H4 + H4 EAD (Combined Filing) - WAC (California Service Center) - APPROVED after 8+ months
Sharing my uncommon experience with H4 and EAD filing. I filed after my job layoff on H-1B in Oct 2025. I was actively interviewing and lawyers said I cannot start working until H4 is approved as well after EAD card came. Apart from the below inquiries, I chatted with agents every week to get some update after EAD approval.
Hopefully, no one else has to go through this!
• Oct 15, 2025 - H4 (I-539) + H4 EAD (I-765) filed together
• Apr 9, 2026 - H4 EAD approved, physical card received, H4 still pending as Case Received
• Apr 12, 2026 - Congressional inquiry filed through Congressman's office
• May 12, 2026 - Expedite request filed citing clear USCIS error (combined case tracked under standalone processing times). Agent mentioned H4 was being processed as standalone
• May 12, 2026 - Expedite forwarded to California Service Center (referral ID received)
• Jun 5, 2026 - Regular case inquiry (e-request) submitted
• Jun 12, 2026 - USCIS Ombudsman request filed
• Jun 19, 2026 - Second congressional inquiry filed through Senator's office
• Jun 24, 2026 - Received job offer, sent offer letter to both congressional offices citing severe financial loss
• Jun 24, 2026 - Called USCIS, re-escalated expedite to Tier 2 with new service request
• Jun 30, 2026 - H4 APPROVED finally!!!
Key takeaways:
- H4 EAD was approved ~3 months before H4 even though filed as combined application
- USCIS was tracking my combined filing under standalone H4 processing times (7.5 months instead of 6 months) as per agent - this was the basis for my USCIS error expedite argument
- Applicants who filed after me (Nov/Dec 2025) received approvals before mine
- Filed 6 total inquiries across congressional offices, expedite, e-request, and Ombudsman
- Approval came the same day I followed up with both congressional offices with job offer proof
- Don't give up - keep pressure from multiple directions