I-539 Application to Extend or Change Nonimmigrant Status
Change your status to H-4 online with guided Form I-539 prep
Your spouse got the H-1B. Now your status has to catch up. We walk you through the I-539 in plain English, include your children on Form I-539A, and add a work permit if you qualify.
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- Free eligibility check
- Children included
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- $129All-inclusive price
- I-539AChildren included
- OptionalWork permit bundled
- 100%Money-back guarantee
BEFORE YOU FILE
Do not leave the country while your I-539 is pending. If you travel while USCIS is still deciding your change of status, it treats the application as abandoned. You would have to re-enter on a new visa and start again. Plan any trip before you file, not after.
Common scenarios
Changing to H-4, or extending the H-4 you already have
The same form covers both. Here are the situations people file it from.
- From F-1 or F-2Your spouse moved from F-1 to H-1B. You change from F-2, or from F-1, to H-4 to stay in status.STUDENT DEPENDENT
- From B-1 or B-2You came as a visitor and your spouse already holds H-1B. Change to H-4 before your visitor status runs out.VISITOR
- From L-2Your spouse switched from L-1 to H-1B, so your L-2 status no longer applies and you need H-4.L-1 DEPENDENT
- From J-2Your spouse moved from J-1 to H-1B. Watch for a two-year home residence requirement under 212(e), which J-2 dependents can inherit.CHECK 212(e)
- Already on H-4Your H-4 is running out. It does not renew automatically with your spouse's H-1B, so you file the I-539 to extend it.RENEW OR EXTEND
- From another statusO-2, E-2, TN dependents and others. If your spouse holds or is moving to H-1B, you can change to H-4.OTHER STATUS
What you get
Everything you need for the status change
You answer questions. We handle the form, the children, and the document list.
Plain-English questions
Every I-539 question rewritten in everyday language, including the ones about your current status and prior applications.
Children on Form I-539A
Each dependent child needs their own supplement. We generate one per child from the same answers.
- IF ELIGIBLE
Add a work permit
If your spouse has an approved I-140 or is past year six, you can file the I-765 in the same packet and start working sooner.
Your document list
Passports, I-94s, your spouse's approval notice, and the marriage or birth certificates. Built from your situation.
How it works
Prepare your I-539 in four steps
Most people finish in one sitting. Your answers save as you go.
Check you qualify
Answer a few questions about your current status and your spouse's H-1B. Free, no account needed.
Answer the questions
Work through the I-539 in plain English. Children get their I-539A from the same answers.
Review your packet
See the finished forms, your document list, and the filing instructions before you pay.
File it
One applicant with no children can often file online. Everyone else gets a print-ready packet and the right address.
Compare your options
Three ways to file your I-539
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 | Do it yourselfFree | Immiva$129 | Traditional immigration attorney$1,500 and up |
| The form itself | Do it yourselfYesThe blank USCIS form, free to download | ImmivaYesYour I-539, filled in from your answers | Traditional immigration attorneyYesFilled in for you |
| Children on I-539A | Do it yourselfNoA separate supplement per child, filled by hand | ImmivaYesOne per child, from the same answers | Traditional immigration attorneyYesFilled in for you |
| Error checking | Do it yourselfNoNone. You find out from the rejection notice | ImmivaYesEvery field validated before you pay | Traditional immigration attorneyYesA person reads it |
| Adding the work permit | Do it yourselfNoA second filing you coordinate yourself | ImmivaYesSame questionnaire fills both forms | Traditional immigration attorneyYesHandled for you |
| What it costs you upfront | Do it yourselfYesNothing | ImmivaYes$129, and only after you see the packet | Traditional immigration attorneyNoA retainer before anything starts |
| Knowing when not to travel | Do it yourselfNoBuried in the instructions | ImmivaYesFlagged before you file | Traditional immigration attorneyYesThey will warn you |
Your complete I-539 packet
The application, a Form I-539A for each child, your document list, the payment forms, and filing instructions.
$129One flat fee. The USCIS filing fee is separate and paid to the government.
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Common questions
I-539 questions, answered
What people ask before they start.
How do I renew my H-4 in the U.S.?
With the same Form I-539. H-4 does not extend automatically when your spouse's H-1B is renewed, so you file your own application. File before your current status runs out.
How do I change from H-1, F-1, L-2 or B-2 to H-4?
All of them use the I-539. What changes is the evidence: your current status documents, your spouse's H-1B approval, and proof of the marriage. We build the list from your answers.
Can I include my children on the I-539?
Yes, each child gets a Form I-539A supplement filed with your application. We generate one per child from the answers you have already given.
Can I file the I-539 online?
A single applicant with no co-applicants can often file through a USCIS online account. Add a child, or bundle a work permit, and it goes on paper. We tell you which applies to you.
How long does an H-4 change of status take?
It varies by service center and by year, and USCIS publishes current times. File well before your current status expires rather than counting on a fast decision.
Should I bundle the I-765 with my I-539?
Usually yes, and Immiva prepares both together. Your answers tell us whether you meet the work-permit requirements, and we say so either way. Filing them together means one packet, one set of documents, and you can start working as soon as USCIS approves the H-4. See the I-539 and I-765 bundle
I-539 guides
Read this before you file
What the form asks for, what to send with it, and how H-4 works.
- Form I-539 for H-4 Visa: What You Really Need to KnowWho can file, when to file, bundling with H-1B, processing times, and the mistakes that cause delays.Complete guide
- Fill Out Form I-539 in 2026: Complete GuidePart-by-part walkthrough. Every field explained, with tips on the questions that trip people up.How-to
- H-4 Visa Guide 2026: Status, Rights & RulesEverything about H-4 life in the US: eligibility, daily life, EAD, driving, school, and common mistakes.H-4 overview
- J-2 EAD vs H-4 EAD: 2026 Comparison GuideTransitioning from J-1 to H-1B? Understand the work gap, the 212(e) issue, and what it means for dependents.Comparison