I-765 Application for Employment Authorization
Get your L-2 visa work permit with every check done before you file
An L-2 visa work permit (the L-2 EAD) is a Form I-765 filed under category (a)(18) by the spouse of an L-1 worker. We fill it in plain English, run 5 checks on your L-2 status and your spouse's L-1 status, and build your document list. You see the report before you pay.
No account, no card. Money-back guarantee.
- Category (a)(18) filled for you
- Status checks before you pay
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- $99All-inclusive price
- (a)(18)Category filled for you
- 5Pre-filing checks
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GOOD TO KNOW
L-2 spouses already have work authorization. Since USCIS changed its policy in November 2021, L-2 visa work authorization comes with the status itself: a spouse can work with an unexpired I-94 marked L-2S. The L-2 EAD is optional. Many spouses still file for it because a card is easier to show an employer than an I-94.
Eligibility
Who can file for an L-2 visa work permit
Category (a)(18) is for the spouse of an L-1 worker. There is no waiting period and no employer sponsorship.
- 01
You are the spouse of an L-1 worker
Category (a)(18) covers spouses only. L-2 children cannot file for it.
WHO QUALIFIES - 02
You are in valid L-2 status
You are in the United States in L-2 status, shown on your I-94.
WHO QUALIFIES - 03
Your spouse is in valid L-1 status
Your spouse's L-1 status and admission period have to be current too.
WHO QUALIFIES - 04
Your I-94 class matters
An I-94 marked L-2S already shows you can work. A plain L-2 on a current I-94 is usually a coding error that can be corrected.
THE I-94 RULE
What you get
Everything you need for the work permit
You answer questions. We handle the form, the category code, the status checks, and the document list.
Category (a)(18), 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.
- CHECKED
Your L-2 and L-1 status, checked
We compare your answers with what USCIS looks for: spouse relationship, current L-2 status, your spouse in L-1 status, and admission dates that have not expired.
Plain-English questions
Every I-765 question rewritten in everyday language, including the ones about prior EADs and SSN requests.
Your document list
Both I-94s, your spouse's L-1 approval notice, your marriage certificate, and the photos. Built from your situation.
How it works
Apply for your L-2 visa work permit in four steps
Most people finish in one sitting. Your answers save as you go.
Check you qualify
Answer a few questions about your L-2 status and your spouse's L-1 status. Free, no account needed.
Answer the questions
Work through the I-765 in plain English. Category (a)(18) comes from what you tell us.
Review your packet
See the finished form, your status report, 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.
Pre-filing audit
See every check before you file
Every L-2 EAD application runs through the same 5 checks. You see the full report, every flag and every fix, before you pay anything.
L-2 spouse eligibility
- Spouse of an L-1 worker, both of you in valid status with unexpired I-94s
Category matches your status
- Category (a)(18) matches the status you hold
Right category for this application
- A category left over from another work permit is caught
Form integrity
- Required fields complete
- Field content validation
Compare your options
Three ways to file your L-2 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 (a)(18) from the instructions | YesFilled in for you | YesFilled in for you |
| L-2 and L-1 status check | NoYou compare both I-94s yourself | YesChecked against your answers | YesA person reads it |
| Error checking | NoNone. You find out from the rejection notice | YesEvery field validated before you pay | YesA person reads it |
| What it costs you upfront | YesNothing | Yes$99, and only after you see the packet | NoA retainer before anything starts |
| Renewal timing | NoYou track it yourself | YesWe tell you when to file to avoid a gap | PartlyIf you stay on their books |
Your complete L-2 EAD packet
The form, your status report, your document list, the payment 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
L-2 visa work permit questions, answered
What people ask before they start.
Yes, if you are the spouse of an L-1 worker, because L-2 visa work authorization comes with your status. Since the November 2021 Shergill settlement and USCIS policy update, L-2 spouses are employment authorized incident to status. Since January 30, 2022, the I-94 marks spouses as L-2S. An unexpired I-94 marked L-2S is acceptable proof for Form I-9. L-2 children are not covered by this rule.
An L-2 EAD is the Employment Authorization Document, a card that proves your L-2 employment authorization. An L-1 spouse can request it on Form I-765 under category (a)(18). It lets you work for any employer or for yourself, and it is easier to show an employer than an I-94. It is valid for up to 2 years and never past your I-94 date.
No. The EAD is optional for an L-2 spouse. USCIS lets you file Form I-765 anyway, with the fee, to get the card. Many spouses file because employers, banks, and state agencies recognize the card more readily than an I-94.
L-2S is the class of admission USCIS and CBP began putting on I-94s for L-1 spouses on January 30, 2022. It marks you as a spouse, which is what makes the I-94 itself proof of L-2S visa work authorization. Spouses should see L-2S. A plain L-2 on a current I-94 is usually a coding error. Ask CBP (entry record) or USCIS (I-539 approval) to correct it, or apply for an EAD.
It varies by service center and by year, and USCIS publishes current times on its case processing page. File as early as USCIS allows before your card expires, because a pending renewal no longer keeps an expired card valid for applications filed on or after October 30, 2025.
We ask about the things that decide an L-2 work permit: your relationship to the L-1 worker, your I-94 class, and whether both admission periods are current. Everything you tell us gets checked, and anything that needs attention shows up in your report before you file. If your answers point to a lapse in status, a denied extension, or an open immigration court case, we say so, and that is the point to talk to a lawyer.
Immiva's fee is $99, paid once, after you have seen the packet. It covers the finished form, your document list, and the filing instructions. The USCIS filing fee is separate and goes to the government.
No. Immiva is software. It turns the form into plain-English questions, fills the form from your answers, and checks those answers before you file. We do not give legal advice, and nothing here replaces a lawyer when your situation calls for one. The checks tell you when that is.
L-2 guides
Read this before you file
How the L-2 work permit compares with H-4 and J-2, and why renewals need an early start.
- L-2 EAD vs H-4 EAD: Why They're Completely Different in 2026Why an L-2 spouse can work without a card and an H-4 spouse cannot.Comparison
- J2 EAD vs L2 EAD: Key Differences ExplainedWho needs a card, who works on the I-94 alone, and how each one renews.Comparison
- Most Work Permits Now Wait 6+ Months: File Your EAD Renewal EarlyWhy backlogs make early renewal the safest plan.Renewal
Related forms
Other dependent work permits
Other visa categories have their own Form I-765 rules.