The statute does not specifically apply this limit to certain types of I-539 applications, such as those for B-1/B-2 applicants. Q. Good news for families of foreign nationals working in the US! You can apply for your own green card through an employer by pursuing the EB-1, EB-2, or. H4 EAD Premium Processing And 2022 Visa Application Guide. However, you still have the potential to qualify if your spouse received an extension on their H-1B status under section 106(a) or (b) of AC21. Complete Guide to the H4 Visa in the U.S. Improving Access to Employment Authorization Documents, USCIS continues to make progress toward a temporary final rule currently named Temporary Increase of the Automatic Extension Period of Employment Authorization and Documentation for Certain Renewal Applicants.. If I dont have a Social Security Card but have an approved H4 EAD, can I start working with an ITIN? Despite this relief, H-4 EAD holders still cannot work past the expiration date of their I-94. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, An official website of the United States government, To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. Non-immigrants working in this country heavily rely on work authorization to exist in the United States, and many of them also rely on their spouses income. As an H-4 immigrant who receives an EAD, you are able to renew your authorization for as long as you maintain eligibility in accordance with 8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iv). [ 67] Hi, will there be a 60-day comment period post publication of the rule in the federal register? But its still good news for us. USCIS will also adhere to the congressional requirement that the expansion of premium processing must not cause an increase in processing times for regular immigration benefit requests. It does not state that it has to be filed by the current employer or even the same one who filed their Form I-129. If you have an H4 visa and want to start working immediately, you might be interested in how long it takes to get an EAD. The information contained on this website is for general information purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Regulatory . EB1-A (Alien of Extraordinary Ability) - WeGreened.Com you can request an extension from USCIS. All you need to do is complete Form I-765 and submit it to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) along with other documentation and the required fee. USCIS processing times for L2 EAD (Employment Authorization Document) . What Is Premium Processing for H4 EAD Through USCIS? USCIS premium processing will NOT be available for H4, EAD until FY 2025. Fragomen expressly disclaims any and all liability with regard to actions taken or not taken based upon the content of this website. H-1B visa approvals surge to 97% in fiscal 2021. N-400: Application for Naturalization; Useful Info. Why US Visa Status on CEAC says Refused for 221g ? Speak with your, The H-4 EAD timeline begins with the acquisition of the H-1B visa on behalf of your spouse. Similarly, the biometric appointment will also be a major hurdle in the H4/L2 extensions premium timeline. . Be aware that the USCIS cannot adjudicate your I-765 until they make a determination about the H-1B spouses eligibility for status. It may not seem like work in a traditional sense, but USCIS views self-employment or making money off of a hobby as employment. This will incur an H-4 EAD visa fee of $410. a week to ten days to receive your card. Its connected to your spouses or your parents visa. The premium processing fee for H4 visa extensions and change of status (COS) using form I-539 form is going to be $1,750. If USCIS can improve its internal organization and move through its backlogs, its likely that standard H-4 EADprocessing times may decrease. However, you should consult an immigration attorney before making any decisions to avoid falling into any legal situations that could jeopardize your status. After that, both you and your spouse will be considered out of status and your EAD will be invalid. 5. This act allows nonimmigrants under H-1B status to continue to work in the U.S. while they transition to lawful permanent resident status. Now, with this new rule, H-4 holders can apply for, In order to qualify for employment authorization documents, there are two main criteria. It may take few months at least. The premium processing fee for all I-765 applications will be under $1,750. Premium processing only applies to certain forms. Request a confidential consultation today. Basically, the outdated immigration system is forcing you to spend the money either by paying a premium fee or paying lawyers for filing court cases. USCIS Plans to implement H4 and H4 EAD premium processing by FY 2025. Because you can file H1 with PP + H4 with PP + H4 EAD, 6 months ahead of H1/H4/H4 EAD expiration date. Effective May 17, 2021, U.S. If you were to help others make investments or engage in Forex trading, you would technically be working. Once Biden administration takes office, they make take it up. If you have additional questions not included on this H-4 EAD FAQ page, please contact a VisaNation Law Group attorney to schedule a consultation. Thanks. While this is faster than any other visa processing related to immigration, let alone just H-1B, we need to look at why the USCIS takes a lot of time to process documents. More details here https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/viewEO12866Meeting?viewRule=true&rin=1615-AC73&meetingId=118573&acronym=1615-DHS/USCIS, Looks like they updated meeting details , not sure what will be the nest steps. However, the situation is different for the H-4. USCIS will consider requests to expedite the processing of certain documents if the circumstances are severe. Your relationship to the H-1B immigrant. USCIS has shared a new term called cycle time. I-140: The new fee is $2500 and the processing time is 15 . The EAD, or Employment Authorization Document, makes it legal for people who dont have permanent resident status or visas that authorize employment to work in the United States. Do the H4 EAD approval team see me as a guy who's going to jump the ship soon after . Kentucky based Devi Sree has been awaiting her dependent work permit (H-4EAD) for close to 10 months . The H4 EAD category C26 is not eligible for the 180 day automatic extension. For more help navigating your unique tax situation, seek the assistance of a tax attorney. You must release your work exclusively through a company outside of the United States. You can now just pay the money instead of begging for timely approval of your EAD. This may have been misleading to some H4 EAD holders who believed they were a part of that group. While this rule is very advantageous to the spouses of H-1B holders, it may not last forever. If your EAD card is lost, stolen, damaged, or destroyed, then you will need to get a replacement. The new card is valid from Jan 2023 till Jan 2025. Citizenship and Immigration Services will temporarily suspend the biometrics submission requirement for certain applicants filing. Even if you were authorized to work under a different visa, you will need to file for a new EAD for your H-4. It can be a tricky situation if you want to work outside the country without an EAD. If you have not requested premium processing service, you can call 800-375-5283 for general information about the program. 1 LINDEN PLACE SUITE #207 | GREAT NECK | NY | 11021 | UNITED STATES. The clever part is that the premium processing timeline will not start until all the prerequisite steps for approving an application are completed. Meaning it will start only after biometrics, fee, required documents are provided to USCIS and they believe the pre-requisites are met and application is complete. The H4 EAD premium processing is not yet available even though the bill was passed in Congress (2020). A, We need to wait. Hello @Anil_Gupta , Thanks for your prompt response. The regulation implements Congress's October 2020 legislation directing USCIS to expand premium processing service to a number of additional case types . Fortunately, this is not a one-time opportunity. The agency received 398,267 petitions for initial and continuing employment, or renewals, during the period. L. No. So does this also mean that if anyone has to extend H4+EAD the fees are expected to be total $1750+$1500 and the duration be 30+30 total days? According to data released by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the approval rate for H-1B visas in fiscal 2021 from October 2020 to September this year was 97.3%. The EB-1A and EB-2 allow beneficiaries to self-petition for their green cards, though you must have National Interest Waiver if you hope to self-petition for an EB-2. What is the processing time for H4? The H-4 visa requires you to submit a DS-160 form, which means that you will be responsible for a $190 fee. This shows how difficult it is to move the dinosaur named USCIS. Through this rulemaking, DHS will set those fees established by statute at 8 U.S.C. If your spouse has an approved I-140 filed with the USCIS (which they will need if you are to qualify for an EAD), then you can wait until your spouse obtains their green card so that they can sponsor you for an F2A green card. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and resource constraints resulting from the prior administration, USCIS inherited a significant number of pending cases and increased processing times. She will lose job in another 2 months. As Sep21 approaching soon is there any update on Premium processing for H4, (I-539) H4EAD(I-765). As of January 2017, the USCIS is providing a. to anyone who has filed a new I-765 for their EAD and is still eligible for employment authorization. Prior to March 2019, USCIS's policy was to generally adjudicate I-129 petitions (for H-1 or L-1) at the same time with concurrently-filed I-539 (for H-4 or L-2) and I-765 (for H-4 EAD and L-2 EAD) applications and this policy applied to both regular and premium processing filings. . You cannot start a job in the US until you have your EAD. As of now waiting for Perm, will file I140 in premium. It can have serious consequences for you and serious consequences for the person who employs you. If the record label or publishing house you work with is based outside of the United States, you can continue to create new music or write new books as a part of your professional deal. Processing times vary from center to center, but H-4 EAD usually takes a while to process. The premium processing clock, when someone. Lying or exaggerating the truth can lead to much more serious consequences than having your H-4 denied. However, there are stipulations to the rule that must be taken into consideration when applying. H4 & EAD premium processing starting May 31, 2022. Cohen Tucker Law takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of information contained on a linked site. Request a confidential consultation today. In this free e-book, we'll go over the top 10 filing tips every H-1B applicant and business need to know. National ID document with photo. A year is a very long time to wait for a household that needs additional income to pay the bills. The H-4 EAD timeline begins with the acquisition of the H-1B visa on behalf of your spouse. If you are from Mexico or Canada, you can apply for the TN visa, though the list of available occupations for this category is relatively short. Unfortunately, H4 and H4 EAD Premium Processing will not be part of the initial rollout in FY 2022. USCIS will increase capacity, improve technology, and expand staffing to achieve these new goals by the end of FY 2023. USCIS processes the petition, which can take several months. Can you please clarify about the latest news that being circulated on Twitter regarding h4 ead premium processing? 5. First, the principal H-1B worker has to have an approved I-140 OR have been approved for H-1B status under sections 106(a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act (AC21). It will be part of future phases of rollout of premium processing for forms I-539 and I-765. Automatic L2 EAD based on L1 status, H4 EAD automatic extension for 540 days or until H4 i94 is valid. To get the H4 and EAD approval quickly, do this: Steven Brown of the RN Law group has shared the good news on his Twitter account. Weve received many questions regarding qualifications, documentation required, processing procedures and the. has to have an approved I-140 OR have been approved for H-1B status under sections 106(a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act (AC21). The premium processing time for H4 visa using Form I-539 will be 30 Days. Copy of your marriage certificate. So if your case is still not adjusted by then, upgrade your H4 EAD application to premium processing and attach updated I . As the lawmakers note, the USCIS could charge up to $1,400 for each application, and this revenue could pay for the additional expense of having to expedite the processing of these cases. USCIS committed to improving processing times for petitions and key documents back in March 2022, which we reported on in detail here. To work in the US, you must first apply for an employment authorization document (EAD). H4 EAD holders were upset with unreasonable processing times and took USCIS to court. The only way to get employment authorization, in this case, is to already have H-4 status. H4 EAD processing time varies from 4-8 months in Vermont, Texas, Nebraska, and California service centers. The premium processing time for H4 visa using Form I-539 will be 30 Days USCIS H4 EAD Premium Processing The premium . | Legal services are subject to a separate attorney agreement between VisaNation Law Group PLLC (formerly SGM Law Group PLLC) and you. At present, there is no option for H4 EAD extension premium processing. Not sure which option is right for you? H4 visa holders can leave the country and return whenever they want to, as long as their H4 visa remains valid. The H4 EAD is a very important document for families who cannot meet all of their financial obligations on one persons income alone. The cost of goods and services is rapidly rising in America due to unchecked inflation. Visas. Hi Anil, I-129 Petition for Non-immigrant worker: within two months (for non-premium processing cases . After a long wait, finally, on March 30th, 2022, DHS. USCIS will also adhere to the congressional requirement that the expansion of premium processing must not cause an increase in processing times for regular immigration benefit requests.