EAD Approved, No Card: H-4 Jobless for 9 Months

A marketing professional on an H-4 EAD delay has shared how a routine renewal stalled her career. You see her work permit approved nine months ago, yet the physical card never arrived. Without the card, employment remains impossible despite valid approval.

H-4 EAD Delay Leaves Careers Stuck

Her job search across marketing, advertising, and brand management started in February 2025. Interviews moved forward until recruiters asked about work authorisation. Once the H-4 EAD delay came up, discussions stopped, leaving you watching opportunities slip away.

Approved EAD But No Physical Card

This experience now affects many H-4 dependents, especially Indian spouses of H-1B holders. The approval reflects online, but card production stalls. You remain stuck in legal limbo, unable to work even after meeting every requirement.

H-4 EAD Delay After Rule Changes

The situation worsened after automatic EAD extensions end in late 2025. An approval notice alone no longer allows employment. Many see this H-4 EAD delay as a soft ban, exposing how fragile work access has become under current US immigration policies.