Question about H4 Visa Limitations

[AaronO]

Hello,

My wife is getting an H1-B visa which allows me to get an H4 visa. I will be keeping my job in Canada until I can get PR which will be a couple years at least.

I am a pilot in Canada for a major carrier.

If I get an H4, am I still able to fly into the USA because my understanding is that I am not allowed to work on American soil while using an H4. I’m still working for a Canadian company with only short and occasional trips to USA.

If I decide not to get an H4 but travel frequently across the border as a visitor, will I have issues with border services? I will be limited to 6 months max in America but will my time at work when flying to USA count towards that 6 months?

Thanks

[nelsona]

This is really an immigration question. Better to should ask on an immigration website like forums.immigration.com.

But when you enter US as a pilot, you are entering on D (crewmember) status. When you enter as a tourist, you enter on B status. These are useful if you live outside US. H4 allows you to live in US, but you might not be in the correct status 'D' to be a working crew member.

Check with an US immig specialist. If you live in Canada, you may not even need the H4 status, just using D when working and B entering for non-work purposes.

[AaronO]

Thank you!

I haven't been able to find any information on this but that link to an immigration forum will be really helpful.

[AaronO]

Thank you!

I haven't been able to find any information on this but that link to an immigration forum will be really helpful.