H4 visa holder can Enter USA on POE before H1B visa holder.

[Mohammed14]

Hi,

I want to know if an H4 Visas (Family dependents) can enter 1st in USA at Point of Entry (POE) before main applicant i.e. H1B holder ?

[newacct]

No. Dependents can only enter at the same time as, or after, the principal. They can enter on B2 and then do Change of Status to H4, but that is expensive and takes months.

Edited June 15, 2022 by newacct

[JoeF]

If this is the first entry of the H1 holder, no. In that case, an H4 holder can only enter with or after the H1 holder.

In subsequent entries it is generally ok if the H1 holder enters later after a trip abroad, assuming the H1 holder doesn't need to get a new visa (that's not guaranteed.)

Edited June 16, 2022 by JoeF