My POE is NJ. You can face issues at Port of entry, if anything is missing. Users of this website assume the risk that information may be outdated or inaccurate. She have h1b visa. Ive nothing to hide I guess a lot of us are like this! One way ticket is fine. How to Check US Visa Status Online? The following is the list of documents required to prepare for H4 visa stamping. Option 1: Extend I-94 by Crossing US Border by Land 3. What university/college did your spouse graduate from? For more information, please see USCISs FAQ on work authorization for H-4 spouses. I am currently in INDIA and looking for H1b transfer. H-4 dependents may apply for entry at the same time as or after the H-1B employee, but they may not enter the U.S. before the H-1B employees initial entry. Did they call your employer and checked if employer is expecting you? immihelp.com is private non-lawyer web site. If you put any of these documents in luggage check-in you may be in difficult situation not able to show these documents. However, if you apply for a Green Card from an H4 visa, it might take too long for your priority dates to become current. H4 visa holders canapply for a change of status. In this article, well talk about what documents are required for a H4 visa holder at the port of entry (airport landing in USA). Input your search keywords and press Enter. If you are employed, though, you will have to get a Social Security Number. Letter from employer that describes the relationship with the Principal Applicant and the purpose of travel. However , I want to land and stay in SFO to visit my close relative for 1 week. The visitor must exit the U.S. on or before the departure date stamped on the Form I-94. When can you Apply for H1B Visa Stamping after Petition Approval? Most H type visas are dual intent, which means that you can have a non-immigrant and immigrant status. This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies. Do you have any proof of this? Is it fine if i land in SFO and after few days travel to Reston(work location). How long has your spouse been working in the US? Learn what others are saying about us on Google, Yelp, and Facebook or visit us at https://www.stilt.com. My Question is 1. Did Imissanything ? I didn't need to use AP as I applied for H1 overseas although I had a valid AP doc, never used it to enter US, after I applied for my H1, it had to go through Admin Processing at . Photocopy of the primary H visa holder visa. Saurabh, is it still ok to show copy of I797 at POE? The third part of the questions is about your spouse. Moreover, you can study at one of the U.S.s many universities and even apply to transition to an H1B visa. You should be prepared to answer at least these questions, if not other questions related to your marriage, your partner, and other personal topics related to visa status. All posts are moderated, so it will take time for your post to appear! The reason is, if you end up into any issues, you can reach out to them. The H-4 nonimmigrant alien continues to remain in valid nonimmigrant status as long as the principal alien remains in a valid nonimmigrant status. They may ask the following questions to every H4 visa applicant: The interviewer will ask you several questions about your marriage. What will you do after your visa is completed/expired? If you are within the US, you can submit yourH4 visa application through the USCIS. 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. study at one of the U.S.s many universities, guide for what to do in case of an H4 visa rejection, learn more about the H4 visa interview and interview questions in our complete guide. 2. Worst case, you will need to file a new LCA, get it approved and then file the H1B amendment and travel with a copy of the H1B amendment receipt notice along with the original H1B approval notice. Did you have an arranged or love marriage? Copy of the principal applicants work experience letters. You should be fully prepared to answer each question, or else you may lose the chance to get the visa. 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. there was a question on PoE but no problems at all. Marriage certificate. If you have any questions, send us an email at [emailprotected]. If your spouse is currently working in the U.S. on an H1-B visa, please submit the pay slips for the current calendar year and federal tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2s) for all the years in which he/she has been employed in the U.S. on the H-1B visa. The petition was filed for NJ and Client A through employer E. I never been in US. My flight is from Chennai -> Dubai -> Boston-> Philadelphia. The CBP Officer would verify the identity of the person, would ask the H1B holder to give biometrics and take a picture as well. If a copy of the passport is submitted, it should be a good copy, and the photo must be clearly identifiable. This isnt a necessity, but I know of instances where this question was asked, and just because there was no immediate answer, more questions were asked. Dependents who will be outside the U.S. when their current H-4 status expires do not need to file Form I-539/I-539A. Can i comeback without going to dropbox to change it to employer B. I am having an H1-b approved from employer A, valid until Sep 2021 along with the stamping. My H1b visa has been stamped on my passport by the consulate. no need for photo album and such things. It is best for dependents to apply at the U.S. embassy/consulate having jurisdiction over their place of residence, though they may apply at any U.S. embassies/consulates worldwide that permit third country nationals applications. Your answer will be very helpful. Every interviewer is different, and there are no set of interview structures or questions. 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. The interview might be quite stressful for many, despite that the questions are quite basic and simple. Receipt proving payment of $160 for a nonimmigrant US visa application. 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. 2.Now I stayed more than 10 months India After return from USA. My H1B visa is approved in Feb16. 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. Travelers can speed up their entry into the U.S. by providing their biographic and travel information, and paying the $6 fee for their I-94 application online up to seven days prior . 2 months back I came back to USA. So you need to show them the petition to make sure that the I-94 is issued based on this 797 and old petition. Certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants can file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, if the H-1B nonimmigrant:. Give correct information for each question without hesitating. H-4 eligibilityObtaining and extending H-4 statusEmployment permitted for certain H-4 dependentsStudy permitted for H-4 dependents. 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? A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. Fees $410. 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. They did not ask any documents other than my passport. Children 14 years of age or older must sign the Form I-539/I-539A. In this article, we cover H1B visa documents checklist that you need to carry and what you need be prepared with. Proof of residence in USA of primary visa holder (ID copy or address proof). Address and Contact information in USA 4. You will be asked the reason for being there. 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. All times are GMT-5. After the H-4 family members are admitted into the U.S., send FSIS the following documents for each dependent so we can update our records and check that each person was admitted properly at the port of entry: If family members are currently in the U.S. in a qualifying status, they can file Form I-539 and Form I-539A for each additional dependent (see the Form I-539 instructions) to apply for H-4 changes of status or extensions. Next, dependents apply for admission in H-4 status at a U.S. port of entry. Will that be sufficient at POE? This includes questions on how you met with your spouse and about your wedding. Canadian citizens do not need to apply for visas at U.S. embassies or consulates. Did you carry any other documents ? 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 . Pictures of your witnesses and whoever was conducting the ceremony. Original Form I-129 and one copy of the principal visa applicants. 1. Hi, I am coming to US on H1B with my wife and kid for the first time. I stayed in USA only 11 months of time. You can check your visa status on the website of the US Embassy where you are applying by entering your application number. Therefore, any additional documents that will help prove the validity of the marriage would be very helpful in getting your H4 visa approved. When you schedule your interview, you will get a letter of confirmation, which you need to save for later. My Employer is located at Virginia but Im getting down at Chicago as port of entry in USA to attend a personnel function and will be there for few days. Make sure you show the new petition to the officer. My wife &a kid are traveling for the first time to US and POE would be Boston. For example, if you get a temporary, non-agricultural job, you can apply for a change of status to an H-2B visa. 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. Please help me. Not affiliated with any government agency. How long have you and your spouse been married? How to Apply for H4 EAD? In the end its a copy thats submitted to USCIS and not the original. 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 ? Remember to answer each question truthfully and to show your attachment and dependency on your spouse. Generally, a H4 visa holder is advised to carry the following documents. If USCIS approves the Form I-765, the H-4 spouse will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Thanks a lot for the Information. But at port of entry you may have to go twice for the inspection. Thanks in Advance Eswar. I am first time traveler. i am also in same situation please let me know your experience. The University of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. It should be fine. Many H4 visa holders have started their own businesses (with their own H4 loans), and have even hired their own employees as well. Is this possible. If you are applying separately though, the time it takes to process the H4 visa will be up to the US Embassy and the workload that they have. They may file a Form I-539/I-539A to change status to H-4 after the employees H-4 petition is submitted, but before their current status expires. But now, my employer has filed for h1b cap exempt for minneapolis location and it too got approved yesterday till dec 2025. Dont worry too much. We have also included information on the current state of the H4 visa and some changes that may be made to the visa in the near future. Please correct if I am wrong. All rights reserved. My H1B new cap petition was approved in August 2021 for Client A with LCA based on State A. I am assuming you mean expiring in August MidIt is pretty fine, they will give you I-94 end date until your H1B approval date. 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. How did you obtain all the documents required for the H4 Visa interview? There are several H4 visa documents the applicant must bring to either prove their marital status or their dependency on the primary visa holder (H1B family member). My Query is after july I cannot renew(or) extend my Visa? Home Visas H Visa H4 Visa Stamping Documents. 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. Required fields are marked *. Attach the following documents for each dependent to the Form I-539/I-539A: FSIS will review the Form I-539/I-539A for any obvious errors and mail the application with the H-1B petition. What would be the port of entry to usa for me. Is there any issue while port of entry is different than the actual city of stay. I Filed for extension as soon as i reached here and now can stay for 240 or till the time i get an answer on my extension. Now my question is, can I travel with my original H1B at NJ and work remotely for my client in Chicago ? The consulate will not make this information available to anyone and will destroy the documents after review. If they determine that it is safe to let you enter the US, you may do so. There are also no restrictions on where an H4 visa holder can work, which means that approved applicants are not limited to a specific employer and can even consider self-employment. I am really thankful to you. Well, in general, it is recommended to carry the original. Thereafter, I transferred it to employer B but do not have the I-797 form with me, it is still with my employer B and I am stuck in India. Can my old employer revoke or cancel my current H1B Visa Stamp on my passport? US Port of entry Process - H1B Visa 2. or you just took little risk and landed in US for a different employer before H1B transfer? In his current role, he defines the overall business strategy, leads debt and capital fundraising efforts, leads product development, and leads other customer-related aspects for the company. Currently I am in INDIA. Do you have any family members living in the United States? H4 visa holder @Port of Entry documents- First time Over 1M Users on Trackitt LoginSignup Over 1M Trackitt Users Coronavirus (COVID-19): What You Need to Know Before You Travel Read More Toggle navigation Trackers USA Employment Based Trackers USA Family Based Trackers Canada Immigration Trackers UK Immigration Trackers Can you work in the US with an F1 Student Visa? Generally, a H4 visa holder is advised to carry the following documents. >>Do I need return ticket? However, you can expect the questions to usually follow this pattern: These are just a few of the questions your interviewer may ask. At times, you may have to. You will also need to complete an H4 biometrics evaluation as part of the application process. The processing times for the H4 visa are different from country to country. So nearest airport is Washington DC. The spouse needs to carefully review the Form I-765 instructions or consult with an immigration attorney before completing and submitting the form. Stilt is backed by Y Combinator and has raised a total of $275M in debt and equity funding to date. You would be asked a set of questions related to your employment, company or anything that is related to your H1B. However, after 2015, H4 visa holders are allowed to work based on conditions specified by the H4 EAD program. 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. Apply for H-4 admission at a U.S. port of entry. You must provide the following documents to apply for the H4 visa: Filled DS-160 application form. Option 5: Attorney to file Extension with USCIS to extend I-94 7. 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. >>Can I stay beyond Sep 2017 (till Sep 2018) or I need to do some formalities once coming? You can open your own H4 visa bank account like any other immigrant or citizen of the US with any banking institution. The denial of entry happens in very rare cases, where there is fraud or misrepresentation of documents or anything as such. Sai, Assuming you are talking about H1BWithout your employer, you cannot renew your visa. In my couple of recent experience, they just asked for passport and took the receipt number from the visa stamp. An official website of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, An official website of the United States government, To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. H-4 dependents may study in the U.S. on either a full or part time basis. They do not need to go for renewal or new visa stamping. If this is your first visit, be sure to Can you please share your experience at POE with I-797 copy and not having the original I-797 document? So, I started seeking out other opportunities. guys plzzzz do that mistake wat i did . Will there be any issues at POE ? The applicant should bring all documents to the interview. Technically, the original copy is advised to be held by USCIS on the approval notice. A: An H-4 nonimmigrant alien's authorized stay in the United States is contingent on the continued validity of the H-1B principal alien's status. Your passport and visa (and I-94, see below) should, on theory, be sufficient. What would be the best answer that I can give to the officer at POE? You cannot enter US without As or Bs approval notice and job tied to it. Below is complete list of documents to carry. US CBP officer may ask to review all the documents as needed. How is port of Entry in DFW. You can check out other Visa Category Stamps by CBP Officer at Port of Entry to understand how they look. 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). What do you plan on doing in the United States? My employer on visa and i797 is same. Unmarried children under 21 years of age and spouses of H-1B employees are eligible for H-4 status. Hi I came to India In Sep 2016 due to my family emergency and delayed my travel working in offshore and planned to travel in Apr21st .Is there any problem in port of entry will they ask this timeline.My Visa is valid till July 2017.My employer told me he will file extension once reached to USA. If yes, Could you Please tell what was your answer? These officers have the discretion to admit family members in H-4 status and may refer them to a more detailed secondary inspection. Read US Port of Entry Procedures, Common FAQs to understand the general process at port of entry and what to expect. 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. These are little things that arent absolutely necessary to know, but helps if you do. If your spouse or parent applies for an extension, then you are also eligible to apply for an extension of the H4 visa. 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. UH makes no warranties or representations, express or implied, about the content of this website, which includes links to external sites. Your H1 petition approval and the H4 visa on her passport. Also note that the employer on the visa and the I-797 are different. Who paid for your wedding, and how much did it cost? The entire Form I-539/I-539A application packet and filing fee must be submitted by the UH department to FSIS with the H-1B request. I have H1B petition approve till Sep 2017 but visa issue (stamped in Passport) till Sep 2017. In which month and year did your spouse get approval for the H-1 Visa? And what are the questions they askedd you in POE? Option 3: Extend I-94 by Visiting Nearest SENTRI Enrollment Centre 5. 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. This will really help. . My employer provided the letter to me for the port of Entry. Booking receipts of your honeymoon or other post-marriage trips. Any challenges to transfer H1b Visa after visa expires. When you are traveling to US for the first time and not sure, what and where to buy, you can take Short Term Travel Insurance from places like Visitors Coverage Health Insurance, where you can search and opt for the short term travel insurance. Is H4 port of entry should be same place here husband lives? H1B Port of Entry Documents Checklist, Process, US Port of Entry questions by CBP Officer, Short Term Travel Insurance for Travel to US on H1B. Also, it is a good idea to memorize the address at which the primary visa holder stays and works (residential and employers address). 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 general process is same, except that for H1B visa holders, they may ask and review H1B visa related documentation. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry will review all documents an ask the person about the purpose of the visit. That is why you should prepare the answers in advance. Do you know why you were rejected before? Documents Required for I-94 Extension. Some lenders send a promissory note with your loan offer. My wife will be travelling on her own for first time to US on H4 visa. . For advice on family- or self-sponsorship options, individuals should contact an external immigration attorney. There after working in offshore till the date. 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. It is not necessary to have it at the exact City or around where you work. 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. But, it is not a mandatory that you need to have the original. Did you stop over at Chicago? (my visa is valid till 2017) H-1 visa holders are not required to book return ticket. Can I stay beyond Sep 2017 (till Sep 2018) or I need to do some formalities once coming? I would be entering the country on a new I-797. Marriage Cert, I-797 for H-1, your EVL. A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer attaches Form I-94 to the nonimmigrant visitor's passport upon entry to the U.S. Blogitivity Media FZ LLC, Ajman Media City UAE. That way, if the officer at the POE asks, you can say that the amendment is already filed. What form are you referring to? petition for an employee and their dependent family members (, petition for an employee, dependents who will be in the, Employment permitted for certain H-4 dependents, waiting periods for visa interview appointments, equal opportunity/affirmative action institution.