
Spouses of H-1B visa holders are not allowed to work with just an H-4 visa. There is, however, an option to obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) which allows them to work with an H-4 visa.
Can I work 2 jobs on a single H1B visa?
Under that Visa, you typically can only work for 1 employer. Outside employment is pretty much prohibited. If you file a second H1B application and your second employer pays for the filing fees, and goes through all of the paperwork to get that second H1B Visa, then you can indeed work for 2 separate employers.
Can H1B visa dependants work in the US?
You might know that H-1B visa recipients can travel to the U.S. to work a specific job as part of an employment contract. What you might not know is that their family dependents, namely spouses, are allowed to enter the United States with the visa recipient.
What are the new H1B rules?
- This rule is likely to be “stayed” by the Biden administration, Congress, or the courts
- The rule will increase required wages for H-1B, H-1B1, E-3 and Green Card applications filed through employment
- The increase in wages will not affect the H-1B lottery this year (March 2021) if the LCA process is completed before July 1, 2021
What is H 1B visa status?
What Is an H-1B Visa Status? An H-1B visa allows a foreign national to work temporarily in the United States. Once an immigrant attains an H-1B visa, they may hold the H-1B visa status for up to six years. This is then renewable every three years if approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Can a spouse of H-1B visa work in USA?
Spouses of H-1B visa holders can work or start a business in the US provided their spouse's H1B visa is valid. H-4 visa holders looking to take up paid employment must first apply for an employment authorization document (EAD) to allow them to work in the US.
Can wife work in US on dependent visa?
F-2 dependent (spouse) visa holders are not eligible for employment. An F-2 dependent who would desire to pursue any employment, paid or non-paid, in the U.S. would need to find an employer willing and able to sponsor them for an employment visa.
Can my wife work on H-4 visa?
You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request employment authorization as an H-4 dependent spouse. You must receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD/Form I-766) from USCIS before you may begin working.
Which visa spouse can work?
An H-4 visa is issued by the USCIS to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders. The H-4 visa is issued to those who have already the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the US. Over 90% of H-4 applicants are Indian women.
How can I go from H1B to green card?
Step by Step: From H-1B to Green Card HolderStep 1: Find a Qualified U.S. Employer.Step 2: Employer to Submit PERM Labor Certification.Step 3: File Form I-140.Step 4: Wait for Priority Date to Become Current.Step 5: File Form I-485 Adjustment of status.
How long is H1B visa valid?
Typically, the initial duration of an H-1B visa classification is three years, which may be extended for a maximum of six years. Before an employer can file a petition with USCIS, the employer must take steps to ensure that hiring the foreign worker will not harm U.S. workers.
Which is better H-1B or H4 EAD?
The bottom line is that when uninterrupted employment is critical for a position and career growth, H-1B employment may actually be a better (or at least, safer) option compared to H-4 EAD employment.
Can dependent work in USA on H-1B?
Can H1B visa dependents work? The H-4 visa allows H-1B spouses and dependant children to join the H-1B visa holder in the US. Certain H-4 visa holders are permitted to work while in the US during their visa period, provided they have secured employment authorization.
Can I take my parents to USA on H-1B?
Who is eligible for an H4 visa? The USCIS will allow immediate family members of H-visa holders, including the H1B visa, to obtain a H4 visa to lawfully come and stay in the US with their spouse or parent. Immediate family members include the spouse or any children under the age of 21 of the H-visa holder.
How long does it take to get H1B visa?
1 month to 6 monthsThe regular H1B visa processing time is from 1 month to 6 months. This also depends on the service center. The California and Nebraska Service Centers process H1B visas for an average of 2.5 to 4.5 months.
Which country is best for spouse visa?
The countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Finland, and New Zealand allow spouses and partners to work, whereas the countries such as Hong Kong and the USA allow only married spouses to work.
Is H-1B a good visa?
The H-1B visa has been the most popular long-term work visa in the United States for years, and with good reason. There is a whole host of benefits that give the H-1B an edge over the other work visa categories.
Can a dependent visa holder work in US?
Is my dependent(s) allowed to work in the United States? U.S. visa regulations do not allow F-2 dependents to work in the United States. J-2 dependents are allowed to work in the United States with proper authorization.
When can H-4 dependent work in USA?
You can track your H4 EAD with this tracker. As soon as you have been issued your I-765 and received your EAD, you can start working.
Can my foreign spouse work in the US?
If you are a U.S. citizen, once you file Form I-130, your spouse is eligible to apply for a nonimmigrant K-3 visa. This will entitle him or her to come to the United States to live and work while the visa petition is pending. To petition for this benefit, file Form I-129F, Petition for Alien Fiancé(e).
Who is eligible for Dependent visa USA?
An international student or scholar may be accompanied to the US by his or her dependent(s) at any time. Dependents are defined as spouses and/or unmarried minor children. Children over the age of 21 are not eligible to enter as the dependent of an international student or scholar.
How long does an H1B visa last?
H1B status lasts for an initial 3 years, with the option, where eligible, to extend to a total of 6 years. If your spouse is required to renew their H1B visa, you will also be required to renew your H-4 visa and EAD. While you are permitted to look for employment while your EAD application is being processed, you may not start work in ...
What form do I need to get a green card for H1B?
The H1B worker must be on track to attain a Green Card, that is they hold an approved Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker form I-140, or have been granted an extension to their H1B status under sections 106 (a) and (b) of the American Competitiveness in the 21st Century Act (AC21).
What form do I need to file an H1B petition for alien worker?
Where the H1B worker has been granted an approved Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker form I-140 , provide a copy of the approval notice form I-797 for the I-140.
Is USCIS processing premium?
There is no premium processing service available, although USCIS may offer an accelerated processing time under certain ‘extreme’ circumstances.
Is the H1B visa open to spouses?
At the time of writing, the current US administration is actively considering closure of the work authorization scheme for H1B dependants, however it remains open to current H1B visa holder spouses for the present time.
Can you convert H4 to H1B?
Conversion of H1B to H4 can happen anytime but the conversion of H4 to H1B (1st attempt) will happen only in Cap season/ lottery system.
Can a spouse sponsor a spouse on H1B?
Yes, if the spouse is qualified and have experience and exposure from Specialty occupation or has performed Executive level role, she could find Employers in the USA to sponsor spouses H1B visa application and if the same is approved then the spouse will also have a Legal H1B status.
Can a spouse of a H1B dependent apply for a H4 visa?
Yeah, indeed! Spouses of H1B visa dependents are eligible to apply for H1B visas and work. However, once their H1b application is accepted, their H4 visa is no longer valid (it is only valid as long as the spouse's H1B).
H1B Spouse Can Work in the US Again
Are you a H-4 Visa holder? Great news! President Biden has withdrawn the rule rescinding work permit for H-4 visa holders (H-1B spouses) the first week of his inauguration.
H1B Spouse Can Work in the US Again
H-4 is a visa type issued by USCIS to immediate family members of the H-1B visa holders (a popular work visa for aliens/foreigners). Most H-4 visa holders are Indian IT professionals.
How many H4 visa holders are women?
This rule presented an important step towards rectifying gender disparities in our immigration system, as around 95 per cent of H4 visa holders who have secured work authorisations are women.
Who extended the H4 visa?
Soon after his electoral victory, a group of 60 members of the US House of Representatives in a letter urged Biden, a Democrat, to "unilaterally extend" the expiration work authorisation documents for holders of H4 visas.
What countries are H4 visas issued to?
The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The H4 visa is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the US.
Can H4 dependent spouses work in the US?
In 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a rule allowing certain H4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders to legally seek employment in the US, the letter said.
Who is the biggest beneficiary of the Obama era rule that gave employment authorisation cards?
Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, mostly women, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obama-era rule that gave employment authorisation cards. Soon after coming to power, the Trump administration in 2017 announced that it would rescind that rule.
Who issues H-4 visas?
An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.
Has Biden withdrawn H4 visa?
US President Joe Biden has withdrawn a Trump-era rule for H4 visa holders. (File photo) A week after his inauguration, US President Joe Biden has withdrawn a Trump-era rule rescinding work authorisation for H4 visa holders, who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas, with majority being highly-skilled Indian women.
What is the purpose of submitting supporting evidence to USCIS?
Submitting sufficient supporting evidence will minimize the likelihood that USCIS will need to send you a request for more evidence.
Do I have to pay for I-765?
You do not have to pay the Form I-765 filing fee. Follow the Form I-485 filing instructions to avoid processing delays. If you file a Form I-765 together with a Form I-485 at the filing address for Form I-765 category (c) (26), USCIS will reject your Form I-485 and any corresponding fees.
Can H-4 dependent spouse file I-765?
Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if the H-1B nonimmigrant:

What Are The Required Documents?
- Just as with a formal visa application, there are certain requirements to prove that the H-4 visa holder is eligible to work under this new program. To apply the following are required: 1. Application for Employment Authorization 2. $380 Filing Fee 3. Proof of H-4 Visa Status 4. Proo…
What Is The Process For Approval and When Can I Start working?
- When all of the documents and application are submitted, the USCIS may take at least 90 days to process and issue the authorization. There is no premium processing service available for Form I-765 since it is not really a visa application, and is based an already valid H1B visa. So, H-4 spouses will have to wait the 90 days and cannot accelerate the time frame. Although the H-4 sp…
Why Is This An Important Change in Visa Rules?
- This is a significant rule change from last year since it potentially grants work status to a number of non-immigrants that is nearly equal to the annual H1B visa cap of 60,000. For some reason, the H1B visa program had previously excluded dependent spouses, while other visas such as the L-1 intercompany transfer allowed work authorization. Now, dependent spouses can work and pursu…