alone_star_state

I’ve searched online for about 3 hours now and just need some clarity really. My H4 visa expired July 2006, I returned back to the UK for a while and re entered on the Visa Waiver because I had to be in the USA urgently and didn’t want to risk any delay in renewing my H4.

Can I renew my H4 visa from the USA? Or will I need to return back to London and do it there?

Cheers now.

Elvira

Are you saying you entered on the VWP whilst still in H4 status? And then simply stayed beyond the expiry of your VW, i.e longer than 90 days?

Time for a very experienced immigration attorney...

alone_star_state

No no. I don't have a H4 anymore, it expired July 06, I went back home. I entered again in April 07, and I am perfectly within my VWP 90 days, but wanted to know If I could renew my expired H4 visa from the US as my husbands H1 visa is still valid for another 3 years, no change in circumstance etc.

If not, i'll just have to go back to London. Unless there is a way around it, while the original H4 is still in my current passport.

Elvira

Phew!

You should be able to get a new H4 visa in Canada.

Joe Feise

alone_star_state wrote on 04/16/07 07:54:

> I���?�ve searched online for about 3 hours now and just need some
> clarity really. My H4 visa expired July 2006, I returned back to the UK
> for a while and re entered on the Visa Waiver because I had to be in the
> USA urgently and didn���?�t want to risk any delay in renewing my H4.
>
> Can I renew my H4 visa from the USA? Or will I need to return back to
> London and do it there?


You can't change status on a visa waiver, so you will have to return abroad, and
get a new H4 visa.

-Joe
--
I am not a lawyer.
For reliable advice, consult a competent immigration attorney.

alone_star_state

oh right, hmm so no way without leaving the US then, like using the POST?

hmm ok, well guess it makes sense to go back home, see friend/fam and sort the renewal out.

thanks for your advice though.

Manish

You can’t renew or get H4 visa stamp in US. You need to go out of US and get H4 visa stamp from US consulate based on your spouse valid H1. Then enter US with H4 visa stamp and you will get I-94 based on H4

J. J. Farrell

On Apr 16, 7:54 am, alone_star_state
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I’ve searched online for about 3 hours now and just need some
> clarity really. My H4 visa expired July 2006, I returned back to the UK
> for a while and re entered on the Visa Waiver because I had to be in the
> USA urgently and didn’t want to risk any delay in renewing my H4.
>
> Can I renew my H4 visa from the USA? Or will I need to return back to
> London and do it there?

You have two quite distinct issues here:

1) Getting yourself into H-4 status so you can stay in the USA.
2) Getting yourself an H-4 visa so that you can enter the USA in H-4
status when you enter the USA.

In answer to 1) you're currently in Visa Waiver Tourist status. You
cannot extend that status, or change it to another status. You must
leave the USA on or before the date on your I-94W form.

For 2) you must apply for a visa at a USA Consulate (which are all
outside the USA). I don't think any Consulates are accepting
international applications by mail, most (if not all) are requiring a
personal interview at the Consulate. The only Consulate which is
obliged to accept your application is the one in your home country,
but for renewal of an H-4 I'd expect most Consulates to deal with you.

So, plan for a trip abroad to a USA Consulate before the end of your
90 days .

alone_star_state

yea, yippy me! i get to meet the rude, unwelcoming, uptight, workers at the consulate in London all over again. Thats what I wanted to avoid, it was hard holding my tongue at the rude woman. Hopefully they wont need or request they see me again for a renewal. I hope, I hope!!!

alone_star_state

yea, yippy me! i get to meet the rude, unwelcoming, uptight, workers at the consulate in London all over again. Thats what I wanted to avoid, it was hard holding my tongue at the rude woman. Hopefully they wont need or request they see me again for a renewal. I hope, I hope!!!

**Sorry for the duplicated post, not sure what happend**

Elvira

Hm.

I have renewed visas at both the Consulates in London and Vancouver, and found everyone I dealt with perfectly civil, even friendly.

However, the wait OUTSIDE the London Consulate sucks big time...

alone_star_state

lucky you. for me, it was probably one of the worst experience in my life.

thanks for your info guys.

alone_star_state

Ok so...oh my days, do I actually have to go through the same process as application for the H4 if I just want a renewal back home in London? From what i've read, I do what I did to apply all over again. Isn't there anything different for a renewal?

J. J. Farrell

On Apr 21, 5:34 am, alone_star_state
<[email protected]> wrote:
> > lucky you. for me, it was probably one of the worst experience in
> > my life.
>
> > thanks for your info guys.
>
> Ok so...oh my days, do I actually have to go through the same process as
> application for the H4 if I just want a renewal back home in London?
> From what i've read, I do what I did to apply all over again. Isn't
> there anything different for a renewal?

It's the same process for first application and renewal. I think you
were unlucky with your visit to the London Consulate - I've always
found them friendly and efficient.

texasnatt

yep, the staff were great,
the wait outside for 3 hours in the freezing cold rain was crap,
natt