• Documents Required for H4 Visa
• Freequently Asked Questions

Spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an 'H' visa holder are eligible to get H-4 visas to live in US. These visas are usually issued at the local US consulate office of your home country. However, if you are already in US, you can can obtain H-4 visa by filing Form I-539 for change of status.

H-4 visa holders are not allowed to take up employment in US and not eligible to get a Social Security Number. But, you can get drivers license and open bank account(s) and also, you can get ITIN for IRS Tax purpose.

Qualifications:
The only known qualifications is, you must be either spouse or unmarried children under 21 of H-1A / H-1B / H-2A / H-2B / H-3 visa holder.

Requirements:
An H-4 visa applicant must be an immediate family member of an H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3 visa holder. Immediate family members include spouse and children under the age of 21.

Duration of Visa:
An H-4 visa holder is admitted to the U.S. for the duration of the supporting family member's H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3 visa.

1. I-797 form (your H 1B approval notice)
2. Letter of employment from the company you work for with salary
3. A Letter addressing Consulate in favor of your spouse visa
4. Copy of relevant pages of passport : Notarized (Make sure that you have the copy of the page with current valid visa.)
5. Copy of the Marriage certificate : Notarized, If marriage certificate is not in English get it translated to English and get it Notarized.
6. Bank statement [proof of money for supporting your spouse]
7. A couple of your paychecks would be a plus.
8. Original passport of spouse (Madras counsulate is asking for color copy of the passport)
9. Few marriage photographs and a marriage invitation card.
10. Few Company photographs (1 photo of the building from outside and others inside the building preferably office rooms and/or cubicles with computers etc.)

• I have an H-1B. How do I get H-4 visas for my spouse and children so that they can join me?
• My parent is completely dependent upon me. I am going to be working in the United States as an H-1B. Can I bring my parent as my dependent?
• Who is eligible for an H-4 dependent visa?
• I am in the United States on an H-4 dependent visa based on my spouse's H-1B visa. I would like to be able to work (and I know that I cannot work on an H-4 visa). If I get my own H-1B visa, can my spouse still include me in his/her green card petition and adjustment of status?
• My wife is currently on H4 multiple entry visa valid until next year. She is planning to take a job, which could need her to change to H1 visa status when accepting the employment.
  1. Can she go out of the country using h4 multiple entry visa and come back ?
  2. What will be her status if she quits the job say after 6 months?
  3. Will this change from H4 to H1 affect her immigration when I include her as my dependent during my I140 processing.
• I recently got married and got my wife here on an F-2 visa. My H-1 processing has recently been completed and I need to apply for my wife's H4. Her passport is still in her maiden name - should that be sent to DC to be updated or can I apply for her H4 anyway ?
• Does the H4 derivative visa holder change status when the principal H1-B I visa holder changes his or her status?
• When should an H4 visa be extended?
• I am currently on H4 visa and I would like to go to school full time. Do I need to change my visa to F1?
• I received my H-1B approval (I-797) for a change of status from H-4 to H-1B. How do I get my social security number? Do I need to get the H-1B Visa stamped for obtaining a Social security number?
• My wife was here in U.S. on H-4 status. She later applied for a job and got her status changed to H-1B. Now, her employer has laid her off. How long does she retain her H-1B status and when does she revert back to her H-4 status?
• I was on H4 visa staying in the USA and I have recently received my H1 B visa. Do I have to get it stamped somewhere?
• I am on H4, I have filed H1B. Can I start working right away as per the new law?
• I got my h1b approval, I am going for h1 stamping. I didn't get any papers from my employer for H4. How do I get the stamping for my spouse and kids?
• When I was in INDIA, I applied for H1-B. While my papers were being processed, I came to USA on H4. After landing in USA and being here for sometime on H4 , I received my H1-B papers. Can I use this H1 to start my work ?
• I am currently on H-4, can I convert my status to H-1B and start working?