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{{Short description|U.S. visa for family members of other H-series visas}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = March 2019}}
An '''H-4 visa''' is a United States [[Visa (document)|visa]] issued to dependent family members of [[H-1B visa|H-1B]], [[H-1B1 visa|H-1B1]], [[H-2A visa|H-2A]], [[H-2B visa|H-2B]], and [[H-3 visa|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}}</ref>
Family members may alternatively be admitted in other non-immigrant categories for which they qualify, such as the [[F-1 visa|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>
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==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
An H-4 dependent spouse of an H-1B
* 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>"[https://www.uscis.gov/working-united-states/temporary-workers/employment-authorization-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses]". ''U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services''. Retrieved February 28, 2016.</ref>
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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 can 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|others=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
== Statistics ==
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