How To Apply For H4 Visa For My Wife In Usa

When a parent or spouse obtains their US work visa, many families find themselves dreading the idea of having to live apart from the visa holder. Many H1 visa holders want to stay with their children or spouses, and often, these dependent family members (spouses and children under 21 years of age) rely on the H1 visa holder to financially support them.

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Luckily, with an H4 visa, dependent family members can join the H1 visa holder during their stay in the US. By applying for the H4 visa, these family members are granted temporary residence in the US during the time that the H1 visa-holding family member is working in the US.

Here, we put together this guide with all the information you need to know about the H4 visa and how you can apply for the visa. We have also included information on the current state of the H4 visa and some changes that may be made to the visa in the near future.

What is an H4 Visa?

An H4 visa gives spouses and children under 21 of H1B visa holders the ability to join the visa holder in the US. H4 visa holders can legally:

Work
Get a drivers license
Open bank accounts
Go to school
Be eligible for an ITIN (Tax ID)
Receive a social security number

Unlike most other visas, there is no cap on the number of H4 visas issued, and as of 2015, H4 visa holders can also legally work in the US.

There are also no restrictions on where an H4 visa holder can work, which means that approved applicants are not limited to a specific employer and can even consider self-employment. Many H4 visa holders have started their own businesses (with their own H4 loans), and have even hired their own employees as well.

Benefits of an H4 Visa

Obtaining an H4 visa in the U.S. opens up many doors. Once you arrive in the U.S., you can apply for a driver's license. You can also open a bank account and apply for loans. Moreover, you can study at one of the U.S.'s many universities and even apply to transition to an H1B visa.

H4 Visa Process: How to Apply for an H4 Visa

To apply for a visa, the applicant must begin the H4 visa process and fill out a DS-160 form online and then attend their visa interview.

You will also need to complete an H4 biometrics evaluation as part of the application process.

H4 Visa Process: H4 Visa Documents

There are several H4 visa documents the applicant must bring to either prove their marital status or their dependency on the primary visa holder (H1B family member). These documents include:

US visa interview appointment letter (emailed to you when applying for the interview)
A valid passport
Copy of the primary visa holder's passport
Photograph of the primary visa holder and applicant together
Passport-sized photograph of the applicant
Confirmation page of the online DS-160 form
Visa fees receipt from the relevant bank
A copy of the primary visa holder's form I-797
A letter from the primary visa holder's employer stating the nature of the relationship between the primary visa holder and employer
Pay stubs from the primary visa holder's current place of work
Original marriage certificate
Original birth certificates of children
Often requested but not always needed: a wedding album, wedding invitations, video of marriage proceedings, etc.

Most of these documents are required to prove that the marriage to the primary visa holder is valid. Therefore, any additional documents that will help prove the validity of the marriage would be very helpful in getting your H4 visa approved.

Prior to applying for an H4 visa, each applicant – and this includes children as well – must fill out the form DS 160. You are expected to complete and submit the form prior to your scheduled interview at the Consulate or Embassy.

What If Your H4 Visa Application Is Rejected?

It's possible your H4 visa application will be rejected. While it would be a letdown, it's not the end of the road. Check out our guide for what to do in case of an H4 visa rejection.

H4 Visa Interview Questions

With so much riding on the H4 visa interview, knowing the interview questions beforehand can help you prepare for this very important step.

Every interviewer is different, and there are no set of interview structures or questions. However, you can expect the questions to usually follow this pattern:

Questions about the visa

What type of visa are you applying for?
Why do you need an H4 visa?
Who filed the visa application and where did you file it?
How did you receive the documents?

Questions about yourself

What do you plan to do in the US?
Who do you plan on living in the US?
Who will financially support you in the US?
Where are you staying currently?

Questions about your marriage

How long have you been married?
When and how did you meet your spouse?
Is your marriage registered?
Did you have an arranged or love marriage?

Questions about your spouse

What is your spouse's birthday?
Who is your spouse's employer?
What kind of work does your spouse do?
Who is sponsoring in your spouse's H1?

H4 Visa EAD: Can You Work on an H4 Visa?

Beginning on May 26, 2015, select H4 visa holders became eligible to work in the U.S. To be able to work, an H4 visa holder must first apply for and be approved for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Additional requirements include:

The applicant's spouse must be in the U.S. on a valid H1B visa
The applicant must be either the beneficiary of an I-140 OR her spouse must have extended H1B status

Advantages of H4 Visa EAD

As a result of work authorization, the H4 visa holder reaps a host of new advantages and privileges:

The H4 visa holder may work either part-time, full-time or not at all.
The H4 visa holder may start a business of any kind
The H4 visa holder may continue eligibility got EAD even if employment is not sought

Complete Guide to Working on an H4 Visa in the U.S.
H4 Visa Extension for EAD
DS 160 for H4 Visa: What You Should Know About It

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Apply

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