I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Apply for your H-4 EAD work permit online, without an attorney
We fill category C26 for you, walk you through the I-765 in plain English, and build the document list USCIS expects from an H-1B spouse.
No account, no card. Money-back guarantee.
- Free eligibility check
- Category C26 filled for you
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $129All-inclusive price
- C26Category filled for you
- TailoredDocument checklist
- 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.
- Your spouse has an approved I-140Their employer filed the immigrant petition and USCIS approved it. This is how most H-4 spouses qualify.MOST COMMONCheck eligibility
- Your spouse is past year six on AC21They 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, and the document list.
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
Every I-765 question rewritten 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. Built from your situation.
- SINCE OCT 2025
Renewal timing
With the auto-extension gone, filing late means a gap in your right to work. We tell you when to file so there is no gap.
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.
Review your packet
See the finished form, 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 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 | Do it yourselfFree | Immiva$129 | Traditional immigration attorney$1,200 and up |
| The form itself | Do it yourselfYesThe blank USCIS form, free to download | ImmivaYesYour I-765, filled in from your answers | Traditional immigration attorneyYesFilled in for you |
| The eligibility category | Do it yourselfNoYou work out C26 from the instructions | ImmivaYesFilled in for you | 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 |
| Document list | Do it yourselfNoGeneric checklists you find online | ImmivaYesBuilt from your answers | Traditional immigration attorneyYesTailored to 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 |
| Bundling with the I-539 | Do it yourselfNoTwo filings you coordinate yourself | ImmivaYesOne questionnaire fills both | Traditional immigration attorneyYesHandled for you |
Your complete H-4 EAD packet
The form, your document list, the payment and e-notification forms, and instructions for the right lockbox.
$129One flat fee. 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.
Can I file the H-4 EAD online?
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.
Do I need a lawyer to file the H-4 EAD?
Most people file this one without a lawyer. The two things that go wrong more than anything else are the eligibility category and the evidence, and we handle both. The exception is a gap in your status or a prior denial. If your answers show either, we say so, and that is the time to get advice.
What documents do I need?
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.
Can I bundle the H-4 EAD with an I-539?
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
What changed with the auto-extension?
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.
How long does the H-4 EAD take?
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.
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. Save $1,500 to $5,000.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