If your wife and each child are Canadian citizens—and each child is unmarried and under 21—they do not need H-4 visas in advance and may request H-4 admission from CBP at the airport.

(a)(1)

A visa is generally not required for Canadian citizens, except those Canadians that fall under nonimmigrant visa categories E, K, S, or V as provided in paragraphs (h), (l), and (m) of this section and 22 CFR 41.2. A valid unexpired passport is required for Canadian citizens arriving in the United States, except when meeting one of the following requirements:

(h)(9)(iv)

The spouse and children of an H nonimmigrant, if they are accompanying or following to join such H nonimmigrant in the United States, may be admitted, if otherwise admissible, as H-4 nonimmigrants for the same period of admission or extension as the principal spouse or parent. H-4 nonimmigrant status does not confer eligibility for employment authorization incident to status.

Family of H-1B Nonimmigrants

Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 years of age may seek admission in the H-4 nonimmigrant classification.

(a)

Application to lawfully enter the United States shall be made in person to an immigration officer at a U.S. port-of-entry when the port is open for inspection, or as otherwise designated in this section.

Visa Requirements—Citizens and Permanent Residents of Canada

Permanent residents (landed immigrants) of Canada must have a nonimmigrant visa.

H-4 Dependents of an H, Temporary Worker, page 5

2. Evidence of each applicant’s relationship to the H temporary worker, such as a birth certificate or marriage certificate and proof of termination of any prior marriage(s); 3. At least one of the following: A. A copy of Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, filed on behalf of the H temporary worker; B. A copy of the Form I-797 Receipt Notice related to the H temporary worker’s already pending Form I-129 petition; C. A copy of the front and back of the H temporary worker’s most recent Form I-94; or D. A copy of the Form I-797 Approval Notice showing the H temporary worker has already been granted status for the period requested on your application.

The following groups use this form: Certain nonimmigrants extending their stay or changing to another nonimmigrant status;

Gather Required Documentation

Gather and prepare the following required documents before your visa interview: Passport valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements). Each person included in a single passport needs a separate visa application. Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Form DS-160 confirmation page. Photo – You will upload your photo while completing the online Form DS-160. If the photo upload fails, you must bring one printed photo in the format explained in the Photograph Requirements. Petition Receipt Number as it appears on your Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797.

Nonimmigrant Visa Application Processing Fees

Petition based visa categories: $205.00 Includes these visa categories: H Temporary Workers/Employment or Trainees

Those who need to prove their legal-visitor status—to employers, schools/universities or government agencies—can access their CBP arrival/departure record information online. If a traveler would like a paper Form I-94, the traveler can print their own I-94 Form from the I-94 website using "Get Most Recent I-94" or by using the same option on the CBP Link mobile application.