A computer-implemented method and a computer program product for pending updates status queries in extended link services. A host application on a host device queries an update pending on a target device. The host device constructs a pending update query command for the target device, where the pending update query command includes a descriptor tag, a descriptor length, and a pending update vector. The host device sends the pending update query command to the target device. The host device receives from the target device a response to the pending update query command, where the response includes a link service request information descriptor and a pending update descriptor.