As a recent foreign student grad in the states, I get one year post-grad to find work before needing an actual work visa. Thing is the government was severely backlogged so I had to wait 4 months longer than expected to get approved for that 1 year grant. Nothing I can do, and every legal advisor said not to do anything that counted as work while the approval was pending. I stayed with family in the states who were gracious enough to let me stay, but were frustrated with me about that 4 month wait. Not because they didn't want me with them but because they thought I was unmotivated and lazy. I am very blessed that my family let me stay with them, but it hurts that they think I was lazy and spoiled for "doing nothing". I applied to jobs and interviewed with employers, planned for when I did get approval, but I couldn't work (tutor, volunteer, earn money). Anyway...it was a stressful and sad 4 months.