Can H4 visa holders get SSN? (2023)

Can H4 visa holders get SSN?

H-4 visa holders are not eligible to get a Social Security Number and cannot be employed, but can hold a driver's license, open bank account(s) and get ITIN for IRS Tax purpose.

H4 visa holders are not eligible to obtain a Social Security Number (SSN). So, they assume they cannot obtain an ITIN number either. But that's not the case, and you can (and should) get an ITIN since the IRS requires you to file annual tax returns under the Internal Revenue Code.

212(a)(4) Refusal

The visa sponsor (or principal applicant) must be able to take care of their H4 dependents. The application for the H4 visa will, therefore, be rejected by a 212(A)(4) refusal if the financial means of the principal applicant does not meet or exceed the state poverty line.

If your application for an H4 visa is rejected, you can reapply to try again. As long as your sponsor still has their visa and you haven't broken any immigration law or other laws in the U.S., you can submit another application. You can see if correcting any unclear information on your visa request helps.

You can either physically mail in the W-7 form or fill it out online with the help of ITIN W-7 Application. Once you've completed the application, it usually takes about 6-8 weeks for the ITIN to be processed and assigned to you. If you are unsure of your ITIN status, you can also call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040.

Please note that social security numbers are no longer issued to H4 or visitor visa holders who are not legal to work. A SSN will not be issued simply for banking or other purposes. The Social Security office uses a form letter to explain to those applying for a card that a bank must file a form W-8 instead.

Currently, the H-4 visa holders must apply for work authorization and wait for it to be processed before they can work, even though they are already in the United States and their spouse is working here.

While this is subject to change based on the service center, you can expect H-4 EAD processing time to be between 2-9 months depending on the service center that's processing the application.

Applicants must provide the social media accounts and usernames that they have used in the last five years. For example, they would need to provide this information for any Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts that they hold. However, they do not need to provide passwords for these accounts.

Yes your wife can attend the visa interview all by herself, but make sure she carries all the necessary documents previous H1B stamp, marriage certificate, current company's 797.

Is marriage certificate mandatory for H4 visa?

Depending upon the relationship, you will need to provide documents to prove the marriage is legitimate (spouses) or a birth certificate for a child under 21 years of age or both if you are bringing a spouse and children. For marriages, USCIS will ask you to provide significant evidence of the relationship.

The database stores biometric information on visa applicants, including their photographs and fingerprints, as well as biographic information, which may include their marriage history, work history, addresses, and family information.

H4 Visa Holders and Bank Accounts

If it's a yes or no question, then the answer is “yes.” You can definitely open a bank account in the U.S. as an H4 visa holder.

As we all know that H4 visa holders are not eligible to have a Social Security Number (SSN), but for filing U.S. tax returns and claiming them dependent on H1 visa holders, they do require a unique identification number, which is called Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request employment authorization as an H-4 dependent spouse. You must receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD/Form I-766) from USCIS before you may begin working.

Yes, H4 holders can open bank account in US. Requirements to open bank account vary by bank. Usually they would ask for H4 status documents like approval notice, H4 visa stamping, I-94, Spouse approval notices, etc. You can also get a debit card from the bank.

You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request employment authorization as an H-4 dependent spouse. You must receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD/Form I-766) from USCIS before you may begin working.

Documents Required for an H4 Driver's License

Once you have your letter from the Social Security Administration office, you will be able to apply for your driving license. Here is the list of documents required for H4 visa holders applying for their driver's license: Passport and visa. I-94.

you should expect the EAD approval in about 30 to 60 days after joining the court case. It is normal to get H4 EAD approval first and then H4 extension approval. There is no need to worry. In fact, it is a good sign that your H4 EAD has been approved first.