About US P4 Visa Requirements and Processing Time

How to apply for this visa?

You can apply for a visa at the same time as or after the main applicant. The application process of this visa includes the following steps:

 1. Complete the online application form

Filling out this online application form is mandatory for all nonimmigrant US visas, including the applicants for a P4 visa. To download and complete this form, please refer to the Consular Electronic Application Center website. This form contains some questions regarding the purpose of your trip as well as personal information. You need to complete all the necessary blanks accurately. After the form submission, a confirmation page, along with a barcode, appears that you must save it.

2. Pay the visa application fee

The application fee for this permission is around $190. Visa application fees are non-refundable. This means whether your application is rejected or confirmed, this fee will not be refunded to you. Also, note that your visa application will not be processed unless you pay this fee. Citizens of some countries may also have to pay for visa issuance. It depends on your country’s relationship with the United States. After paying your application fee, you will receive a receipt that you must keep because you will need it in the next steps.

3. Schedule the visa interview appointment

All individuals between the ages of 14 and 79 need to attend a visa interview. If you are applying with the primary visa holder, then you can plan the interview together at the same time. Otherwise, you need to schedule your interview. After you have made this appointment, you will obtain a confirmation letter that you need to bring on the day of your interview.

4. Prepare documents

You need to prepare all the mentioned documents in the previous section.

5. Attend an interview

On the interview day, you must bring some documents with you. You will be asked some questions about your background, education, and purpose of your trip to the United States. You also need to talk about your relationship with the principal visa holder. In addition, you must also prove your bond to your home country because you are not allowed to reside permanently in the United States.

Do you want to know how is it possible for a nurse to move to the US? Read this blog. 

How to apply at the US port of entry?

P 4 applicants can apply at the US port of entry. But they need to apply as or after the P-3 applicant. The P 4 applicant cannot enter the US soil before the P 3 visa holder enters the country. The family members need to hold the following documents to submit at the port of entry:

• Evidence of P3 applicant visa status
• Passport, valid for at least six months over the date P-1 visa holder’s expiry date.
• Proof of financial support
• Marriage certificate for a spouse; and
• Birth certificate for each child

Remember that entrance to the US is not guaranteed at the port of entry. The CBP (Customs and Border Protection) will check your documents and question the purpose of your visit to the US. The officials discuss the applicant’s situation and decide whether to grant the visa or not.

When the request is approved, the supporting documents will be returned to the applicant, and the P4 visa stamp will be placed on their passport. The expiry date will also be placed and indicate the date you can stay in the USA.

CBP will print and provide Form I-94 to each applicant. The stamp on your passport and printed Form I-94 are evidence that your stay is legal in the US. Remember that you need copies of your:

• Passport biodata
• Expiration pages
• Visas
• Admission stamp

How long is the US P4 visa valid?

The P4 visa is a dependent visa. Conditions such as its validity period depending on the principal visa holder. The validity period of P visas varies. P1 visa duration depends on whether the principal visa holder applies for this visa individually or as a group. Athletes apply for this visa individually; their visa will be valid for up to 5 years. The initial validity of P2 and P3 visas also depends on the duration of their performance or presentation.

How can visa holders extend their visas?

If the principal visa holders are unable to complete their performance within their visa validity, they will be eligible for a visa extension. If they extend their visa, P4 visa holders can also extend their visa validity.

Can the visa holders apply for a Green Card?

It is complicated for them to apply for a Green Card because the primary visa holders have stated in the visa application process that they do not intend to reside in the United States permanently. However, if the principal visa holders can change their visa status and apply for a Green Card, their family members can also receive a Green Card.

In general, the ways to obtain permanent residency in the United States are as follows:

• Marry an American citizen or legal resident
• If your family members live in the United States, you can apply through them.
• Change your current status to another visa, such as an H1-B visa.
• If you are a professional athlete with extraordinary abilities, you can apply for the EB-1 or EB-2 Green Card.

Are visa holders allowed to work?

No. One of the limitations of this visa is that holders cannot work during their stay in the United States. But they can enroll in college or school.

The children who turn 21 and change their visa status might be able to work. It’s up to the rules of the new visa and its regulations.

Can children stay in the US after turning 21?

Children under 21 are eligible to move to the US through the P 4 visa. But what happens when they turn 21? When they reach a limited age, they are not allowed to stay in the US and must change their situation. Children have to apply for a new visa, such as an F-1 student, or B-2 visitor. If not, they have to leave the US.

Let’s sum up …

In this article, we explained the requirements, documents, application process, fee, validity period, and how to renew a US P4 visa. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other US visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences in comments is a great help for applicants.