H Visa Overview
The H visa category for temporary non-immigrant visas includes several categories:
The H visa category for temporary non-immigrant visas includes several categories:
Hello Sir, I was in usa on j1 till recently and am in india going for h4 visa interview for the first time in June based on my spouse h1 (she has valid i797 and expired visa). She is now traveling to india next week due to family related issues and has to book visa dropbox slot and got one in October. Can I attend the interview in June while she is in india and waiting for her visa dropbox slot which is in October? Thank you very much.
I am not aware of any law that prohibits attending H-4 visa stamping before H-1 visa stamping. Your spouse has an H-1B approval. But the consulate can ask you to wait till the H-1B visa approval. Email the consulate to check how they would want you to approach this.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
I have an approved I-797 from my current employer. I am currently in India with a H1B Visa expired in 2018 (I travelled to US in Feb '17 and stayed till June '17) from my previous employer. While scheduling an appointment for a visa interview for me, my wife and my 2 year old toddler, it was shown that we are eligible for VISA interview waiver. My wife has an Expired H4 VISA in 2018, so she was also eligible for dropbox. My question is, will my toddler have any problem with getting a H4 since he doesn't have any VISA stamped in his passport, if we schedule the same dropbox date as neither me nor my wife has a valid VISA? should I book my appointment first and after I get my VISA should I book one for my wife and toddler ? Please advise as I do not want to risk a H4 rejection for my toddler
Check the website of the US consulate where you're going for the procedures. To the best of my remembrance, children under 14 are not required to be interviewed.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Hi Sir, I have the H1B Extension approved and its valid till 03/2025. However, the H4 extension is still pending for my wife and son. I heard, even though the H4 extension is pending and H1 Extension is approved, dependents can get the stamping by referring to H1 Extension approval. Could you please clarify and if this is fine; let me know the process. Note: For personal reasons; my Wife and Son need to travel to India in June and they are planning to come back in October (Current stamping is valid 22nd Oct 2022)
H-4 visa stamping does not require any H-4 approval from the USCIS. The H-4 visa is approved based upon the H-1B approval.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Discussion Topics, May 12, 2022
I transferred my H-1 to new company but my child still holds the old H4 which has validity till 2023 2023 March. Will he be able to use that H4 to get stamped while going to India now.
H-4 visa is not tied to your employer. Your change of employer does not affect a valid H-4 approval or visa.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
My current visa H-4 VISA is valid till Nov 25 2016.
- I had applied for an change of status/extension of stay (I539) for H-4 status to July 4 2018 (through underlying H-1 extension).
- I had to travel to India while it was pending. USCIS issued an I-797 - Approval for the extension of stay without abandoning it.
- At the port of entry, the I-94 expiry was marked as Dec 25 2016.
- The expiry date does not jive with the original VISA expiry date Nov 25, 2016 that was presented at the time of arrival. Nor does it reflect the I-539 extended date of July 4 2018 (that was not presented at port of entry).
Please advise -
a) What action would I required to correct I-94 expiry date? Who do I contact to correct it?
b) I am filing for a I-485 adjustment as a spouse of EB-3, The forms require to put the status expiry date. Is it OK to use the more conservative Nov 25 2016 date even though I-539 has been erroneously approved till July 4 2018?
FAQ Transcript:
This is a recurring issue, so first of all I want to address the problem and the possible solutions or the lack of solutions. Often times we have a case, we have a case working on right now actually. This lady entered the US on H-4 visa which was good for let’s say till 2017 but her passport was expiring in 2016 or 2015 She comes in and Customs and Border Protection gives her I-94 only till the date of her passport approval. And sometimes they do that; they will give it to the extent of visa approval, which is incorrect. Your visa could be expiring earlier than your approval. They should still give you the I-94 all the way to your approval not till your visa. In this case they gave it only till 2015 and she is been here over a year now in unlawful presence not realizing that she has been given less stay than 2017.
So, this is a very complicated issue or problematic issue. They will correct the mistakes they have made. If they have made a mistake giving you a wrong date or giving you the date till visa not the approval date, you can actually go back to the CBP at the airport or any of their offices or nearby posts. They have lists of them at www.cbp.gov website and you can ask your I-94 to be corrected.
But there are certain things they don't consider them as errors, such as approval till the passport expiration that cannot be corrected. Then the question is what do you do then?
You have two choices; either you can do the extension of status or current status by filing the form I- 539 or I-129, if you are H-1, L-1 holder. For H-1, L-1 they do it all over again as new case. For H-4 it’s less complicated or simple or you can step outside USA, showing your visa and comeback and receive your I-94 approval. But if your I-94 is already expired, you must speak with your lawyer before you leave. You could very well subject to the bar which comes from the unlawfully present.
So, in this case what happened is the person who has the above question traveled to India while change of status for H-1 to H-4 was pending.
Now USCIS should have declined change of status because they left US, came back received I-94 good till December 2016. The visa expiration date is November 2016, which is what I gave at the airport he says.
What action would I required to correct I-94 expiration date?
Look you can go back to the CBP, make your case that you have made an error, I don’t see the error. If anything they have given you is more time not less and because you traveled abroad while your change of status was pending , that approval is really not worth anything. That’s the mistaken approval.
I am filing for a I-485 adjustment as a spouse of EB3, The forms require to put the status expiry date. Is it OK to use the more conservative Nov 25 2016 date even though I-539 has been erroneously approved till July 4 2018?
I would use the date which they have given you in I - 94 and I would attach an explanation saying that this date maybe incorrect but you don't know. According to your calculation it should have been November 2016.
I always like to make full disclosure to the government, so that they don't come back and create a problem with the discrepancy.
Discussion Topics, Aug 18, 2022
FAQs: Change of employers after H-1B is approved and before October 1; the number of pay stubs required; revocation of H-1B before October 1 || I-140 was approved and then revoked in 2011. Can I keep my priority date and also apply for I-485? What is the deadline for filing I-485? || Impact of alternate wage survey for H-1B LCA; the success rates of H-1B extensions; AC21 rule when the company is bought by a successor-in-interest
Hi, My husband is in USA working under H1B (his visa got expired last year) and I am a Canadian citizen living in Canada. We are Married for 18 years and we have 1son born in USA. We both applied for visa together (h1b for my husband and H4 for me) in Canada. We got visa interview date too but my husband’s company recently filed green card process for him. So, I believe he cannot travel to Canada if green card is under process. Can I go for visa interview by myself even if he is the main applicant and cannot attend visa interview?
Canadian citizens do not need a visa. Presentation of the H-1B approval and proof of relationship at the port of entry with proof of maintenance of H-1B status should be sufficient to gain H-4 status. See this entry also: https://www.immigration.com/faq/h-4-canadian-citizen I am unable to understand the rest of the situation. You are welcome to post a message for our next community conference call. We have one almost every other Thursday.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Hi, My husband is in USA working under H1B (his visa got expired last year) and I am a Canadian citizen living in Canada. We are Married for 18 years and we have 1son born in USA. We both applied for visa together (h1b for my husband and H4 for me) in Canada. We got visa interview date too but my husband’s company recently filed green card process for him. So, I believe he cannot travel to Canada if green card is under process. Can I go for visa interview by myself even if he is the main applicant and cannot attend visa interview?
The same H-4 visa can be used even if H-1B changes employment. As long as the H-1B maintains status, H-1B revocation has no impact on the H-4 visa.
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Note: Unless the context shows otherwise, all answers here were provided by Rajiv and were compiled and reported by our editorial team from comments, blog and community calls on immigration.com. Where transcribed from audio/video, a verbatim transcript is provided. Therefore, it may not conform to the written grammatical or syntactical form.
Hello, I am on h4 visa with approved ead. My husband has a valid h1b and an approved I-140. The situation is my husband doesn't give my H4 documents like ead and approval notice which are required by my employer and university for establishing my valid presence in US. Is there any way I can ask any authoritative body here in US to help me in getting me access to my own documents? I know my husband will be the primary applicant on h4 visa given I am dependent on his h1b visa. But does that give my husband a legal right to withhold my own documents without my permission or approval? I have a 2year old kid and because of his inability to support us I have to study and get a job and his actions are preventing me from doing so.
I think you can try two things. First, ask the USCIS for a copy of all your immigration papers. Go here: https://www.uscis.gov/records/request-records-through-the-freedom-of-in… Second, speak with local lawyers where your husband resides. It may be possible to get the police involved to recover your immigration documents. Those should be considered your personal property.
FAQ: What happens to H-1B after Green Card approval? || OPT eligibility requirements, F-1 status for one academic year, and Change of Status or visa stamping from back to H-4 || PERM issues for a green card for remote jobs - headquarters || Can an H-1B visa holder rent via Airbnb? Is this a violation of status? || How long does it take from PERM to Green Card, and difference between NIW and PERM Labor Certification? || Applying for E-2 Visa with a pending family-based Green Card; who can be the main applicant for an E-2 visa? ||
My spouse is a dentist from India and converted to F-1 from H-4 on Sep 29, 2022. She pursued a few courses for MBA (non-stem) between March 2022 and Jun 2022. Now she is completing the remaining courses of her MBA on F-1 for the next 12 months.
My queries are-
1. Does she need to be on F-1 status for a min 365 days to be eligible for OPT?
2. If we ever need to change to H-4 status again (stamped till Aug 2024), can she travel to India and come back without F-1 stamping? or a COS application from F-1 to H-4 ( that may take 6 months) could be a better option for EAD application.
1. The 365 days requirement is not required. What you need is one academic year or two if there is a need to change to H-4.
2. If she has an H-4 stamping already there is no need to go to India. All she has to do is drive to Canada or Mexico and return showing her H-4 visa stamping.
Note: To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must:
Release Date
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing information for nonimmigrant workers whose employment has terminated, either voluntarily or involuntarily. These workers may have several options for remaining in the United States in a period of authorized stay based on existing rules and regulations.
I was on F1, and my spouse was on F2. My H1B was approved in 2020 for client A, but COS from F1 to H1B was denied, so I just continued my F1 status. Later, I moved to client B, and my employer filed an H1B Amendment and got the complete approval with I-94, effective 29th April 2022. After approval, we filed I539 for my spouse's COS from F2 to H4 (still pending) with a receipt date of 17th May 2022.
Question: Since there is a gap between my H1B start date (04/29) and my H4 receipt date (05/17), may the USCIS deny our case? If so, what are our best options to proceed further?
Technically Yes, this can be an issue.
Discussion Topics
FAQ: Effect of typos on immigration documents || Concerns about EB-1C Green Card Portability || Who is required to pay for an EB-1C Green Card? || Can too many parking tickets affect Green Card or Citizenship process? ||
FAQ: Entering the U.S. on a visitor visa while green card is pending |Qualifying for Visa Waiver Program (VWP) | Spouse visa through H-1, L-1, or O-1 | Any special visas for UK, EU, Singapore, Dubai or Australia || Qualifying for EB-1C green card by working abroad for a year | Expected processing times for EB-1C for an L-1A visa holder from India || Consequences of employer withdrawing I-485 Supplement J || Layoff while on an H-1B visa - what if I cannot find a job in 60 days?
Can you work on H-4 Visa?
Not without an employment authorization which comes only at a certain level of maturity of your spouse's green card.
If I were to file for F-1 but my H-4 was going to expire would I have to file for an H-4 extension?
No. So if within the life of your H-4 you apply for F-1 change of status and if the H-4 expires that's fine. By the way, H-4 allows you to go to school. As soon as you file for the F-1 you should be able to continue going to school. Also check with your DSO.
Discussion Topics, Thursday, February 02, 2023:
FAQ: Criteria for national interest waiver || NIW for physical therapists || Multiple companies applying for H-1B Cap registration - H-1B lottery || Can H-4 visa (no EAD) holders take an unpaid internship? || Can H-4 EAD start a Business in any State? Can a relative's company file H-1B? || H-4 visa dependent children change of status to F-1 before 21 || Filing H-4 and H-1 simultaneously || Status of F-1 once H-4 is approved || Most efficient way to get EAD F-1 or H-4?
I am on an H-1B visa and recently got laid off.
If I don't find a job within the 60 days grace period:
1. Can I go back to my home country and keep applying for jobs and then come back once I get one? If yes, would I have to go through the lottery again?
2. If not, what are my options?
3. What additional documents do I need to provide while applying for my new visa to explain the missing pay stubs?
4. What does the company that let me go send to the USCIS as documentation for termination of contract?
I am an LLM student on H4 (no EAD). My college offers paid and unpaid supervised externships (optional classes) for 2/3 credits as part of our course. Can I participate and work in an unpaid supervised externship on H4 without EAD?
Sure. I don't see any problem for you, the employer should watch out for themselves.
FAQs: Volunteering on a non-profit board committee while on H-1B or H-4 visa: Implications for visa stamping and green card process
Can a person on H-1B or H-4 visa be on the Board committee (Vice President) for the US based non-profit religious organization without pay (volunteer) ? Would it create any issue on visa stamping or GC process?
You can work if the company is non-profit. There is no issue as long as you do not get paid in any way. If it is a for-profit company you could have a problem unless they tailor make the program according to the principles of labor laws.