,000 total green cards per year, that means more than 5 years just to get thru that number and remember that those that are going thru Consular Processing are not even included in that number.

Unless one is coming here via family-sponsored petition such as the K-1 visa, then there is going to be no way to get the EAD at this time for working here. Only exception to this is those that trained in the US and qualify for the OPT will get an EAD issued to them for a maximum of one year and that one is not renewable under any circumstances. If one continues their studies, then they would be applying for a new EAD because of the additional schooling.