H‑4 Visa Explained: 2025 Guide for H‑1B Spouses & Dependents

Why this guide matters

When your partner lands that coveted H‑1B position, the excitement quickly mixes with a swirl of questions: Can you tag along? Will your kids lose time at school? How long will you be stuck without a paycheck? While I've not walked this road myself and have helped dozens of families make the jump, so let's turn the legal alphabet soup into plain, practical English.

Who actually qualifies for the H‑4 visa?

You're right if you said, "Only spouses and kids under 21," but there's nuance. USCIS wants rock‑solid proof that you're a bona‑fide family unit, not roommates splitting rent. A marriage or birth certificate is the headline; photos, joint bank statements, or insurance policies are the supporting evidence that calms an officer's nerves. Important - no PhD, job offer, or English test is required—just genuine family ties to a non-immigrant temporary visa holder.

Putting it simpler, if you are either:

• Spouse of H-1B H-1B, H-1B, H-1C, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3 visa holder,
• Unmarried child (under 21 years old) of H-1B, H-1B, H-1C, H-2A, H-2B, or H-3 visa holders,

Then, you are eligible for an H-4 visa!

Gathering the paperwork without losing your sanity

Here's the trick: create a single folder and name it "H‑4 Essentials." In general, you will place your:

1. DS‑160 confirmation page.
2. A receipt showing you paid the visa service fee (as of 2025, the cost is $205)
3. Valid passport (six months of validity past your intended stay except if you're a passport holder of Six-Month Club),
4. Fresh 2×2 photo that actually looks like you (more on photo rules),
5. An original:
   - Marriage certificate if you apply as a spouse OR,
   - Birth certificate if you apply as a child.
   
6. An employment verification letter of the primary visa holder
7. If your spouse/parent is currently employed in the United States on an H-1B visa, you will need to provide their pay slips for the current calendar year, as well as their federal tax returns (IRS Form 1040 and W-2s) for all years they have been employed in the U.S. on the H-1B visa.

While this list seems excessive, the U.S. embassy where you apply might have additional requirements regarding the documents. It's always best to check with them.

A walk‑through of the application timeline

The H‑4 process feels longer than it is because of the waiting between steps. First, you'll fill out the DS‑160 online—take your time and triple‑check the dates. Next, pay the visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee), keep the receipt safe, and then book your consular interview. A few days (or weeks, depending on the waiting times in the country from where you apply) later, you'll sit with a consular officer who usually asks three or four simple questions about your spouse's job and your plans in the States. From there, most passports come back stamped within two to six weeks.

Interview day: nerves, questions, and that little blue slip

Imagine the interview as a friendly coffee chat rather than an interrogation. The officer wants to confirm you're joining your spouse, not plotting a career in espionage. Wear something you'd feel comfortable in at a business‑casual meeting, keep answers short, and steer clear of acronyms—they're government employees, not immigration wizards. Bring a few wedding photos if you're newly married; a quick flip through your album often skips unnecessary grilling. And if you do receive the dreaded "administrative processing" slip, don't panic—it usually means extra document checks, not a rejection.

Life on an H‑4: study, work, live

Once you land, everyday life won't feel much different from any other family in the U.S.—with two caveats: work authorization and the dreaded DMV line. School enrollment is straightforward; public K‑12 is free, and colleges will consider you in‑state after you meet their residency window. You'll need the coveted H‑4 EAD (or Employment Authorization Document) to work. You qualify the day your spouse's I‑140 is approved or the moment they cross the six‑year H‑1B mark.

Staying legal: extensions and status switches

Mark your I‑94 expiry in bold red on every calendar you own. File Form I‑539 at least 45 days before that date, ideally bundled with your spouse's H‑1B extension so you pay one biometrics fee, not two. Thinking about your own H‑1B? Get a job offer, enter the March lottery, and if selected, your employer files an I‑129 with the change‑of‑status box checked. Time on H‑4 doesn't affect your six‑year H‑1B clock, so you'll still get the full term.

The seven mistakes I see every year

1. People book spring‑break flights before visas are approved, then cancel with tears.
2. DS‑160s filled in 2 a.m. brain fog—typos matter.
3. Leaving the spouse's latest pay stubs at home because "they never asked my friend."
4. Scanning a low‑resolution marriage certificate that looks like a watercolor.
5. Ignoring an email that says "administrative processing" because it landed in spam.
6. Forgetting the I‑94 expires on the port‑of‑entry date, not visa expiration.

Dodging these is half the battle.

H-4 FAQ — No fluff, just answers

Final thoughts and next steps

Immigration paperwork often feels like running a marathon inside an escape room, but the H‑4 path is manageable once you know the turns. Gather your documents, mark those dates, breathe through the interview, and keep an eye on policy updates. If this guide helped untangle a few knots, pass it along to the next family in line—because nothing beats community wisdom when crossing borders.