What Are H-1B And H-4 Visas?

 Author: Sanjay Kumar Anand

Hello everyone! Just days after his inauguration, U.S. President Joe Biden withdrew a Trump-era rule rescinding employment authorization for H4 visa holders, who are spouses of those having H-1B work visas. But what are these visas? Let's explore...

H-1b is a non-immigrant work visa (an official permit). Non-immigrant visas are issued to foreign nationals wanting to the U.S. temporarily either for study, medical treatment, temporary work, or other similar reasons. The H-1B visas allow American companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that theoretical or technical expertise. Tech companies in the U.S. depend on this visa to hire thousands of employees each year from countries such as India and China. Most of the H1-B visa holders in the U.S, are Indian professionals. To qualify for the visa category, the prospective H1-B employee is expected to hold a U.S equivalent four-year Bachelor's degree or higher degree.

An H-1B visa holder can stay in the U.S for three years, which can be extended to six years, after which he/she may need to reapply. Laws limit the number of H1B visas issued each year. The H1-B visa applicant is sponsored by the hiring company. Suppose an H-1B worker quits his job or is laid off, he can find a new job within 60 days or apply for a change of visa status or go back to his home country.

An H-4 visa is issued by the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) to the spouse and children (aged under 21) of H-1B visa holders. H-4 visa holders can go to school, open a bank account, obtain a driver's license and even a social security number. The spouses of H-1B holders can also work if they are issued an Employment Authorisation Document (EAD).

So that's it in this blog, and I will see you in my next one!