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. The third part of the questions is about your spouse. Hi Sagar, Am into the same situation, i will be attending POE in chicago and then proceed to Detroit where my sister is staying. The U.S. Department of States U.S. embassies and consulates website contains information on visa application requirements and instructions on how make appointments for a visa interviews. You should be fully prepared to answer each question, or else you may lose the chance to get the visa. i wana know wat questions will be asked for an h4 holder at the port of entry .my frds r saying tat thy r asking too many questions in recent times due to bad economic conditions in USA. Best for VisitorsEconomical PlanCOVID19 includedCovers MedicalPre-Existing ConditionsFirst Health Network, Rated A ExcellentCOVID19 includedCovers MedicalCovers DentalTrip CancellationFull Refund on Cancel, Last Updated on January 28, 2023 by Mani Karthik. You must provide the following documents to apply for the H4 visa: After youve applied online and submitted your documents, you need to attend the visa interview. https://www.immihelp.com/h4-visa-stamping-documents/. H4 visa fees are the same as other H type visas. Make sure you carry all your documents and be prepared to answer questions. If they have doubts they can access USCIS system to confirm that petitions authenticity. Thanks for you value able advice. During the interview, the interviewers will try to determine whether your relationship with the H type visa holder is genuine. If you have changed your name after marriage, you should get it changed in your passport before applying for an H4 visa. This website uses cookies, some of which are essential for the functionality of the website while others are for improving user experience and personalization. H4 or L2 and EAD workers: If you are working on EAD while having an H4 or L2 visa, then you should have a recent 3 to 6 pay stubs and your employment letters. Can you share more details on what happened at Port of Entry ? Should I carry proof of my bank balance that I have enough resources to fly back if at all it is required? A lock ( A locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Have you travelled already or not? Below is the sample stamp that CBP officer places in your passport, if they let you into US and all the details that you need to check and verify. Can I stay beyond Sep 2017 (till Sep 2018) or I need to do some formalities once coming? In your case POE will be Brussels. Srinivas, 1. 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). If only minor children are applying for H-4 status, the eldest childs information is entered on the Form I-539 and each additional child completes a Form I-539A. Letter from employer that describes the relationship with the Principal Applicant and the purpose of travel. guys plzzzz do that mistake wat i did . Every interviewer is different, and there are no set of interview structures or questions. Why are you applying for a visa now when you have married over a year ago/some time ago? When you travel and arrive in US in flight or ship, you would go through Port of Entry Procedures , where a CBP officer would interview you and stamp your passport. Sai, As long as you have valid visa document and not part of the banned countries, you should be fine. While it would be a letdown, its not the end of the road. The Form I-94 number also is known as the Departure Number or . 2 months back I came back to USA. After you get H1B Visa stamping done and complete all thepre-departure tasks for H1B Visa in your home country, you need to plan for your port of entry process. For information about your privacy, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. This is my new employment, Im travelling to USA on my H1b for the first the time. Do you know why you were rejected before? Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, Information for Completing USCIS Forms. So nearest airport is Washington DC. Most H type visas are dual intent, which means that you can have a non-immigrant and immigrant status. Can you show me some of your wedding pictures? Consider this as another visa interview and be confident. We live in Dallas. H-4 visa application requirements differ by embassy/consulate, so family members need to check directly with the specific U.S. embassy/consulate on the requirements for the visa application if they have any questions. I have lost my I 797 while traveling to india. The H4 visa holder may work either part-time, full-time or not at all. You can open your own H4 visa bank account like any other immigrant or citizen of the US with any banking institution. I have a valid visa till 2019. I am facing the similar situation now, Can you please help me out what did you do in your case? 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. Hi, My husband had a similar situation last year. The FY 2018 cap has been set at 65,000 visas. I have a scanned original copy of my I 797. Were you engaged before getting married to your spouse? can any1 suggest , how to prepare for embassy to get stamp again, hi Rama sorry to hear about that..Can you please elaborate more please,because my end client is in Chicago, but due to port of entry issues that i have been hearing..i booked my flight to Dallas,from there will fly to Chicago,if i get through immigration..Please suggest on this, Hi Banu, What did you reach Chicago ? Not a legal advice. Do you have any family members living in the United States? Users of this website assume the risk that information may be outdated or inaccurate. Processing time 2-7 month. Stilt provides loans to international students and working professionals in the U.S. (F-1, OPT, H-1B, O-1, L-1, TN visa holders) at rates lower than any other lender. Can you provide a bank statement of your spouses bank account. Then what are documents required to apply for h4 dependent visa ? Thanks so much for listing the documents needed in conjunction with the H1B visa. You might have to wait for years until your Green Card is approved. You need a job and your company should have it, thats the bottom line.. Can I travel with Valid H1B Stamp VISA till DEC-2020 and copy of I 797 (not original) to USA. My H1b visa has been stamped on my passport by the consulate. Once I secure a project then theyll initiate my visa transfer. no need for photo album and such things. Mine is similar case. akm6270, November 21, 2014 in Travel. This means that you will still have to file taxes just as anyone with an SSN. But the amendment got rejected after giving RFE. Is there any issue while port of entry is different than the actual city of stay. Now you need to set up your repayment method. After you apply for H4 Visa interview at US Consulate in your country and it is approved, you would use that H4 Visa Stamp in Passport to travel to US. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed premium processing today for all H-1B visa petitions subject to the Fiscal Year year (FY) 2018 cap. Carry more recent and up to date documents. Did you stop over at Chicago? Who will financially support you in the US? STEM OPT card ( if applicable) that you may have used before H1B. The University of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. My visa expired in Aug mid. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer attaches Form I-94 to the nonimmigrant visitor's passport upon entry to the U.S. Gathering all of these completed documents will ensure that your H4 visa application process goes smoothly. Input your search keywords and press Enter. Following you may find the questions that are usually asked during an H4 Visa interview. Well, in general, it is recommended to carry the original. If you have been granted the H4 visa, you will need to go for the visa stamping procedures. Will I be eligible to travel to State B with the stamped visa once the amendment petition has been filed? I have H1B petition approve till Sep 2017 but visa issue (stamped in Passport) till Sep 2017. Before 2015, H4 visa work was prohibited. Use of this information is strictly at your own risk. If yes what kind of answers will be feasible.. If you put any of these documents in luggage check-in you may be in difficult situation not able to show these documents. Please suggest me what are the documents needs to carry. H1B Visa Approval notice from USCIS ( Form I-797A Notice of Action), Job offer letter given by the H1B sponsoring company, Employee agreement that you may have signed with your H1B Sponsoring company, Your original educational certificates from Bachelors degree, Masters Degree(if applicable), your high school certificates ( 10th, 12th grade), If you have studied in US like MS or any other degree, you need to carry below documents, OPT card related to your employment before H1B Visa. Check Sample H1B Approval Notice , read the text on it. Will there be any issue at POE??? Submit the required documentation and provide your best possible application. Marriage Cert, I-797 for H-1, your EVL. immihelp.com is private non-lawyer web site. Prior to applying for anH4 visa, each applicant and this includes children as well must fill out the form DS 160. Yes, it is possible to apply for cap exempt H1B petition even after your H1B visa expiration on passport. whether my h1b transfer case will come under current premium processing of the following rule. Obtaining an H4 visa in the U.S. opens up many doors. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. My Query is after july I cannot renew(or) extend my Visa? DS-160 nonimmigrant visa application confirmation page; Visa interview appointment confirmation page; Passport valid for at least six months beyond the H-1B employees authorization end date; Evidence of relationship to the H-1B employee: Evidence of H-1B employees status (copies of Form I-94, visa, approval notice, offer/support letter, Any other documents required by the specific. Generally, a H4 visa holder is advised to carry the following documents. My H1B Visa & I797 validity is 30 Sep. 2017. Send copies of entry documents to FSIS. It is not necessary to have it at the exact City or around where you work. Once it is all good, then the officer would stamp the passport and enter the admit until date and class as H1B on the passport stamp. CEAC Website, Errors Info. Moreover, you can study at one of the U.S.s many universities and even apply to transition to an H1B visa. After you apply for H4 Visa interview at US Consulate in your country and it is approved, you would use that H4 Visa Stamp in Passport to travel to US. The procedure is easy and you can open it by providing your passport and local ID card. Passport. The CBP officer would review the applicants file in system and ask them common questions like where they are going to work, city name, company name, salary, validity of approval notice and may ask to give the documents to verify. This page was generated at 10:36 PM. Make sure you show the new petition to the officer. The visitor must exit the U.S. on or before the departure date stamped on the Form I-94. The way in which the Form I-539/I-539A is filed will differ if dependents are filing it concurrently with or after an H-1B petition is filed. Copyright 1999-document.querySelector("#footer-year").innerHTML=new Date().getFullYear(); immihelp.com. Often requested but not always needed: a wedding album, wedding invitations, video of marriage proceedings, etc. Was your marriage registered? The spouse may begin working in the U.S. after receiving the EAD. Jayendran, If the passport is valid until the I-797 expiration date, then they take the I-797 expiry datebut, if passport expiry is earlier, they use the passport expiration date. How Can I Get a Driving License on an H4 Visa? I am planning to travel to India from April 2022-May 2022. Thanks, Ricky. When you schedule your interview, you will get a letter of confirmation, which you need to save for later. Copy of passport biodata page (if new/renewed). What should be the answer for this ? With so much riding on the H4 visa interview, knowing the interview questions beforehand can help you prepare for this very important step. Soon youll have your loan offer. Let me know can i travel to USA due to short visa validity issue ( 5 weeks) If I travel , is there any chance to deport at Port of entry due to short visa validity issue ( 5 weeks). This page was not helpful because the content: Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment, Identity Verification and the USCIS Immigrant Fee, Tips on Finding Your A-Number and DOS Case ID, Forms Processed at USCIS Lockbox Facilities, Additional Information on Filing a Reduced Fee Request, Department of State (DS) Forms and Other Non-USCIS Forms, CBPs I-94, Travel Records for U.S. My H1B new cap petition was approved in August 2021 for Client A with LCA based on State A. I am in a similar situation, can you tell me what happened to your case. Im planning to go to india in March to bring my wife and kid. Thanks in advance (& sorry for many questions), Correction: My petition approve till Sep 2018*. Required fields are marked *. The answer, in this case, is yes. Valid I797 of the primary visa holder. If you are employed, though, you will have to get a Social Security Number. check out the. Some people will particulate in a fake marriage to obtain a visa, so your interview should prove that you are your spouse are in fact married and have a close, loving relationship. The loan then gets disbursed into your U.S. bank account within a reasonable number of days (some lenders will be as quick as 2-3 business days). Is H4 port of entry should be same place here husband lives? Sai, Assuming you are talking about H1BWithout your employer, you cannot renew your visa. The duration of their study depends on the H-1B employees period of stay. How did you obtain all the documents required for the H4 Visa interview? 2. all other docs taken to H4 visa stamping interview. When can you Apply for H1B Visa Stamping after Petition Approval? Any challenges to transfer H1b Visa after visa expires. change status to an H-1B visa and then apply for the Green Card, the cost of health care in the US is very high. Amongst common H4 visa interview questions will also be those relating to your intent for going to the US. If this is your first visit, be sure to We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Copyright 1999-2023 immihelp.com. The petition was filed for NJ and Client A through employer E. I never been in US. WASHINGTON U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced an enhancement to the I-94 website today, which allows travelers to apply and pay for their I-94 online prior to arriving at a land port of entry. Air and sea travelers will be issued I-94s during the admission process at the port of entry. Also my employer in i797 is different from what is on visa. Respond truthfully and let them know that employer plan to files for extension soon after. Option 1: Extend I-94 by Crossing US Border by Land 3. What would be the questions asked at the time POE? once again thanks for this post. My employer provided the letter to me for the port of Entry. Is it fine if i land in SFO and after few days travel to Reston(work location). Optional documents to carry Proof of residence in USA of primary visa holder (ID copy or address proof). Can you please share your experience at POE with I-797 copy and not having the original I-797 document? Looking for U.S. government information and services? Do I need to have my POE in and around my work location or can I land at some other city as Im planning to visit family friends before heading to my work location? Jhansi, Dont worry too much about POE. See Option B: H-4 in-country application procedures. If there are any issues, they would take you for secondary inspection and ask more questions and verify more documents and hold you for sometime. 2. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) of the U.S. must present a Permanent Resident Card ("Green Card", Form I-551), a Reentry Permit (if gone for more than 1 year), or a Returning Resident Visa (if gone for 2 years or more) to reenter the United States.. United States (U.S.) LPRs do not need a passport to enter the U.S. as per 8 CFR 211.1(a), however, they may need a passport to enter another country. Now my question is Would be there any issue if port of entry is different location to the employer location? I am coming to USA on H1B with my wife first time and will be landing to LCA state and staying with friend who is also employee with my H1B Sponsor. This time being a re-entry on the same visa, will I need the original or photocopy of I797? Hi, thanks for your reply. How to find colleges in the USA for higher studies, Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Complete Guide, Can You Become a US Citizen with a Student Visa. , I-129 Petition Receipt Number, printed on approved Form I-129 petition and copy of Form I-797 approval. 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. H4 Visa Stamping Documents You will need the following documents for getting H-4 visa stamping: Mandatory Documents Current passport as well as old passports One photograph (Only for dropbox appointment) Confirmation page of online submitted Form DS-160 with CEAC bar code. Appreciate your help and will help me a lot. Brussels is capital city Belgium and Newark will be the first city where I land in USA, so it would be my POE. 2023 Murthy Law Firm. My wife is coming to US for the first time, can any one pls let me know what are the documents that we require at port of entry for H4? As there is only 9 months time , Is there any possibility of sending me back to India at Port of Entry interview as i am travelling late ? ? How long has your spouse been working for his/her current employer? You may not be asked to show these documents in transit airports, when you are have connecting flights, but it is good to have all the info. Hi, I am coming to US on H1B with my wife and kid for the first time. When entering US, they would issue I-94 on the basis of your 797, unless the passport is expiring earlier. Is the principal beneficiary of an approved Form I-140, Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker; or; Has been granted H-1B status under sections 106(a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-first Century Act of 2000 as amended by the 21st . Did you travel from the same company which got H1B stamped for you? My wife will be travelling on her own for first time to US on H4 visa. Not affiliated with any government agency. (my visa is valid till 2017) H-1 visa holders are not required to book return ticket. 21 Cheapest & Affordable Colleges in USA for International Students, How do I get a replacement Social Security Card for my child online, What Is The Visa For Parents To Visit Their Children In USA, Can You get US Citizenship after Student Visa. Did the officer ask you why would you want to travel with just 1 month left? In this article, we cover H1B visa documents checklist that you need to carry and what you need be prepared with. It looks like below and details of each of them. 1.Is there any time limit after VISA expiry to transfer to new company. Stronger applications get better loan offers. Many wives (and husbands) of H1 visa holders travel to the US, to stay with their spouses on this visa. Completed non-immigration H4 visa application Form DS-160 stamped at the Visa Application Center (VAC). Our original marriage certificate You will need the following documents for getting H-4 visa stamping: The consulate will not accept documents received directly from the company by mail or fax. Under the automatic revalidation provision of immigration law, certain temporary visitors holding expired nonimmigrant visas who seek to return to the U.S. may be admitted at a U.S. port-of-entry by CBP, if they meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to the following: Nonimmigrants who departed the United States for brief travel . I am really thankful to you. However , I want to land and stay in SFO to visit my close relative for 1 week. Who filed the visa application and where did you file it? These documents include: Most of these documents are required to prove that the marriage to the primary visa holder is valid. I stayed in USA only 11 months of time. If you have previously worked on H1B for the sponsor, (Optional) If you worked in past at a Client as third party placement previously on H1B Visa, (Optional) If you are going to work at Client on H1B visa, you can carry copy of Client letter, (Optional) Experience letters related to your previous work, if any. H4 visa holders canapply for a change of status. If asked about the delay, you can say that project was delayed etc. Passport. It should be fine. I also works in TCS. So, its a good idea to carry all such documents with you, just in case. Official websites use .gov There was no issue and he was able to enter . What are the documents needed for me to accompany them and is it a good option to travel at this time. Passport valid for at least six months beyond the H-1B authorization end date (if a passport will expire before the H-1B end date, that person will be granted a shorter period of stay); Copy of admission stamp with notations in passport; Copy of H-4 visa in passport (if any); and. For example, if you get a temporary, non-agricultural job, you can apply for a change of status to an H-2B visa. In this article, we cover H1B visa documents checklist that you need to carry and what you need be prepared with. However, although not mandatory, most US residents have health insurance anyway, simply becausethe cost of health care in the US is very high, and people with an average income cannot afford it if they have to pay out of pocket. What are any queries at POE for taking 11 months for travel. Below is complete list of documents to carry. Luckily, with an H4 visa, dependent family members can join the H1 visa holder during their stay in the US. How long have you and your spouse been married? 2) In case, if I travel and later on move forward for the visa transfer with them will I be needing the I-797 form from employer B? The interviewers will ask what you will do in the US and see whether you intend to engage in any illegal activities. Could you please suggest on this , As i am very much tensed on this, Want to talk to you urgently. A visa interview appointment letter and a copy of the Form G-1145 (online notification of the application acceptance) You should bring the form DS-160 - barcode printed for the interview. It should be fine. The questions can range around topics like below, We have compiled a list of questions that you can expect, check US Port of Entry Questions by CBP Officer. Disclosure: Content may contain sponsored links to partner programs and affiliates, which may earn us a commission from sales generated, at no additional cost. The interviewer will ask you questions about her/him in order to figure out if the spouse already in the US can maintain you financially, is they have a stable job, and if they intend to remain in the US for long. (Optional) Copy of your resume that was used in H1B visa filing, You will need the address information of where you will stay in America and what are the arrangements for the initial stay. 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, The applicants 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. 1 copy of admission stamp with notations in passport; 1 copy of Form DS-2019, I-20, or I-797A/I-797B (as applicable); 1 copy of passport biodata/expiration page(s); 1 copy of marriage certificate for spouse; 1 copy of birth certificate for each child; and, 1 copy of any other required documents listed on the, An approved Form I-140 Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (. Biometrics? Also, many H4 visa holders want to know whether they can apply for a Green Card. I would be entering the country on a new I-797. All Rights Reserved. Home Visas H Visa H4 Visa Stamping Documents.