Question about filing H4 visa from US

[vs8293]

Hello everyone,

My husband has a H1-B valid till November 2019 and his company will be filing an extension for him next year. I am currently on H1-B visa and will need to switch to H4 visa and H4 EAD soon. I figured out that if I apply for H4 visa, my application will go to the vermont service center where it will take 12-15 months to get it. With his expiry in November 2019, by the time my H4 visa gets processed, it would have expired and so when my husband has his H1-B extension filed, I will need to file an H4 and H4 EAD as well. My question is if I file my h4 visa application now, can I just amend the existing application next year or will that need to be a brand new application?

[pontevecchio]

You are intending to change status to H4. You should leave and return with a H4 visa and then apply for the EAD, assuming your spouse has an approved I-140. Next time his extension could be filed in PP along with your H4 AND EAD so that the decision will be in a short period.