U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today released a new Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization to be used by H-4 dependent spouses applying for work authorization under a new regulation.

The new form was made available today, one business day before USCIS will begin accepting applications under the new rule on May 26. The rule allows certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B employees to obtain employment authorization.

According to a USCIS announcement, while the agency will continue to accept earlier versions of Form I-765, H-4 applicants should use the new version of the form “to prevent delays or the need for USCIS to issue you a request for evidence.”

BAL Analysis: H-4 applicants who have prepared their applications using the old form may contact their BAL attorney if they wish to submit their applications using the new form.

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