H4 crossing by car from Windsor to Detroit?

[neil_user]

Whats your situation? H holders reside where?

Both H1B (cross border worker) and H4 reside in Canada. H4 + H1B are planning to go to USA by road to meet friends. Also does it matter if we go on the weekend, does the crossing have to be always during weekday working hour?

 

[harirajmohan]

Both H1B (cross border worker) and H4 reside in Canada. H4 + H1B are planning to go to USA by road to meet friends. Also does it matter if we go on the weekend, does the crossing have to be always during weekday working hour?

I think US is not open for non-essential such as tourism till nov. Call the border and confirm.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/20/poli...-international-travel-restrictions/index.html

Irrelevant of when you travel, using H4 while being in Canada will become problem one or the other officer, one day or the other will insist on getting B visa.

You can go anytime. if they ask then you can tell that you are on leave on that day or you have put permission for few hours for that day.

 

[swan0206]

I think US is not open for non-essential such as tourism till nov. Call the border and confirm.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/20/poli...-international-travel-restrictions/index.html

Irrelevant of when you travel, using H4 while being in Canada will become problem one or the other officer, one day or the other will insist on getting B visa.

How long can they allow travelling on H4? I mean twice or thrice? or would they insist even on the first entry itself to get a B1?

 

[harirajmohan]

How long can they allow travelling on H4? I mean twice or thrice? or would they insist even on the first entry itself to get a B1?

I think that they can travel till first/second warning. Thinking they will log on the file about this note during second trip(if that officer doesnt like them using H4).

 

[swan0206]

I think that they can travel till first/second warning. Thinking they will log on the file about this note during second trip(if that officer doesnt like them using H4).

I think most of the people that have moved to Canada while being on H4(along with H1) does not know this and they try getting stamped for H4 and try to travel. Is there a rule or something that tells people that they cannot travel on H4 or only get to know during their travel??

 

[harirajmohan]

I think most of the people that have moved to Canada while being on H4(along with H1) does not know this and they try getting stamped for H4 and try to travel. Is there a rule or something that tells people that they cannot travel on H4 or only get to know during their travel??

As usual we dont have rules listed on official sites/ i couldnt find.

Consulars also dont know if the candidate is actually trying to move to US after visa or they are seeking visa for just visiting US. Also candidates dont know and they enter their residence as US during their transition to US or they keep using existing H4 after moving.

Cant do much till they get to experience at the border. They should be researching more like how they researched on getting PR on their own.

Dependent visa is meant to keep the family stay together, not a replacement of B2 visa.
https://www.murthy.com/for-families/family-nonimmigrant/
"Most temporary (nonimmigrant) immigration categories have provisions for the spouse and minor child/ren of a primary nonimmigrant. This allows these family members to immigrate to the United States on a temporary basis so the family can stay together. "

 

[IFS]

I have a similar question. I believe from Nov 2021, USA is allowing non-essential travel for fully vaccinated people.
So my question is:

Both H1B (cross border worker) and H4 residing in Canada.
H4 + H1B are planning to go to USA by road to meet friends.
Is H4 allowed to go for couple of days/hours to USA along with H1b holder?

Please note that as an H1b visa holder, I have visited USA many times even on weekends for non-working reasons.
For example: I said I am going for shopping.
I said I am going to meet friend.

 

[swan0206]

Please note that as an H1b visa holder, I have visited USA many times even on weekends for non-working reasons.
For example: I said I am going for shopping.
I said I am going to meet friend.

Was this pre-pandemic or during pandemic or current situation are you talking about as the land borders ban haven't been lifted on US side??

 

[IFS]

This was pre-pandemic.
I believe from next month, the ban is lifted. However, still not sure about the H4 commute.

 

[swan0206]

This was pre-pandemic.
I believe from next month, the ban is lifted. However, still not sure about the H4 commute.

Yes, the situation pre-pandemic was different. I guess even after the borders open from next month it would take a while for the things to getting back to normal. If you are residing in Canada, you cannot use H4 to get into US and one needs to get a B1/B2. Still if you want to use H4 anyways. its better you enter US first and then H4 can fly the next day . Flying is allowed even now for H4 or visitors.

 

[IFS]

Flying is not an issue I know.

But my question is in future, I will live in Windsor, Canada with my spouse. I know that I can enter without hassles being an H1.
However, I am not sure if my spouse (H4) can enter or not.
Will they say that H4 is only allowed to accompany an H1 residing in US? If thats the case, why they allowed H1 to go to US for shopping?

 

[ggg123]

Flying is not an issue I know.

But my question is in future, I will live in Windsor, Canada with my spouse. I know that I can enter without hassles being an H1.
However, I am not sure if my spouse (H4) can enter or not.
Will they say that H4 is only allowed to accompany an H1 residing in US? If thats the case, why they allowed H1 to go to US for shopping?

You will not be allowed on H4 if H1(primary) is not residing in the US. H4 is a dependent visa, you will be turned away at the border and asked to get a B1/B2 visa. You might luck out once or twice but at some point they will deny your entry
Reason- H4 is a dependent visa, if Primary doesnt reside in the US, there is no such thing as H4 anymore

 

[harirajmohan]

why they allowed H1 to go to US for shopping?

I think that they dont want to switch the status back and forth from H to B on that specific day of shopping and then back to H from B when you come back next day for work. So to avoid that, they just let you continue on H status while you seek entry for shopping.

 

[swan0206]

I think that they dont want to switch the status back and forth from H to B on that specific day of shopping and then back to H from B when you come back next day for work. So to avoid that, they just let you continue on H status while you seek entry for shopping.

Hi Hari,

I am on H1b and have been using AVR for couple of months now. Have plans to visit US this month but will not be for work related, this time it will be me and my wife(b1/b2) who will be travelling together for holidays to meet friends/family. If i am travelling on friday, can i still tell them that i will be going to work and then go to friends place? Or telling them just meeting friends and family is also fine?

Got this question as all these days i have travelled only based on work before the borders opened, hence would it be fine me telling that going to work and then to friends/family or just stick to one ?

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi Hari,

I am on H1b and have been using AVR for couple of months now. Have plans to visit US this month but will not be for work related, this time it will be me and my wife(b1/b2) who will be travelling together for holidays to meet friends/family. If i am travelling on friday, can i still tell them that i will be going to work and then go to friends place? Or telling them just meeting friends and family is also fine?

Got this question as all these days i have travelled only based on work before the borders opened, hence would it be fine me telling that going to work and then to friends/family or just stick to one ?

Just tell the actual reason. No issues as H1 guys dont need separate B visa as they allow us for visit purpose.
Check the vaccination/quarantine rules though for all members.