H4 Visa Application Process

By Tiara

There are two main reasons why your visa may be denied. One is because you misrepresented yourself to the U.S. government, and the other is due to a lack of proof that you have enough money to stay in America.

If this happens, you will need to show that you can afford to return home after your visit here. You will also need to prove that you have adequate funds while you’re travelling so you can cover any potential costs such as airfare back or buying new clothes if you run out of yours.

This article will go into more detail about what to include when filling out your I-526 application form and how to prepare for your appointment.

Apply online

h4 visa application process

Starting in April, employers will have to give their employees one week’s notice before being able to start the visa application process. This new rule goes into effect for most non-EU citizens and is typically two weeks after employment.

The employee can then begin gathering documents and completing applications at that tie but must be notified of where they will be sent close to when it happens so there are no last-minute document drops or delays.

It is important to remember that if your employer uses an agent, they will need confirmation that you have been given these seven days as well as their contact details. Make sure these things get done ASAP!

If your employer is giving you the notification later than normal, consider finding other work. It may take some time, but you want to make sure your finances are stable before applying for visas.

Pay a fee

h4 visa application process

After submitting your application, you must pay visa fees. These are typically paid through an online payment system like PayPal or VISA.

There is usually a transaction processing fee of three to five dollars depending on how many pages you have in your application. This is because companies that process visas for other countries take their time creating applications and answering questions about themselves.

They also have to prepare documents, coordinate with others, and be careful not to provide false information which can cost more money later!

Most people find it easier to do business via the internet, so this is what we recommend if you’re applying for a tourist visa. It may even be possible to apply from abroad but only if there is no chance of fraud being detected locally.

Wait for a visa

h4 visa application process

After submitting your application, you must wait for it to be processed! This can take anywhere from one week to months depending on how many applicants there are in the same country as you. If you have a job waiting for you when you arrive, this is even more important to know since you will need to spend money while you are here!

Some countries require an invitation or work contract before they will process your visa so make sure to check that before applying.

Respond to questionnaire

h4 visa application process

The next step in the process is completing the I-9 form, also known as an Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9) form. This form asks you about your employer, employment status, and whether or not you have permission to work in the United States.

This form is completed within three days of being hired so it does not pose too much of a challenge unless you do not remember if you signed this document earlier.

Make sure to cross out any information that is no longer valid like your job title or the expiration date of your visa. You can update your employee information later but once it has been submitted, there is nothing you can do to change it.

Once again, be careful how you navigate through the forms as possible errors may invalidate your application.

Provide documents

After you have gathered all your important documents, it is time to file your visa application! The next step in the process will be to upload these documents via an online platform that serves as a filming location for every country’s consulate.

This way, your documents are stored safe and sound, and you do not need to send anything by mail or courier service either. All of this can easily be done through a web browser, so there is no need to use special software like Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.

Most countries require at least two copies of each document, which means you should make sure to print both off manually and also save them as PDF files. This way you do not risk losing any information due to a malfunction of your printer or computer program.

After all of your documents are uploaded, you will then be asked if you want to include additional materials in your visa application. These could be statements confirming employment or health conditions, proof of residence, etc. Make sure to check out our article about what to include in a residency affidavit.

Remember, when filling out applications through VISAconnect.com, your details are never shared with anyone but the embassy. We only handle very basic data, and we are guaranteed full anonymity and confidentiality under federal laws.

Meet in person

h4 visa application process

The next step of the process is to meet with an officer in person at one of over 20,000 VISA application centres across America. These days, this meeting can be done virtually or via phone depending on which location you can visit.

There is no set time frame for how long it will take to process your visa after this initial meeting. It depends on many different factors such as the number of applicants there on that day, the staff member conducting the interview, and whether they have enough documents ready.

It’s important to remember that even though the VISA processing timeline seems very quick, only about half of all visas get extended beyond 5 business days. This means that it could easily take longer than what appears it does not!

So, stay patient and prepared, but don’t get too attached to getting your visa quickly because sometimes things just take longer than expected.

Confirm appointment time

h4 visa application process

It is very important to make sure you know your application deadline! As mentioned before, there are two different deadlines for getting your visa applications done. One is at the consulate where you will be visiting for the interview and the other is online.

It’s extremely helpful if you know when the interviewer’s appointments are so that you can schedule yourself or others to accompany you during that time.

Many people get stuck waiting outside the consulate because there isn’t anyone available to go in with them. This can sometimes take hours!

Make sure to check whether the website has any kind of availability feature or not. That way you won’t have to worry about anything.

Prepare your passport

h4 visa application process

Before you even begin to think about getting a visa, your first order of business should be to make sure that your passport is up to date! As mentioned before, every time you apply for an F1 visa or any other non-immigrant visa (like an E2 work visa), you are also applying for a US entry permit. This permit allows you to enter the United States for one year and can be extended for multiple years if needed.

If your passport expires within six months of when you plan to travel, you will have to reapply for this permission to enter America. You do not need to live in the country during this period either, so it is important to keep track of how long your passport is valid until you can reenter the USA.

Another very important part of the VISA application process is having proof of sufficient money to stay where you are living while in the U.S. On top of that, you must prove that you have enough money to return home after your trip. This could mean showing two weeks’ worth of income or proving that you own a house with a stable source of income.