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Changes for L-2, E and H-4

Changes Affecting Employment Authorization for L-2, E, and H-4 Dependent SpousesTwo gold wedding ring bands with the title L-2, E & H-4 changes in the foreground. Lentini visas, phone number, and globe logo on the bottom of the photograph.

On November 12, 2021, USCIS announced that L-2 and E dependent spouses are no longer required to apply for an EAD to work in the United States. Instead, L-2 and E dependent spouses are authorized to work in the United States just by virtue of holding L-2 or E status but may continue applying for EADs, if desired.

The USCIS policy announcement also allows certain H-4 spouses to obtain automatic extensions of their EAD for up to 180 days. The automatic extension also applies to L-2 and E dependent spouses that choose to apply for an EAD as proof of work authorization. Note that the automatic EAD extension is available in very limited circumstances, and L-2, E, and H-4 dependent spouses should speak to their immigration attorney to explore their eligibility.

These changes are a significant departure from USCIS’s previous policy, which required L-2 and E dependent spouses to apply and wait for an EAD to be issued before they could begin working. In addition, L-2, E, and H-4 dependent spouses were not previously eligible for automatic EAD extensions. Given that government processing times for EADs can be a year or more, L-2, E, and

H-4 dependent spouses regularly experienced long periods of unemployment while they waited for their EADs to be approved.

USCIS’s policy change should help alleviate some of the work authorization issues experienced by these spouses.

USCIS policy change has been a welcome improvement, but it did not automatically create a system that provided L-2 and E dependent spouses with documentation needed to prove they can lawfully work in the United States.

USCIS announced on March 18, 2022 that it will begin mailing new notices beginning on April 1, 2022, with the new codes to E or L spouses age 21 or over who have an unexpired Form I-94 that was issued before January 20, 2022. An E or L spouse who is under the age of 21 should request a notice by emailing E-L-married-U21@uscis.dhs.gov.

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