So, your spouse has received a H-1B visa and your family will be making its way to the United States to work sometime soon — exciting times! And one of the most exciting aspects of going to the US on an H-1B visa is the potential opportunity for your spouse to secure an H-4 EAD and follow their professional interests while in the United States with you.
Fortunately, there is an option available for these individuals looking to work while in the United States — one that many people might not know about: requesting an Employment Authorization Document.
What is the H-4 EAD?
The H-4 EAD states that the individual requesting to work is legally eligible to work in the United States with the correct credentials. This is specifically available to qualified H-4 visa holders, that is, individuals married to approved H-1B visa holders.
Who is Eligible for the H-4 EAD?
Not all H-4 visa holders are eligible to request an EAD. According to USCIS, the following H-4 visa holders are eligible to make the EAD request:
Currently, there are no specifically stated skills or professions that are prioritized for H-4 visa holders making an EAD request. Instead, USCIS seems to be currently focused on the primary visa holder’s legal status as it relates to the H-4 visa holder’s when they make their request.
The EAD also allows applicants to work in whatever job that they feel like applying for. There is no requirement specific to the type of work that they should do after their H-4 EAD request is approved. Advantages of Obtaining Your EAD
For many accompanying spouses, the question of how to avoid disrupting their professional dreams and goals is an important part of deciding to go abroad. Being approved to work by requesting an H-4 EAD has a number of advantages for both the approved applicant and the family as a whole:
Ultimately, requesting an H-4 EAD may expand the types of opportunities that your family can explore while living in the States.
How to Apply for the EAD
Now that you’ve given this some thought and can see some of the advantages to having an H-4 EAD, here’s the breakdown of the application process.
Collect all of your supplemental documentation that may be needed for the application process:
Please note that if you’re applying for an adjustment of status and using Form I-485 in addition to filing Form I-765, the process may be impacted by the dual requests. Form I-485 will “take precedence” over Form I-765 when it comes to which fees you should pay. As always, it is advised to work with an immigration lawyer to help manage the nuances of the process and avoid making accidental mistakes.
Be prepared in case you’re asked to provide additional documentation by the processing center working on your case. There is currently a brief suspension of biometric appointments for certain visa requests. But, you may still need to schedule a biometric appointment. Work with your immigration lawyer for clarity on this issue as details are changing quickly.
H-4 EAD Processing Time
If you’re wondering how long it can take for this type of request to be processed, head to the USCIS website and check the processing time for the I-765 form and the specific processing center that it’s being adjudicated at. Each processing center has different time frames for processing immigration requests.
If you would like to track your specific case’s progress, make sure to keep your USCIS receipt number on hand and use the Case Status tracker on the USCIS website.
If you’re in a rush, you can file for Premium Processing. In the fall of 2020, legislation passed that allowed H-4 EAD applicants the ability to expedite their requests. As this is a new development, work with an immigration lawyer to get more details on the process.
If you’re a spouse accompanying an H-1B visa holder, know that you have additional professional opportunities that you may be able to explore while you live in the United States. Research your eligibility today and get started on the process.