Work Visa in the US?

As soon as you apply for a change in status, they send you a letter saying you are approved to apply for permanent residency. Once you get that letter, you can take it to your local INS office and get work authorization.

Marriage to a USC by itself doesn't mean anything, you have to have your USC spouse file to get you an immigrant visa/green card. As soon as you are married, your spouse can file form I-130 to get the green card and you can file form I-485 to adjust your status and claim the green card in the US. This process often takes 8 months or more. In addition, you can file form I-765 at the same time. That's a request for work authorization based on a pending adjustment of status application. That should be approved within about 90 days of filing all the paperwork. Your employment authorization is good for one year, renewable until you are approved or denied for the green card. Once you get the green card (or the interim I-551 stamp that shows you have been approved), you can work legally in the US without separate work authorization.

You can't work immediately after getting married but, if you take care of all the paperwork right away, you should be able to work within 90 days or so.

If you married IN the US, you can apply for Change of Status, which takes about two months....if you were married outside the US, there will be an investigation to see if you married simply to get into the country. If you are legitimate, you can use the Work Visa immediately and change your status with your employer when you take the citizenship test - and PASS!

Yah I don't know what the people who posted above me have been smoking. I came down here on a K-1 fiance visa from Canada, married in July, changed my status and I'm still waiting for my temporary work visa. I should be getting it any day but I have been saying that for a few months.

You have to go to immigration and get a petition, and according to your circumstances, if you are eligible, you get the petition right away. Then usually, if you are from mexico, you have to go back to that country and your fiance/wife must go to the mexican cosule. and demand you. Then you will get your work permit after going back to immigration and showing them you came across the border legally, with the petition. But you need PROOF that you guys have been together, they will ask a million questions, you in one room and your fiance in another and compare answers. Good luck. It sounds intimidating but don't let it scare you...it's a lot easier than it sounds.

After you apply I think it is pretty immediate. They will give you a temp. card as soon as you are approved. 1-2 months after you apply, You will be able to work.

if i remember correctly from my own experience, you will get it fairly quickly after you are married. they figure, well, you have to be able to work.

www.uscis.gov is the us govt immg site and www.travel.state.gov is the us state dept they can help you.