H-4 visa
An H-4 visa is a United States
Family members may alternatively be admitted in other non-immigrant categories for which they qualify, such as the
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.[5]
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.[6] These H-4 dependent spouses are also eligible to receive social security numbers.[7]
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).[8]
Other H-4 visa holders are not eligible to get a
On the Spring 2019 Regulatory Agenda, the
Statistics
Number of visas issued by year
Fiscal Year[a] | Total number of H-4 visas issued[b] |
---|---|
1997 | 47,206 |
1998 | 54,595 |
1999 | 69,194 |
2000 | 79,518 |
2001 | 95,967 |
2002 | 79,725 |
2003 | 69,289 |
2004 | 83,128 |
2005 | 70,266 |
2006 | 74,326 |
2007 | 86,219 |
2008 | 71,019 |
2009 | 60,009 |
2010 | 66,176 |
2011 | 74,205 |
2012 | 80,015 |
2013 | 96,753 |
2014 | 109,147 |
2015 | 124,484 |
2016 | 131,051 |
2017 | 136,393 |
- ^ Fiscal year refers to the twelve-month period that ended on September 30 of the year indicated.[14]
- ^ 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.
See also
References
- ^ "9 FAM 402.10-14(A)". Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "9 FAM 102.8-2(A)". Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- USCIS. Archived from the originalon October 9, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2010.
- ISBN 978-0-7864-4009-2.
- ^ "9 FAM 402.10-14(C)". Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- USCIS. February 24, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2015.
- ^ a b "If I am not a U.S. citizen, can I get a Social Security number?". faq.ssa.gov. Archived from the original on March 27, 2015.
- ^ "Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses". U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Retrieved February 28, 2016.
- ^ "View Rule". www.reginfo.gov. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved January 29, 2021.
- ^ "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)" (PDF). Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ Wire, AB (January 26, 2021). "Breaking: Biden administration withdraws Trump's move to rescind H4 EAD regulation". The American Bazaar. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ "H-4 EAD Lawsuit History". RedBus2US. April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Non-immigrant visa statistics". United States Department of State. Retrieved March 2, 2019.