USCIS reported 42,416 pending H-4 EAD cases at the end of FY2026 Q2, up 25.3% from the published FY2025 year-end count. The average processing time across all I-765 categories reached 5.8 months in July 2026. Your H-4 EAD wait depends on your service center and filing method. For renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025, automatic EAD extensions no longer apply, so a delay can leave a gap in work authorization.
Current H-4 EAD processing times in 2026
The live USCIS tool reports how long it took to complete 80% of cases. H-4 EAD estimates vary by service center and filing method. The monthly figures below are averages across all I-765 categories. For a complete overview of the H-4 EAD program and how to apply, see our step-by-step guide.
The latest figures come from two USCIS reports with different reporting periods:
| Metric | Latest reported value |
|---|---|
| Average I-765 processing time, all categories (July 2026) | 5.8 months |
| H-4 EAD approval rate among decisions (FY2026 Q2) | 95.3% |
| H-4 EAD pending cases (FY2026 Q2) | 42,416 |
| H-4 EAD receipts (FY2026 Q2) | 22,977 |
| H-4 EAD renewal share, excluding replacements (FY2026 Q2) | 72.3% |
The 5.8-month figure is the July 2026 average across all I-765 categories. It cannot tell you when USCIS will decide your H-4 EAD application or when your card will arrive.
Check USCIS processing times for Form I-765, category (c)(26), and the office handling your case. The quarterly I-765 workbook reports application counts and decisions; it does not provide service-center wait estimates.
How I-765 processing times have changed
USCIS's monthly data runs through July 2026. The average processing time across all I-765 categories was 2.5 months in both June and July 2025 and reached 5.8 months in July 2026.
At 5.8 months, the all-category average was more than twice the 2.5-month level from summer 2025. Use the live H-4 estimate when planning your renewal, and allow for the possibility that your case will take longer.
H-4 EAD application volume and approval rates
USCIS publishes quarterly I-765 data by eligibility category. The table covers H-4 category C26 from FY2025 Q1 through FY2026 Q2. The latest quarter covers January 1 through March 31, 2026, and the source data was queried in April 2026.
| Quarter | Total receipts | Approvals | Denials | Pending | Approval rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2024) | 22,122 | 17,305 | 469 | 28,813 | 97.4% |
| FY2025 Q2 (Jan-Mar 2025) | 23,027 | 24,783 | 590 | 26,707 | 97.7% |
| FY2025 Q3 (Apr-Jun 2025) | 23,148 | 17,258 | 493 | 32,631 | 97.2% |
| FY2025 Q4 (Jul-Sep 2025) | 23,341 | 21,863 | 807 | 33,851 | 96.4% |
| FY2026 Q1 (Oct-Dec 2025) | 20,121 | 17,330 | 563 | 35,667 | 96.9% |
| FY2026 Q2 (Jan-Mar 2026) | 22,977 | 14,860 | 728 | 42,416 | 95.3% |
USCIS approved 14,860 H-4 EAD applications and denied 728 in FY2026 Q2, for a 95.3% approval rate among decisions. For the first half of FY2026, it reported 43,098 receipts, 32,190 approvals, and 1,291 denials, with a 96.1% approval rate. Here, approval rate means approvals divided by approvals plus denials.
Published H-4 pending counts rose from 33,851 at the end of FY2025 Q4 to 42,416 at the end of FY2026 Q2, an increase of 25.3% between snapshots. USCIS cautions that pending totals cannot be rolled forward from one quarter to the next using reported receipts and decisions. Administrative closures, transfers, system updates, and post-adjudicative outcomes may not appear in the report.
H-4 EAD receipts totaled 20,121 in FY2026 Q1 and 22,977 in Q2. For comparison, FY2025 quarterly receipts ranged from 22,122 to 23,341.
Initial vs. renewal breakdown
In FY2026 Q2, renewals made up 72.3% of initial and renewal H-4 EAD receipts combined. This share excludes 118 replacement receipts.
| Type | FY2025 Q1 receipts | FY2025 Q2 receipts | FY2025 Q3 receipts | FY2025 Q4 receipts | FY2026 Q1 receipts | FY2026 Q2 receipts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial EAD | 6,847 (31%) | 6,820 (30%) | 8,106 (35%) | 8,187 (35%) | 6,528 (33%) | 6,324 (28%) |
| Renewal EAD | 15,154 (69%) | 16,075 (70%) | 14,903 (64%) | 15,038 (64%) | 13,472 (67%) | 16,535 (72%) |
USCIS received 13,472 H-4 EAD renewal applications in FY2026 Q1 and 16,535 in Q2. Renewal applicants who filed on or after October 30, 2025 no longer receive automatic EAD extensions. If their renewals aren't approved before their current EADs expire, they face gaps in work authorization.
Initial receipts fell from 6,528 in FY2026 Q1 to 6,324 in Q2, while renewal receipts rose from 13,472 to 16,535. Replacement receipts fell from 121 to 118.
Standalone vs. bundled filing: why it matters more now
The single biggest factor affecting your H-4 EAD processing time isn't the service center. It's whether you filed your I-765 by itself or together with your H-4 extension and your spouse's H-1B extension.
Bundled filing means you submit all three forms together: your spouse's I-129 (H-1B extension), your I-539 (H-4 extension), and your I-765 (EAD).
Standalone filing means you submit Form I-765 by itself, without bundling it with your H-4 extension and your spouse's H-1B extension.
One important change: the Edakunni v. Mayorkas settlement, which required USCIS to adjudicate bundled H-4/L-2 filings simultaneously with the principal's petition, expired on January 18, 2025. USCIS is no longer required to process bundled cases together. Some cases may still be adjudicated close in time, but it's not guaranteed.
Bundling still gives you the best chance at faster processing. Learn more about filing your H-4 EAD without a lawyer. When you are ready to file, Immiva's H-4 EAD application walks you through Form I-765 and checks every field before you mail it.
The growing I-765 backlog: why it matters for H-4
USCIS also reports how many I-765 applications across all eligibility categories have been pending for more than six months. This broader measure does not show how long any individual H-4 case will take.
In July 2026, 1,383,136 I-765 applications had been pending for more than six months. That was 183.3% above the February 2025 low of 488,237. The count covers all I-765 categories, so it cannot establish the reason for a delay in an individual H-4 case.
The auto-extension is gone: what this means for processing
On October 30, 2025, DHS published an Interim Final Rule ending the automatic extension of EADs for renewal applicants who file Form I-765 on or after that date.
Before this change, if you timely filed your H-4 EAD renewal, your existing EAD and work authorization were automatically extended for up to 540 days while USCIS processed your renewal. That safety net let you keep working with your expired EAD card plus your I-797C receipt notice.
That's gone for anyone who filed on or after October 30, 2025.
USCIS generally recommends filing no more than 180 days before your EAD expires. If your renewal is still pending when your EAD expires and you do not qualify for an automatic extension, you can face a gap in work authorization.
If USCIS received your renewal before October 30, 2025, the old rules still apply. You may retain up to 540 days of automatic extension.
On the litigation front, a federal lawsuit filed January 8, 2026 is challenging the October 2025 rule. As of March 2026, no injunction has been issued. Plan based on the rule currently in effect.
For renewal strategies and how to minimize the work gap, read our guide on H-4 EAD renewal after auto-extensions ended.
How to check your H-4 EAD case status
A few ways to track your case once you've filed:
Your I-797C receipt notice contains a 13-character receipt number starting with three letters (EAC, WAC, LIN, SRC, or YSC) that identify your service center. Allow 2 to 4 weeks from filing if you haven't received it yet.
Use USCIS Case Status Online to check with your receipt number. You can also create an account at myaccount.uscis.gov to link your receipt number and get email and text notifications.
The USCIS Processing Times tool shows estimates for Form I-765, category (c)(26). If your case exceeds posted times, submit an e-Request.
For a detailed walkthrough of all tracking methods, see our guide on 5 ways to check your EAD application status.
What your case status messages mean
| Status Message | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Case Was Received | USCIS has your application and assigned a receipt number |
| Case Is Being Actively Reviewed | An officer is working on your case |
| Request for Evidence Was Sent | USCIS needs more documents (respond within the deadline) |
| Case Was Approved | Your EAD is approved; card production starts |
| Card Is Being Produced | Your physical EAD card is being printed |
| Card Was Mailed to Me | USPS has your card; allow 7 to 10 business days |
If your status shows "Case Was Received" for months without changing, that's common. Many H-4 EAD cases jump straight from received to approved.
What to do if your H-4 EAD is delayed
If your case exceeds normal processing times, you have several options:
Submit an e-Request. If your case has been pending longer than the posted processing time, submit one through your USCIS online account. Free and takes a few minutes.
File an expedite request. Available if you face severe financial loss, an emergency, or a nonprofit urgently needs your services. Call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 or submit through your online account. Approval rates are low, but worth trying.
Contact your congressional representative. Your U.S. Representative or Senator's office can make inquiries to USCIS on your behalf.
File with the USCIS Ombudsman. Submit a case assistance request at dhs.gov/case-assistance.
Consider a mandamus lawsuit. If other options have failed and your case is well past normal processing times, a federal mandamus lawsuit can compel USCIS to adjudicate your case. Immigration attorneys report many cases resolve within 60 days of filing. Legal fees typically run $3,000 to $8,000.
Do not work without authorization. Even if your case is severely delayed, working without your EAD violates your status. This includes freelance work, remote work for foreign companies, and unpaid work for a U.S. employer.
Learn about common H-4 EAD application mistakes that cause delays.
Filing fees and payment methods (2026)
The Form I-765 filing fee for H-4 (c)(26) category is $520 by mail or $470 online. Biometrics fee is included.
USCIS no longer accepts personal or business checks, money orders, or cashier's checks for paper filings (with limited exceptions). Pay by credit, debit, or prepaid card using Form G-1450, or pay directly from a bank account using Form G-1650. Online filers pay through the myUSCIS portal.
Starting March 5, 2026, USCIS requires the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765. Applications on older editions will be rejected.
Always verify fees on the USCIS fee schedule before filing. Sending the wrong fee amount means automatic rejection.
Recent policy changes affecting H-4 EAD processing in 2026
October 30, 2025: Automatic EAD extensions eliminated. Any gap between your EAD expiration and renewal approval is now a gap in work authorization. See our H-4 EAD renewal guide for strategies.
January 18, 2025: Edakunni settlement expired. USCIS is no longer required to adjudicate bundled H-4/EAD applications simultaneously with premium-processed H-1B petitions.
H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Signed July 4, 2025, this introduced annual inflation adjustments to certain USCIS fees and changed EAD validity periods for some categories. H-4 EADs aren't directly affected by the validity period changes, but the overall USCIS workload from implementing these changes may slow processing across all categories.
New form edition required. Starting March 5, 2026, USCIS requires the 08/21/25 edition of Form I-765.
Processing holds for certain nationals (reported). Recent reporting indicates USCIS halted or paused certain immigration benefit applications for people from specific countries. Check the latest official DHS/USCIS announcements for the current scope.
For a broader understanding, see our H-4 visa guide for H-1B spouses and dependents.