I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Get your J-2 EAD with category C5 and the statement done for you
Form I-765 in plain English for J-1 spouses and children. We fill category C5, write the statement USCIS requires about your income, and build your document list. No waiting period and no employer sponsorship.
No account, no card. Money-back guarantee.
- Category C5 filled for you
- Document list from your answers
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $99All-inclusive price
- C5Category filled for you
- WrittenEmployment statement
- 100%Money-back guarantee
NO EXTENSION
J-2 work permits have no automatic extension. Unlike H-4 and L-2 holders, J-2 category C5 never qualified for the 180-day or 540-day auto-extension. When your card expires you stop working that day, even with a renewal pending, so file four to five months ahead.
Eligibility
Four requirements, and no waiting period
J-2 is one of the quickest work permits to qualify for. There is no employer sponsorship and no wait on anyone else's petition.
- 01
You are a J-2 dependent
The spouse, or a child under 21, of a J-1 exchange visitor.
WHO QUALIFIES - 02
You are in valid J-2 status
You are in the United States and your status is current.
WHO QUALIFIES - 03
The J-1 has a current DS-2019
Your spouse or parent's program is still running.
WHO QUALIFIES - 04
Your income is not for the J-1
You cannot use your earnings to support the J-1 principal. The required statement covers this rule.
THE INCOME RULE
What you get
Everything you need for the work permit
You answer questions. We handle the form, the category code, the required statement, and the document list.
Category C5, 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.
- REQUIRED
Your employment statement
USCIS wants a written statement that your income will not support the J-1 principal. We write it from your answers.
Plain-English questions
Every I-765 question rewritten in everyday language, including the ones about prior EADs and SSN requests.
Your document list
DS-2019 copies, both I-94s, your marriage or birth certificate, and the photos. Built from your situation.
How it works
Apply for your J-2 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 J-2 status and the J-1's program. Free, no account needed.
Answer the questions
Work through the I-765 in plain English. Category C5 and the employment statement come from what you tell us.
Review your packet
See the finished form, the statement, your document list, and the filing instructions before you pay.
Print and mail
Download the packet, stack it in the order we give you, and mail it to the right lockbox.
Compare your options
Three ways to file your J-2 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 C5 from the instructions | YesFilled in for you | YesFilled in for you |
| The employment statement | NoYou write it yourself with no template | YesWritten from your answers | YesDrafted for you |
| Error checking | NoNone. You find out from the rejection notice | YesEvery field validated before you pay | YesA person reads it |
| What it costs you upfront | YesNothing | Yes$99, and only after you see the packet | NoA retainer before anything starts |
| Renewal timing | NoYou track it yourself | YesWe tell you when to file to avoid a gap | PartlyIf you stay on their books |
Your complete J-2 EAD packet
The form, your employment statement, your document list, the payment 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
J-2 EAD questions, answered
What people ask before they start.
USCIS accepts some I-765 filings through an online account, but the J-2 category depends on the statement and evidence you attach, so most people mail it. We tell you which route yours takes and give you the instructions for it.
It varies by service center and by year, and USCIS publishes current times. Because J-2 has no auto-extension, filing four to five months before your card expires matters more than the exact processing time.
Rarely. The requirements are short, and the two things that usually go wrong are the category code and the employment statement. We handle both. What changes the picture is a lapse in your J-2 status at any point. We flag that, and it is worth legal advice before you file.
USCIS needs it in writing that you will not use your income to support the J-1 principal. Your income can pay for your own expenses and for family recreation and travel. We write the statement from your answers.
Yes. A J-2 work permit is open-market authorization, so you can work for any employer, take gig work, go self-employed, or run your own company. Nothing ties you to one job.
J-2 is open to any J-2 dependent right away. H-4 needs the H-1B spouse to have an approved I-140 or be past year six, which can mean years of waiting. If your spouse is moving from J-1 to H-1B, expect a gap in your right to work. Immiva prepares the H-4 work permit too, so you can come back here for it. See the H-4 work permit
Immiva's fee is $99, paid once, after you have seen the packet. It covers the finished form, 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.
J-2 EAD guides
Read this before you file
What the permit lets you do, how renewals work, and how J-2 compares to H-4.
- J-2 Visa Work Authorization: Can You Work in the US?Full eligibility breakdown, required documents, filing steps, and the income rule you need to understand.Complete guide
- J-2 EAD Processing Time 2026: Current Wait Times2 to 5 month range by service center, week-by-week timeline, and what to do if your case is stuck.Processing
- J-2 EAD FAQ: 25 Most Common Questions AnsweredEligibility, fees, processing, freelancing, taxes, and renewals. Every question J-2 holders actually ask.FAQ
- J-2 EAD Renewal Guide 2026: Process & TimelineWhen to file, the 180-day rule, and the critical catch: J-2 EADs have no automatic extension.Renewal
- Can J-2 Visa Holders Freelance?Uber, Upwork, LLCs, and taxes. Everything about self-employment on J-2 EAD.Freelancing
- J-2 EAD Remote Work: Foreign Companies From the USWorking for overseas employers, Form I-9 workarounds, and contractor vs. employee.Remote work
- 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
If your status is changing
Moving from a J-1 household to an H-1B one changes which work permit you need.