Can a Canadian citizen get H-4 stamping at the border? What is the procedure and what documents are required for the process? What are the risks involved to get H-4 at border, opposed to filing for adjustment of status?
Canadian citizens can apply for H-4 at the border.
Thanks a lot to Law Offices Of Rajiv S Khanna for doing an excellent job to get my H1 and my wife's H4 renewed. My case was a little complicated and my employer has very little knowledge about the whole process, but Rena and Anna did an outstanding job in preparing the job description letter and coordinating with my employer. They are both extremely polite and patient and are very prompt in responding to emails/phone calls.
Thanks a lot to both Rena and Anna for all their help and special thanks to Rajiv for his expert advice.
I am glad i Chose "Law Offices Of Rajiv S Khanna"!
4 June 2014 UPDATE: H-4 EAD will NOT be restricted to STEM.
As a H-4 visa holder in the USA (my husband is on H-1B), and an Indian citizen, I plan on applying for Canadian PR via the federal skilled worker program, to eventually start working there. The question I have is if my PR does come through within a year, will my H-4 visa in the USA get affected or be void immediately? Provided I don't get a job in Canada by then, how long will my H-4 be valid after I get my PR in Canada? Can I choose to live in either country in that case?
Also, while applying for the PR, they asked for sufficient funds. Since I am a H-4 dependent, can I show my husband's funds and income as a source? Because I am not earning here, I will have to have his money transferred. Will that be a problem?
Your H-4 visa does not get affected by PR in Canada, and whether or not you stay in the USA or Canada. The visa stays valid through the date of its stamping, as long as your husband is maintaining status. US immigration laws also should not create any issues with a funds transfer, but check Canadian laws and US Tax Laws.
I will begin with a sincere thanks for all the information I have got from these forums over the last few months and the amount of confidence I have gained through it.
Now, its my turn give back something by sharing my experience and hope this helps in giving some information to the others like me.
My visa was scheduled for 08:15 AM I reached the car parking in the nearby Malcha Marg parking by 7:45 AM. It is few minutes walk from there. I reached embassy by 7:55 or so. I was with my wife who would get an H4.
We filed a case on behalf of our client against USCIS where the H-4 dependents' application for a change status was denied by USCIS because the application was not filed in a timely manner. The dependents were Citizens of Canada who wanted to transfer from TN status to H-4 status. Due to circumstances beyond their control they were found by USCIS to have lost their lawful status in the U.S. We filed a Motion for Reconsideration with USCIS. USCIS approved the application and the applicants were granted H-4 status retroactively.
We filed a case with USCIS where the H-4 dependents of the H-1 visa holder were out of status since 2000. They believed that they were in legal status as long as the H-1 visa holder maintained status in the US. We filed a request for an extension of their H-4 status accompanied by a brief in support of the application. USCIS granted the extension of stay and issued approval notices with the I-94's attached.
We filed a case against the USCIS where the H-1B visa holder attempted to maintain legal status for both him and his H-4 dependents. The attorney at the time filed the application for the H-1 extension, but neglected to submit applications for the extension of the H-4 dependents status. We submitted a request to USCIS for the extensions of the H-4 dependents' status with a detailed legal brief. USCIS granted the request for extension and the I-94's were attached to the approval notices.
Our firm has been successful in numerous H-4 (and H-4 nunc pro tunc) out of status cases (involving unlawful presence leading to a three-year to ten-year bar). Of particular note, one gentleman assumed if his H-1 was renewed, his dependant's H-4s were automatically renewed. Upon learning of the need to file for H-4 renewals, this gentleman consulted various attorneys and even took his case to Court. He was unsuccessful in bringing his dependants back into H-4 status.
Hello Sir,
I am H4 visa holder and want to blog for hobby. If I get any money from blogging due to advertisements or page hits, I want to take all of that money and donate it to charitable organization. I want to know is this legal while in H4 status and if so I want to know the correct procedure to do what I have mentioned, so that I am still following the rules for the H4 visa.
See clip from video recording by Rajiv for the answer to this question regarding volunteer work on H-4 visa status.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&list=UUm4s1qwOS…
Here is a question from clients.immigration.com, our clients-only extranet.:
Some questions from the community:
No. An I-539 is used if you want to change status within USA.
When do you think the H-4 regulations giving EAD will become in operation? Will they be changed or will they remain the same?
Timing is impossible to predict. It could be as early as September or so, or as late as the government wants it to be. Also, government CAN and often does change or modify regulations after comments from the public are reviewed.
For updates, see my blog page on Obama's Immigration Action.
Takeaway points for legal immigration from President Obama’s executive action:
1. USCIS is “about to” publish the final rule on H-4 work authorization. That will make it possible for certain spouses of H-1 holders to get work authorization.
2. Improving employment-based green card backlogs by:
a. Making visa issuance more efficient so no immigrant visas are wasted;
b. Providing for better AC21 rules and other ways to keep immigrant visas intact after a change of jobs. USCIS will clarify what constitutes “same or similar” job so that AC21 will not stop workers from getting promotions or even changing to related jobs within their field. USCIS must clear the path to career progression for green card applicants.
3. Expandingfurther the OPT time for STEM students, but creating tighter control on which universities/schools/degrees are eligible and ensure local workers are protected (Implement some sort of a “mini PERM?”).
4. Creating opportunities for foreign “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” Unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the following parole program will help:
a. Creating a parole (which is usually a temporary, but very quick measure and could eventually lead to a green card) program so that on a case-by-case bases, “inventors, researchers and founders of start-up” companies can be brought quickly into the USA where:
i.They have raised financing in the USA; OR
ii.Otherwise hold the promise of innovation and job creation through development of new technologies OR cutting edge research
5. Creating guidelines for exceptionally qualified or advanced degreed individuals to come to the USA through an existing program called “National Interest Waiver.” As noted, unfortunately for India, this is an EB-2 category program requiring several years of wait. But the parole option above could be helpful.
6. Providing clear guidance on L-1B program as to who can qualify.
We have applied all my H1, H4 and Green Cards through Rajiv's Law Office.
We have received our Green Cards last week. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr.Rajiv Khanna and his excellent team.
When my company asked me for the best immigration lawyers several years ago, I have told them that Mr. Rajiv is the best one. They have valued my advise and went with Rajiv's office for my immigration matters. Since then, I have received excellent quality service from Rajiv's team.
The availability of Rajiv's team has been superb through out my immigration process especially, Prerna Mehta, Mathew Chacko and Reecha Nareng.
My special thanks to Prerna Mehta and Mathew Chacko for their excellent help, support and advise in my GC process.
I never thought of the fees I paid for Mr.Rajiv's Office valuable services. But the attorney fees are reasonable for the valuable service they provide compared to any other noted firms.
In short Rajiv and his staff made the whole process very easy, simple and painless. We are really glad that we chose this Law firm. We are greatly pleased with Rajiv and his staff as far as their professionalism, courtesy and promptness regarding my GC.
Looking forward to recommend your law firm to my friends.