H-4 visa

{{Short description|U.S. visa for family members of other H-series visas}} {{Use American English|date = March 2019}} {{Use mdy dates|date = March 2019}} An '''H-4 visa''' is a United States visa issued to dependent family members of H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to allow them to travel to the United States to accompany or reunite with the principal visa holder.<ref>{{cite web|title=9 FAM 402.10-14(A)|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040210.html#M402_10_14_A|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> A dependent family member is a spouse or unmarried child under the age of 21.<ref>{{cite web|title=9 FAM 102.8-2(A)|url=https://fam.state.gov/fam/09FAM/09FAM010208.html#M102_8_2_A|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> If a dependent of an H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3 worker is already in the United States, they can apply for H-4 immigration status by filing Form I-539 for change of status with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).<ref>{{cite web|title=Application To Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status|url=http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=94d12c1a6855d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD|publisher=USCIS|access-date=9 August 2010|archive-date=October 9, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131009024659/http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=94d12c1a6855d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Family members may alternatively be admitted in other non-immigrant categories for which they qualify, such as the F-1 category for children or spouses who will be students or the H-1B category for a spouse whose employer has also obtained approval of an H-1B visa petition to employ the spouse. An H-4 visa holder is admitted to the U.S. for the duration of the primary (H-1B, H-1B1, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3) immigration status.<ref name="vasic">{{cite book|last=Vasic|first=Ivan|title=The Immigration Handbook: A Practical Guide to United States Visas, Permanent Residency and Citizenship|year=2008|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-4009-2|pages=93|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ijeL_uwtWKEC&pg=PA93}}</ref>

A noncitizen with H-4 immigration status normally is not permitted to engage in employment in the United States but there is one important exception to this rule. All H-4 noncitizens are permitted to study in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=9 FAM 402.10-14(C)|url=https://fam.state.gov/FAM/09FAM/09FAM040210.html#M402_10_14_C|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref>

== Application process ==

=== Applying from outside the United States === H-4 visa applicants outside the United States must complete Form DS-160 (Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application) and schedule an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.<ref name="immiva-h4">{{cite web |url=https://immiva.com/blog/h4-visa-explained-guide-for-h1b-spouses-and-dependents |title=H-4 Visa Explained: Guide for H-1B Spouses and Dependents |website=Immiva |date=2025-04-24 |access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> Required documents typically include: * A valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the intended period of stay * A photograph meeting U.S. Department of State specifications * A marriage certificate (for spouses) or birth certificate (for children) proving relationship to the principal visa holder * Evidence of the principal's H-1B status, such as pay stubs, employment verification letter, and federal tax returns<ref name="immiva-h4" />

=== Applying from within the United States === Dependents already in the United States may apply for H-4 status by filing Form I-539 (Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status) with USCIS.<ref name="uscis-i539">{{cite web |url=https://www.uscis.gov/i-539 |title=I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status |publisher=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |access-date=2026-01-05}}</ref> The I-539 is also used to extend H-4 status before expiration.

==Employment authorization== On February 24, 2015, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director León Rodríguez announced that, effective May 26, 2015, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would extend eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrants who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident (LPR) status. DHS amended the regulations to allow these H-4 dependent spouses to accept employment in the United States.<ref>{{cite web|title=DHS Extends Eligibility for Employment Authorization to Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses of H-1B Nonimmigrants Seeking Employment-Based Lawful Permanent Residence|date=February 24, 2015|url=http://www.uscis.gov/news/dhs-extends-eligibility-employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses-h-1b-nonimmigrants-seeking-employment-based-lawful-permanent-residence|publisher=USCIS|access-date=25 February 2015}}</ref> These H-4 dependent spouses are also eligible to receive social security numbers.<ref name="faq.ssa.gov">{{cite web |url=https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3782/If-I-am-not-a-U-S-citizen-can-I-get-a-Social-Security-number |title=If I am not a U.S. citizen, can I get a Social Security number? |website=faq.ssa.gov |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327035235/https://faq.ssa.gov/link/portal/34011/34019/Article/3782/If-I-am-not-a-U-S-citizen-can-I-get-a-Social-Security-number |archive-date=2015-03-27}}</ref>

An H-4 dependent spouse of an H-1B non-immigrant can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization to obtain an employment authorization document (EAD), if the H-1B non-immigrant: * 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 21st Century Act as amended by the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act (AC21).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses |title=Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses |publisher=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |access-date=February 28, 2016}}</ref>

The H-4 EAD rule was established by a 2015 USCIS final rule,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2015/02/25/2015-04042/employment-authorization-for-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses |title=Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses |publisher=Federal Register |date=February 25, 2015 |access-date=April 13, 2026}}</ref> and applies to spouses of H-1B workers who are beneficiaries of approved immigrant petitions or who have been granted extensions beyond the six-year limit under AC21.

Other H-4 visa holders are not eligible to get a Social Security Number and cannot be employed,<ref name="faq.ssa.gov"/> but they are eligible to hold a driver's license and open bank accounts. If an H-4 noncitizen is not eligible for employment authorization in the United States, they may nevertheless have tax liability in the United States, and in order to file a U.S. tax return, must obtain an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number).

On the Spring 2019 Regulatory Agenda, the Trump administration announced a proposed regulation to rescind the 2015 rule and to stop granting employment authorization to H-4 spouses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201904&RIN=1615-AC15|title=View Rule|website=www.reginfo.gov|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref> Some media outlets reported that the majority of people who would lose work authorization as a result of the proposal were highly skilled Indian women.<ref>{{Cite news|agency=PTI|date=2021-01-28|title=U.S. withdraws move to rescind work authorisation for H-1B spouses|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-withdraws-move-to-rescind-work-authorisation-for-h-1b-spouses/article33682619.ece|access-date=2021-01-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> USCIS data backs up the assertion that the vast majority of H-4 EAD beneficiaries are Indian women.<ref>{{cite web|title=Applicants for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) for H-4 Nonimmigrants by Gender and by Country of Birth FY 2015-2018 (Oct. 1, 2014-Dec. 25, 2017)|url=https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/H-4-EADs-by-Gender-Country-BAHA.pdf|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> The proposal to rescind the H-4 EAD program was withdrawn by the Biden administration in January 2021.<ref name="Wire 2021">{{cite web | last=Wire | first=AB | title=Breaking: Biden administration withdraws Trump's move to rescind H4 EAD regulation | website=The American Bazaar | date=2021-01-26 | url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2021/01/26/biden-withdraws-trumps-move-to-rescind-h4-ead-regulation-443990/ | access-date=2021-01-28}}</ref> However, the future of the H-4 EAD program continues to be threatened by ongoing litigation against DHS in U.S. federal court which alleges that the H-4 EAD program is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://redbus2us.com/h4-ead-latest-news-updates-rule-removal-timeline/|title=H-4 EAD Lawsuit History|website=RedBus2US|date=April 4, 2017}}</ref>

== Statistics ==

=== Number of visas issued by year ===

{| class="wikitable sortable" border="1" ! Fiscal Year{{efn|Fiscal year refers to the twelve-month period that ended on September 30 of the year indicated.<ref name=visa-approvals>{{cite web|url=https://travel.state.gov/content/dam/visas/Statistics/Non-Immigrant-Statistics/NIVDetailTables/FYs97-17_NIVDetailTable.xls |title=Non-immigrant visa statistics |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=March 2, 2019}}</ref>}} !! Total number of<br /> H-4 visas issued{{efn|Only counts includes H-4 visas obtained at the United States consulate or embassy abroad, and not changes of status to H-4 within the United States using Form I-539.}} |- | align=center | 1997 || align=right | 47,206 |- | align=center | 1998 || align=right | 54,595 |- | align=center | 1999 || align=right | 69,194 |- | align=center | 2000 || align=right | 79,518 |- | align=center | 2001 || align=right | 95,967 |- | align=center | 2002 || align=right | 79,725 |- | align=center | 2003 || align=right | 69,289 |- | align=center | 2004 || align=right | 83,128 |- | align=center | 2005 || align=right | 70,266 |- | align=center | 2006 || align=right | 74,326 |- | align=center | 2007 || align=right | 86,219 |- | align=center | 2008 || align=right | 71,019 |- | align=center | 2009 || align=right | 60,009 |- | align=center | 2010 || align=right | 66,176 |- | align=center | 2011 || align=right | 74,205 |- | align=center | 2012 || align=right | 80,015 |- | align=center | 2013 || align=right | 96,753 |- | align=center | 2014 || align=right | 109,147 |- | align=center | 2015 || align=right | 124,484 |- | align=center | 2016 || align=right | 131,051 |- | align=center | 2017 || align=right | 136,393 |} {{notelist}}

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Immigration to the United States Category:United States visas by type