Often asked: How To Renew H4 Visa?

If you need additional time, you can apply for an H4 Visa extension by filing out and submitting Form I-539 before your visa expires. To be eligible for an H4 visa renewal, you must resubmit evidence of your relationship with the primary H visa holder.

How long does it take to renew H4 visa?

It can take anywhere from 60 to 90 days for processing of the EAD applications after RFE response was submitted.

What happens if H4 visa expires?

H4 can stay up to 240 days after i94 expiry – legally USCIS says that a person is considered OUT-OF-STATUS after 240 days of i-94 expiry. USCIS also claims that it is THEIR discretion, if they want to allow you to stay in the US after those 240 days.

What is the process for H4 extension?

If you file a petition for H4 extension for your child and yourself, you need to fill up the form I-539A for the child and the form I-539 for yourself. The biometric service fee, $85 for each of you, will cost an additional $170 in total.

When should I file H4 extension?

When it comes to extending your non-immigrant status, the I-129 for the H-1B applicant has to be filed no more than 6 months before the beginning date of employment.

Can I file H4 in premium?

No, there is no premium processing option for H4. It is only available for the H1B holders.

Can I travel with H4 extension?

Yes, you can travel out of US, when your H4 Extension is pending. There is no official reference given by USCIS on how they will handle extension petitions with travel, but based on experiences shared by users, H4 Extension have not been abandoned and continued to be processed.

How do I renew my visa?

Here’s the 7 steps to renewing your US visa:

1. Check if your visa is eligible for renewal.
2. Submit form DS-160/Online nonimmigrant visa application.
3. Check if you qualify for a visa interview waiver.
4. Pay the visa application fee.
5. Send supporting documents.
6. Attend visa interview (if necessary)
7. Wait for a decision.

What can I do if my visa expired?

Once the expiration date of your permitted stay has passed, you have no actual immigration status. If you were working, based on having a visa that permitted U.S. work, you must now stop. On the other hand, you’re not expected to leave the United States. You are allowed to stay until the decision is made.

Can you renew your visa before it expires?

You must renew the visa that you previously had; you cannot have a B-1 visa and “renew” an H-1B visa, for example, and you cannot change visa types when renewing. The visa you wish to renew must be valid for longer than one year; you cannot renew a visa that has an expiry date sooner than one year.

Does H4 renewal need biometric?

USICS biometric is required for all H4 and L2 extensions filed in the US. The same USCIS biometric centers are also used for i-485 green card fingerprints.

Is biometrics removed for H4?

USCIS has decided to suspend biometrics submission for all H-4, L-2, and E nonimmigrants (in other words, both dependent spouses and children) filing Forms I-539 rather than limiting the suspension to only those dependent spouses who are also filing Form I-765 because it would not be operationally feasible to treat

Is it mandatory to file H4 extension?

No, it is not required to file for an H -4 extension

Can I renew H4 EAD after expiry?

But an H4 visa holder can extend their EAD if it nears expiration, as long as their spouse still has H1 visa validity. If he/she is applying for an extension, you become eligible to apply for an extension too. After it is extended, you can stay and work in the United States.

How much is the fee for I-539?

For most situations, the fee for Form I-539 is $370 (as of 2020; doublecheck all fees, as USCIS has proposed raising them).

How long is H4 valid?

When approved, the H4 will be extended for two years and the EAD will have a validity that matches the H4.