r/H4_Visa

Hi everyone,

My H4 + H4 EAD (I-539 + I-765) applications were received by USCIS on 10/20/2025 and both got approved on 04/13/2026.

Receipt number starts with WAC269*******

However, it’s now been more than a month and I still haven’t received the physical H4 EAD card yet. My online status shows approved, but no tracking/update for card delivery.

Is anyone else experiencing similar delays recently for H4 EAD card production or mailing after approval?

I see some people get RFE + Appointment letter and some get Appointment letter only. What do people with Appointment only letter do?

I had my appointment this week and got it stamped. Never got the RFE letter. Am I required to respond to USCIS, if so how do I do that? The people at Consulate had no idea.

H1 extension along, H4, and H4 EAD were all filed together in premium processing. H1 got approved quickly, but H4 and EAD have been pending for 100+ days.

My spouse's H4 I-94 has now expired while the H4 and EAD extension remains pending. I'm now considering changing jobs and my new employer has already started the LCA process.

Should I:

1. file another H1 transfer bundled with new H4 + EAD applications, or

2. only transfer H1 and leave the current H4/EAD pending?

Can my spouse go out of status if I don't file another
H4 application and my current employer withdraws the old H1 after | leave?

Any other possibility and suggestions.

Hi r/H4_Visa. I'm Murty Gollakota, immigration attorney at Manifest Law with 18 years of experience, 3,000+ cases handled, and a 98% approval rate.

If your spouse was laid off today your H4 status and EAD are directly at risk. The clock starts fast and the options narrow quickly. H4 EAD processing is already sitting at 6 to 9 months with no premium processing available, which makes this even harder to navigate.

Ask me anything about what this means for your status, your EAD, and what your options are right now. I'll answer as many as I can.

(All information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney-client relationship. Your situation may require fact-specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.)

https://preview.redd.it/vhe901wxjc2h1.jpg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b6455dbcc2e812b8548cfed549c2821f02757950

Has anyone with Nov RD received any approvals for h4 ead standalone first time-Texas SCOPS

My RD is NOV 5 and there's been no update yet

Wanted to ask if anyone has ever been able to get an expedited processing request approved for H4-EAD?

I see there are two options, either through USCIS helpline/live agent or through congressman.

Has any one seen success with either for these? If yes, could you please share some pointers for what should be submitted?

Would really appreciate any support with this 🙏

#h4 #ead #h4-ead

Below are my timelines. Its been 35 days since h4 and h1b got approved but no updates on the ead. Does anyone have similar timelines and any idea what can be expected roughly?

H1b - IOE

- 04/10 - app recieved

- 04/14 - mailed receipt

- 04/16 - approved

H4 and h4 ead first time COS

H4 - SRC

- 04/10 - app recieved

- 4/14 - transferred to another office

- 4/22 - approved

H4 ead - SRC

- 04/10 - app recieved

- 04/14 - transferred to another office

No other update yet

USCIS live agent informed me that my biometrics appointment has been scheduled for two weeks from now. However, my online case status still shows as “Case Was Received.” My case was filed through my attorney, so I had a few questions:

1. Will the biometrics appointment notice be sent to me directly, or only to my attorney?
2. If I need to reschedule the appointment, is contacting a live agent the only option? I’m asking because I do not see any appointment details under the “View Appointments” section in my USCIS online account.
3. Once the appointment is scheduled, how long does it usually take for the notice to be delivered ?
4. Will the case status reflect biometrics requested or it will continue to stay the same?
5. Is this appointment visible on myuscis account?

Is anyone still waiting for H4 and H4 EAD approvals with a receipt date before September 30th?
My H4 and H4 EAD filed together . WAC series

Recently married and trying to figure out whether moving to the US is actually the right decision for me.

My husband is on H1B and has been working there for 3 years. Recently got his h1B approved so green card process will take 2-3 years. I work in tech in India and honestly the H4 situation makes me nervous because I may not be able to work immediately.

Part of me wants to move so we can finally live together properly, but another part of me is scared of losing career momentum and independence after spending years building it.

Would love to hear from people who went through something similar. Did moving on H4 work out for you?

WAC series, without H1B Premium

Find some possible approval cases in mycasehub.com

We are about to apply for AOS, I am the dependent. I have a EAD based on an approved I140, I am H4. My EAD expires late September. How long is EAD taking? I don't want to have a employment gap.

Thanks!

H4& H4EAD filed in October. My H4EAD was approved in 6 months. No updates on H4. Is anyone else in the same boat? Im unable to work without H4 approval. Ive also contacted local congressman and he’s submitted everything to USCIS but there’s been no updates.

Feb 2024 - As my spouse got I-94 till passport expiry date, Applied only H4 extension.

Jun 2024 - My spouse H4 got approved.

Jan 2025 - Filed H4-EAD renewal as my spouse H4-EAD expires on June 2025. (Standalone, filed separately from H4 extension)

H4-EAD renewal Current Status in May 2026: Still pending after 17+ months.

Actions Taken: Submitted case inquiries in Feb 2026 & April 2026, Dailed USCIS Customer Care, Live-chat. No updates/responses.

I would appreciate any experiences or suggestions from those who have faced similar "unbundled" filing delays. Thank you.

Hi everyone,

Has anyone here recently filed an H4 extension online with a receipt number starting with MCT? What was the next status update after “Case Was Received,” and how long did it take?

My situation:

- H1B extension was filed in premium processing, bundled with H4 extension and H4 EAD renewal
- H1B extension was approved around Dec 22
- The bundled paper H4 extension was rejected because some pages were missing in the paper application
- H4 and H4 EAD both expired on Dec 18
- H4 EAD renewal receipt date is Dec 16
- H4 extension was refiled online around Dec 28 with an NPT / nunc pro tunc request
- H4 online receipt number starts with MCT
- H4 EAD receipt number starts with EAC
- Current status for both H4 and H4 EAD still says “Case Was Received”

I am trying to understand timelines from others with similar H4 online filings, especially MCT H4 online filings and related EAC H4 EAD renewals.

Questions:

1. For MCT H4 online filings, how long did it take to move from “Case Was Received” to approval/RFE?
2. Did H4 and H4 EAD get approved together, or did H4 approve first and EAD later?
3. Anyone had a similar situation where the original bundled paper H4 was rejected and then refiled online with NPT?
4. Did USCIS issue an RFE, or approve directly?
5. For EAC H4 EAD cases tied to pending H4, did the EAD move only after H4 approval?

I am just trying to understand real-world timelines and similar experiences.

Thank you.

Hi everyone,

I’m currently working in the US on L2 work authorization and will likely move to H4 later this year because of my husband’s visa situation.

This year is my husband’s final H1B lottery attempt, and his I-140 is in process (hoping for approval by around Dec 2027 so I can eventually apply for H4 EAD).

One thing I’m struggling with is the idea of becoming financially dependent for a while if I move to H4 and can’t work.

For those who’ve gone through this, especially women who moved from L2/H1B to H4, how did you become okay with financial dependence, career pauses, and the shift in identity/routine? What helped mentally and practically?

Thank you!

Filed: March 27, 2026 (Nebraska Service Center)
H-1B approved: April 4 (premium processing)
RFE on H-4 EAD: Received April 10
RFE response: Submitted May 8 (biometrics/appointment)
H-4 (I-539) approved: May 11
H-4 EAD (I-765) approved: May 11
Total time: ~6.5 weeks

EAD expiring: July 2, 2026 — approved just in time!
Happy to answer questions on the RFE response process!

Filed H1B/H4/EAD extension in bundle with PP, and both H1B and H4 approved. But H4 EAD still stuck in "RFE received" for 5+ weeks.

Timeline here:
12/29/25 - H1B/H4/EAD received
01/06/26 - H1B RFE
03/11/26 - H1B RFE received
03/16/26 - H1B and H4 approved
03/17/26 - EAD RFE （photo only）
03/31/26 - ASC appointment, and sent RFE response
04/10/26 - RFE received

I saw some people got EAD approval within 2 weeks after photo taken. My EAD case had no further update since the last "RFE received". Anyone has similar cases here? Any suggestions?

Attorney Here (Not Yours),

I have recently seen an increasing number of individuals attempting to bundle their spouse’s H-4 visa and H-4 EAD applications together with the primary H-1B visa premium processing filing. In practice, this can create unnecessary complications and, in some cases, has resulted in significant delays, Requests for Evidence (RFEs), removal from premium processing, or even outright denials affecting the broader filing package.

From a risk-management perspective, it is often cleaner to process these applications separately rather than tying multiple adjudications together into a single workflow. Once dependent applications, employment authorization requests, and status extensions become intertwined, any issue with one component can slow or negatively impact the others. In more serious situations, prolonged delays or denials can create downstream status problems for the applicant or dependents, particularly when timing is already tight. Right now i have 4 clients that are stuck in this exact situation!

While every case is fact-specific and different attorneys may take different approaches, applicants should understand that “bundling everything together” is not always the safest or most efficient strategy simply because premium processing is involved.

If you have done this, then you should immediately try to 'withdraw' your H1B extension and make the corrections. I understand having dual incomes helps, but not at the cost of losing your ability to work under an H1B.

If this advise was helpful, I ask that you make a donation to the poor in India on my behalf. I typically charge for this information, and am volunteering my time to help.

Hello All,

can anyone comment on the timeline for H4 EAD after the biometrics are completed.

Also do we or attorney need to reply to USCIS after biometrics are complete? They only took my picture and mentioned finger prints are not required? My H4 was recently approved( H1+ H4+H4 EAD) PP.