The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officially began accepting H-4 visa holders’ applications for employment authorization as per the new rule allowing H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants to legally work in the US, effective May 26, 2015.

Despite the efforts made by Save Jobs USA to file a lawsuit against the DHS regarding the new EAD for H-4 rule, DHS recently announced that it had begun to receive the EAD applications. The lawsuit was filed by the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) on behalf of Save Jobs USA and claimed that the new rule allowing H-4 visa holders to work will increase job competition in the US. The outcome of the lawsuit is still unknown.

USCIS is expected to receive as many as 179,600 EAD applications from H-4 applicants within the first year of the new rule becoming effective and 55,000 each year thereafter.

H-4 applicants who have filed for EAD since May 26 should expect to receive their employment authorization cards within 90 days of approval of their applications.

Read more about the Lawsuit Filed Against DHS, or find more information about filing for EAD on our EAD for H4 Visa FAQs page.