The H-4 visa, the dependent category attached to the H-1B skilled-worker programme, remains the main route through which Indian spouses and children of H-1B holders live in the United States. A new guide published by the Hindustan Times walks Indian applicants through the three questions families ask most: who qualifies, whether the spouse can work, and how long the stay lasts.

Who qualifies for an H-4 visa?

The rule is straightforward: the spouse and unmarried children under 21 of an H-1B visa holder can apply for H-4 status. The dependent's eligibility flows entirely from the principal applicant. If the H-1B worker maintains valid status, the family's status holds; if it lapses, the dependents' status lapses with it.

Indian applicants file Form I-539 to request a change to or extension of H-4 status, either together with the H-1B worker's petition or separately. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) adjudicates these applications, and families should anchor every step to the instructions on the USCIS website.

Can an H-4 spouse work?

Not automatically. H-4 holders cannot work in the United States unless they obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) first. The guide confirms that eligibility for the H-4 EAD depends on the principal H-1B spouse's position in the green-card pipeline.

In practice, two groups of H-4 spouses qualify:

• Those whose H-1B spouse is the beneficiary of an approved immigrant worker petition.
• Those whose H-1B spouse has received an extension of stay beyond the standard six-year limit under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty-First Century Act.

Eligible applicants file Form I-765 with USCIS and must hold the physical EAD card before starting any employment. Working without it puts status at risk.

How long can the family stay?

H-4 status lasts only as long as the principal H-1B holder's status. When the H-1B worker receives an extension, dependents file their own extension requests to stay aligned. The H-1B category normally caps a worker at six years, but extensions beyond that limit are available in the green-card backlogs that affect many Indian nationals, and H-4 dependents follow the same timeline.

What does this change for Indian families?

For Indian applicants — the largest national group in the H-1B programme — the guide's practical answer is planning. Families should track the principal worker's petition status, because it controls the spouse's work authorization and everyone's lawful stay. Each application, deadline and form requirement should be checked against current USCIS guidance, since processing times and rules shift. The Hindustan Times guide serves as an orientation; USCIS remains the official source for filing instructions and eligibility rules.