I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Apply for your H-4 EAD with 9 checks before USCIS sees it
Form I-765 in plain English with category C26 filled for you, your spouse's I-140 or AC21 basis confirmed, and renewal timing checked now that the auto-extension is gone. You see the report before you pay.
No account, no card. Money-back guarantee.
- 9 pre-filing checks
- Category C26 filled for you
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $99All-inclusive price
- 9Pre-filing checks
- C26Category filled for you
- 100%Money-back guarantee
RULE CHANGE
The 540-day auto-extension has ended. Applications filed on or after October 30, 2025 no longer get the automatic EAD extension. If your card expires while a renewal is pending you have to stop working until USCIS approves the new one, so file the renewal early.
Eligibility
Do you qualify for an H-4 EAD?
There are two routes, and both depend on where your spouse is in the green card process. The free check confirms which one is yours.
- 01
Your spouse has an approved I-140
Their employer filed the immigrant petition and USCIS approved it. This is how most H-4 spouses qualify.
MOST COMMONCheck eligibility - 02
Your spouse is past year six on AC21
They have an H-1B extension beyond the normal six-year limit. This route does not need an approved I-140.
NO I-140 NEEDEDCheck eligibility
What you get
Everything you need for the work permit
You answer questions. We handle the form, the category code, the checks, and the document list.
- FLAGSHIP
9 checks before you file
Your eligibility basis, the spouse-only rule, your H-4 status window, renewal timing, the receipt number that routes your packet, and every blank field. You see all of it before you pay.
Category C26, filled for you
The eligibility category is the field people get wrong most often. We fill yours in from your answers instead of leaving it blank.
Plain-English questions
We rewrite every I-765 question in everyday language, including the ones about prior EADs and SSN requests.
Your document list
Marriage certificate, your spouse's approval notices, passport pages, and the photos. We build the list from your situation.
How it works
Apply for your H-4 EAD in four steps
Most people finish in one sitting. Your answers save as you go.
Check you qualify
Answer a few questions about your H-4 status and your spouse's I-140 or AC21 extension. Free, no account needed.
Answer the questions
Work through the I-765 in plain English. Category C26 fills itself from what you tell us.
Read your report
All 9 checks, what passed, what needs attention, and how to fix it. Still free at this point.
Print and mail
Download the packet, stack it in the order we give you, and mail it to the right lockbox.
Pre-filing audit
See every check before you file
Every H-4 EAD runs through the same 9 checks. You see the full report, every flag and every fix, before you pay anything.
Eligibility and filing
- Approved I-140 or AC21 extension for your spouse
- Spouse of the H-1B holder, not a child
- Category C26 matches the status you hold
- H-1B receipt number prefix routes your packet
Timing
- H-4 admission on your I-94 still valid
- Renewal filed 90 to 180 days before expiry
- Reason for applying matches any prior EAD
Form integrity
- Required fields complete
- Field content validation
Compare your options
Three ways to file your H-4 EAD
What you get, what it costs, and where each option leaves you.
Swipe to compare all three
| Feature | Do it yourself | Immiva | Traditional immigration attorney |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay to prepare it | Free | $99 | $750–$1,500 |
| The form itself | YesThe blank USCIS form, free to download | YesYour I-765, filled in from your answers | YesFilled in for you |
| The eligibility category | NoYou work out C26 from the instructions | YesFilled in for you | YesFilled in for you |
| Error checking | NoNone. You find out from the rejection notice | Yes9 checks, shown to you before you pay | YesA person reads it |
| Document list | NoGeneric checklists you find online | YesBuilt from your answers | YesTailored to you |
| What it costs you upfront | YesNothing | Yes$99, and only after you see the packet | NoA retainer before anything starts |
| Bundling with the I-539 | NoTwo filings you coordinate yourself | YesOne questionnaire fills both | YesHandled for you |
Your complete H-4 EAD packet
The form, the pre-filing report, your document list, the payment and e-notification forms, and instructions for the right lockbox.
$99One price for this application. The USCIS filing fee is separate and paid to the government.
Covered by a money-back guarantee. Read the guarantee terms
Common questions
H-4 EAD questions, answered
What people ask before they start.
No. USCIS takes the H-4 work permit on paper only. Your packet is print-ready and comes with the lockbox address and the order to stack the pages in.
We ask about the things that decide an H-4 EAD: your spouse's I-140 or AC21 extension, whether you are the spouse or a child, your H-4 admission dates, any prior EAD, and the timing of a renewal. We check every answer, and anything that needs attention shows up in your report before you file. If your answers show a lapse in status or a prior denial, we say so, and that is the point to talk to a lawyer.
Your marriage certificate, your spouse's I-140 approval or AC21 extension notice, both passports and I-94s, your current H-4 approval, and two passport photos. Your exact list is built from your answers.
Yes, and Immiva prepares the bundle. If you also need the status change or extension, one questionnaire fills both forms, so they cannot contradict each other and they go in one envelope. See the I-539 and I-765 bundle
It is gone for anything filed on or after October 30, 2025. Before that, a pending renewal kept you working for up to 540 days after your card expired. Now it does not, so the filing date matters more than it used to.
It varies by service center and by year, and USCIS publishes current times. What you can control is filing early enough that a slow decision does not cost you your job.
Eligibility first: whether your spouse's I-140 or AC21 extension makes you eligible, whether you are the spouse and not a child, and whether category C26 matches your status. Then timing: whether your H-4 admission is still valid, whether a renewal lands in the 90-to-180-day window, and whether your reason for applying fits any prior EAD. Then the H-1B receipt number, which has to route to the right lockbox, and every field that needs an answer. The full list is above.
Immiva's fee is $99, paid once, after you have seen the report. It covers the finished form, the pre-filing report, your document list, and the filing instructions. The USCIS filing fee is separate and goes to the government.
No. Immiva is software. It turns the form into plain-English questions, fills the form from your answers, and checks those answers before you file. We do not give legal advice, and nothing here replaces a lawyer when your situation calls for one. The checks tell you when that is.
H-4 EAD guides
Read this before you file
Eligibility, evidence, renewals, and the mistakes that cost people months.
- H-4 EAD Processing Time 2026Current wait times by service center, and what actually drives them.Processing time
- H-4 EAD Renewal 2026: Auto-Extension EliminatedWhat the end of the 540-day extension means, and when to file so you do not lose your right to work.Renewals
- H-4 EAD Document Checklist 2026Every paper USCIS expects with your application, and what happens if one is missing.Checklist
- H-4 EAD Cost in 2026The filing fee and the full cost breakdown, including what you can skip.Cost
- Form I-765 for H-4 EAD: Field-by-Field GuideEvery question on the form, including where category C26 goes.Field by field
- H-4 EAD: Complete 2026 GuideEligibility, evidence, timing and renewals for H-1B spouses, in one place.Complete guide
- H-4 Visa Guide 2026: Status, Rights & RulesEverything about H-4 status: who qualifies, how to apply, daily life, EAD eligibility, and common mistakes.Complete guide
- H-4 EAD Without a Lawyer: File Yourself in 2026Real costs, step-by-step filing, and the top 10 mistakes to avoid. Compare with attorney fees of $750–$1,500.DIY Filing
- 7 H-4 EAD Application Mistakes That Cause RejectionsWrong form edition, wrong category code, expired I-94. The errors USCIS won't forgive and how to avoid them.Mistakes
- J-2 EAD vs H-4 EAD: 2026 Comparison GuideSwitching from J-1 to H-1B? Understand the work gap, eligibility differences, and transition risks.Comparison
Related forms
Other filings you may need
Most people file a work permit together with a status form. These are the filings that go with this one.