As we previously announced, US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) will start accepting applications for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), also commonly known as work cards, for spouses of certain H-1B visa holders on May 26, 2015. In preparation for the massive influx of applications, on May 20, USCIS announced some basic guidelines for these applications.

By way of background, spouses of H-1B visa holders are eligible for H-4 visas as dependents of the H-1B. H-4s are valid for only as long as the principal H-1B is valid and until now H-4 holders have not been allowed to work. As part of the executive actions announced in November last year, it was ordered that spouses of certain H-1B visa holders be granted work authorization. These spouses have to apply for work authorization using Form I-765 and once they receive their work card, they can begin working.