I-765 H-4 EAD renewal, category C26
H-4 EAD renewal: check the packet before you file
An H-4 EAD renewal is a new Form I-765 filed before your current card expires. We fill it for you, check the timing against your expiry date and your H-4 status, and show all 10 checks before you pay.
No account, no card. Money-back guarantee.
- Renewal timing checked
- Category C26 filled for you
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- $99All-inclusive price
- 10Pre-filing checks
- 180Days before expiry you can file
- 100%Money-back guarantee
RULE CHANGE
A renewal filed on or after October 30, 2025 does not extend your current card. DHS removed the automatic extension of employment authorization for renewals filed on or after that date. Your work authorization ends on the date printed on your card unless USCIS has approved the new one. Filing early gives USCIS more time to decide, and nothing more.
Your situation
Which renewal are you filing?
The timing and the evidence depend on where your current card and your H-4 status stand today.
- 01
Your card is still valid
You can file up to 180 days before the expiry date on your card. The free check confirms you are eligible, and the application checks your timing against the expiry date.
MOST COMMONCheck my renewal - 02
Your card has already expired
You can still file, but you cannot work between the expiry date and the approval of the new card. We flag the gap in your report.
GAP IN WORK PERMITCheck my renewal - 03
Your H-4 status is also running out
A renewal needs a valid H-4 status behind it. File the I-539 and the I-765 together so the two cannot contradict each other.
STATUS AND EADSee the bundle
What you get
Everything you need for the work permit
You answer questions. We handle the form, the category code, the checks, and the document list.
- FLAGSHIP
10 checks before you file
Your eligibility basis, the spouse-only rule, your H-4 status window, renewal timing, the receipt number that routes your packet, and every blank field. You see all of it before you pay.
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
We rewrite every I-765 question 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. We build the list from your situation.
How it works
Renew your H-4 EAD in four steps
Your answers save as you go.
Tell us about your current card
Tell us your spouse’s I-140 or AC21 basis and your H-4 status. Free, no account needed. You enter the card’s expiry date in the application.
Answer the questions
Work through the I-765 in plain English. The renewal reason and category C26 fill from what you tell us.
Read your report
All 10 checks, with the timing against your expiry date and the validity of your H-4 status. Still free at this point.
Print and mail
Download the packet, stack it in the order we give you, and mail it to the lockbox that matches your spouse’s receipt number.
Pre-filing audit
See every check before you file
Every H-4 EAD runs through the same 10 checks. You see the full report, every flag and every fix, before you pay anything.
Eligibility and filing
- Approved I-140 or AC21 extension for your spouse
- Spouse of the H-1B holder, not a child
- Category C26 matches the status you hold
- No category left over from another work permit
- H-1B receipt number prefix routes your packet
Timing
- H-4 admission on your I-94 still valid
- Renewal filed up to 180 days before expiry (USCIS recommends at least 90)
- Reason for applying matches any prior EAD
Form integrity
- Required fields complete
- Field content validation
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 | 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 C26 from the instructions | YesFilled in for you | YesFilled in for you |
| Error checking | NoNone. You find out from the rejection notice | Yes10 checks, shown to you before you pay | YesA person reads it |
| Document list | NoGeneric checklists you find online | YesBuilt from your answers | YesTailored to you |
| What it costs you upfront | YesNothing | Yes$99, and only after you see the packet | NoA retainer before anything starts |
| Bundling with the I-539 | NoTwo filings you coordinate yourself | YesOne questionnaire fills both | YesHandled for you |
Your complete H-4 EAD packet
The form, the pre-filing report, your document list, the payment and e-notification 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
H-4 EAD renewal questions, answered
Timing, documents, fees and what changed in 2025.
You file a new Form I-765 with category C26 and mark the reason for applying as a renewal. USCIS accepts it up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. Your H-4 status has to be valid as well.
Confirm your spouse still has an approved I-140 or an AC21 extension, check that your H-4 admission is valid, complete Form I-765, assemble the supporting documents, and mail the packet to the correct lockbox. USCIS sends a receipt notice and then a decision.
A copy of your current H-4 EAD, your I-94 and passport pages, your marriage certificate, your spouse’s I-140 approval or AC21 extension notice, and two passport photos. Your exact list is built from your answers.
It varies by service center and by year, and USCIS publishes current times on its processing times page. We do not quote a range. Your card expires on a set date, and the decision has no deadline. See current USCIS processing times
Not past the expiry date on your card if the renewal was filed on or after October 30, 2025. The automatic extension is gone for those filings. A renewal filed before that date kept the earlier extension. Filing early gives USCIS more time to decide, and you stop working on the expiry date if the new card has not arrived.
The USCIS filing fee is set by USCIS and paid to the government; check the current amount on the Form I-765 page before you file. Immiva’s fee is $99, paid once after you see your report.
There is no premium processing for an H-4 EAD. USCIS offers it for Form I-765 only in the F-1 OPT categories.
If your H-4 admission is running out, yes. The EAD needs valid H-4 status behind it. Immiva prepares the Form I-539 and the Form I-765 together from one questionnaire. See the I-539 and I-765 bundle
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. Compare with attorney fees of $750–$1,500.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
Related pages
Other H-4 pages
Your first H-4 EAD, the status and EAD bundle, and the full list of work permits.