A settlement agreement in Edakunni v. Mayorkas, effective for two years, is set to expire on January 25, 2025. Under the agreement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) said it would bundle the adjudication of the Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) and Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) with the underlying Form I-129 (Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker), where applicable, for H-4 and L-2 derivatives (e.g., dependent spouses) when these forms were properly filed together regardless of whether they were filed under standard or premium processing.
The agreement was seen as a way to help the spouses of H-1B and L-1 visa holders timely obtain work authorization.