Visa-Faq.com

can h1b visa holder bring spouse

by Patricia Bashirian Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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One of the most common questions H-1B workers ask is "Can my family come to the United States with me?" Fortunately, the answer is in most cases yes. Under U.S. immigration law, an H-1B worker's spouse and children can accompany the worker to the U.S. by obtaining H-4 visas.

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.

Does H4 EAD need sponsorship?

With an EAD you do not need to have a Labor Condition Application (LCA), petition or sponsorship (Form I-129) from US government agencies. The EAD allows you to work in any sector of the economy in any type of legal job, so you are not only constrained to jobs which require extraordinary ability.

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 a H1B spouse work?

h1b spouse H-1B visa holders’ spouses will work or begin a business within the United States as long as their spouse’s H1B visa is valid. H-4 visa holders World Health Organization need to figure should 1st apply for an associate degree Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that permits them to work within the United States.

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Can I take my wife to USA on work visa?

Usually, when an individual applies for a work visa to the U.S., they can bring their spouse and dependent children along with them. Now, generally speaking, the spouse cannot work in the US during this time. The spouse can accompany the individual during the validity of the work visa.

Can H1B visa holder bring parents?

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 bring spouse to USA 2022?

Average time -- Five to 14.5 months (as of early 2022) for approval of the Form I-130, and additional time depending on individual circumstances. Summary of the Process -- The U.S. citizen starts the process by filing a Form I-130 with USCIS, either online or by mail.

How long does it take to get H-1B dependent visa?

This Visa depends on H-1B. If the H-1B approval is present, then ideally it should not take more than a week. However, it will take longer if the USCIS has to verify additional details. In this scenario, it may take around 1 month to 2.5 months.

Can I bring my parents to USA while working?

If you are a U.S. citizen and at least 21 years old, you are eligible to petition to bring your parents to live and work permanently in the United States. If you are a lawful permanent resident, you are not eligible to petition to bring your parents to live and work permanently in the United States.

How can I bring my parents to USA?

To apply for a visitor visa, your parents will need complete the Online Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form DS-160). It needs to be completed and submitted online and is available on the Department of State website: https://ceac.state.gov/genniv/.

How can I bring my parents to USA from India permanently?

In this guide you'll learn about the steps to getting an IR-5 visa as well as special requirements and common questions:IR-5 visa eligibility.Establish the parent-child relationship (Form I-130)Apply for the green card (Form I-485 or DS-260)Attend the green card interview and wait for approval.Special Requirements.More items...

Can I bring my parents on dependent visa?

With a dependent visa, the dependents of a lawful migrant to a country such as spouse, dependent children or parents can enter and stay in the country. Such dependents can apply for a visa to join the migrant in the country.

How to apply for H-4 visa?

The process to file for the H-4 visa is similar to applying for any type of H visa. Fill the form DS-160, pay the visa fee, and schedule an interview appointment.

How to check status of US visa application?

Check the status of your application on the U.S. embassy website using your application number. The Embassy also informs you when your visa is ready. After getting your visa stamped, you can book your tickets to the U.S.

Do you have to be present for a visa interview?

A: Yes, everyone needs to be present for the visa interview. A minor child must be accompanied by at least one parent.

How difficult is it to get a green card by marrying an American girl?

How difficult it actually is to get a green card by marrying an American girl depends on whether the immigration officer believes your marriage is genuine.

Can a company hire an employee overseas?

A company based in the U.S. will have a few options in front of them when deciding to hire an employee overseas. The first option is to set up a foreign entity in that specific cou(Continue reading)

Is it illegal to take money from H1B?

But they often resort to shady techniques such as taking money from you for your H1B application (which is actually illegal. H1B costs have to be borne by the employer and not by the employee). They also often ask the candidate to inflate their resume and show many years of fake experience so that they can place them on projects. Not my preferred way of getting work. But it works for some people. To each his own, I guess.

Can a spouse of an H1B get an EAD?

Let me assume that you are the spouse of H1B visa holder. Then your status of the visa is H4. Some H4 visaholders are entitled to work and can obtain EAD and then they can search for the job. H4 visa holders ( spouses of H1 visa who have got their I140 approved or I140 pending for more than one year) alone are entiled for this benefit now.

How old do you have to be to get an H1B visa?

that you are both at least 18 years of age, although this may vary in some US states; that you are not closely related, e.g. siblings, parents, children and some US states don’t allow first cousins to marry; and. that neither of you are currently married. As an H1B visa holder, your stay in the US is reliant on having H1B eligible employment.

Can a non-US citizen marry in the US?

As a non-US national, you are generally permitted to get married in the US provided you satisfy the legal requirements of the state in which you intend to marry. The requirements differ between states, but in general these may include:

Can a spouse leave the US with an H4 visa?

Should your H1B visa come to an end and you have to leave the US, the H4 visa will also come to an end and the related spouse must leave the US too. Should you become a US citizen or US lawful permanent resident following your H1B visa period, your spouse may then apply for a Green Card through family.

Can an H4 spouse work in the US?

H4 status relies on being a dependant of an H1B visa holder. An H4 status spouse may only work in the US once they have obtained an Employment Authorisation Document (EAD).

Can a spouse apply for a green card through family?

Should you or your spouse be granted a green card through employment, then the other spouse may apply for a green card through family. Once married, the non-US national spouse of an H1B holder may apply for an H4 dependant visa.

Can a K1 visa be used for a foreigner?

By comparison, the K1 visa is a nonimmigrant visa for foreign nationals who travel to the US to marry a US citizen. As an H1B holder cannot be a US citizen, the fiancé (e) visa is not suitable in this instance.

Can a non-US spouse apply for a green card?

A non-US spouse seeking to obtain a green card, and thus be a US lawful permanent resident, should apply through the ‘ Green Card through Family’ category. In this instance, eligibility is reliant on being the spouse of a US citizen or the spouse of a US permanent resident.

Can my husband work in the same place?

1. While your husband may be domiciled in one place , the chances for you to get a suitable job in the same place would be very difficult. So, you should be prepared to accept a position anywhere in US .

Can a spouse file for a dependent visa?

I assume that the spouse holds a dependent visa (H-4). An H-4 visa holder can apply for an Employment Authorization Document when the immigrant petition (form I-140) for the H-1B spouse has been approved. In other word, the spouse can file when the beneficiary of the petition is eligible to file for permanent residency (green card), regardless of when he can actually adjust his status based on his priority date.

Can a L and J visa dependent work in the USA?

L and J visa dependents are eligible to apply for EAD (work authorization) and SSN and so can work in the USA.

Can H4 visa dependents file for EAD?

H visa dependents (H4) are eligible to apply for EAD only if their I-140 is approved as they wait for their GC priority date to become current. Since the majority of countries have their GC priority dates as current, this work authorization is mostly used for citizens of India and China, since others can file I-140 and I-485 concurrently and apply for a different kind of EAD in adjustment of status.

Can a spouse on a H4 visa work?

But there is one way spouse on H4 visa is allowed to work . If the primary H1-B holder files for a green card application and their I-140 is approved, H4 spouse is eligible for a EAD which is far more superior to having just H1-B visa (irony in itself)

Is an H4 work permit good?

Note that not all H4s are eligible to work, only those spouses whose I140 is approved and few other clauses. That said, H4s work permit is good and bad depending on how important it is to you. It is certainly good for H4 who usually do MS and go through H1 to work can now avoid all this process and get EAD directly. It is also good for folks who are still waiting for their H1 approval who has H1 spouse can now need not wait. It is bad in the sense that competition for a given job opening increases especially for permanent residents.

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.

How Does My Family Obtain H-4 Visas From Overseas?

If your family is outside of the U.S., they can apply for their H-4 visas at the U.S. consulate in their home country. They apply for their visas after U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) approves the H-1B petition your employer filed on your behalf. Your family can obtain their H-4 visas at the same time you obtain your H-1B visa, or they can obtain their H-4 visas after you obtain your H-1B visa—they just cannot obtain their visas before you obtain yours.

What is the form for H-1B approval?

A copy of your (the H-1B worker's) H-1B Approval Notice (Form I-797).

How Does My Family Obtain H-4 Status From Within the U.S.?

In this situation, the family must file an I-539 application to change their status with USCIS. All family members can be included in one I-539 form. We are presuming they are in the U.S. legally and maintaining lawful status—undocumented persons including those who have, for example, overstayed a visa, cannot file for a change of status.

What happens if you work without permission on an H-4 visa?

If an H-4 visa holder begins working without permission, that person is violating the conditions of his or her status and may lose status and be subject to other serious penalties.

Can I file an I-539 at the same time as an I-129?

with F-2 visas. You find an employer who sponsors you for an H-1B visa by filing an H-1B petition (Form I-129) with USCIS. Your family can file their I-539 application either at the same time as your I-129 petition, or anytime afterward. Once USCIS approves the I-129, it will then approve the I-539 and change your family's status to H-4.

Can an H-4 dependent spouse work for an employer?

This type of work permit is unrestricted—the holder may work for any employer, or start a business.

Can H-4 Dependents Change Status in the U.S.?

H-4 visa holders are permitted to change their immigration status while in the United States. Many H-4 visa holders who wish to work in the U.S. find an employer to sponsor them for an H-1B visa. The employer simply files the I-129 petition and asks USCIS to change the person's status from H-4 to H-1B.

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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…
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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…
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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 purs…
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