United States•North America

Open

P-4 — Dependent of P-1, P-2, or P-3

Residency Pathway

At a Glance

Processing Time

2 weeks – 10 months

Varies by processing route

Estimated Cost

$625–$3,640 USD

Varies by filing options

Stay Duration

Up to 5 years

Renewable

Renewal

Renewable

Family

No dependents

PR Pathway

None

Sponsor

No job offer needed

Work

Remote not required

Official Information

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

Overview

Spouse or unmarried child (under 21) of a P-1, P-2, or P-3 visa holder.

772 chars (3 paragraphs: P1=263, P2=320, P3=185)

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Cost Breakdown

MRV fee (petition-based nonimmigrant visa)$205 USD

Visa issuance fee (reciprocal, varies by nationality)—

I-539 (online, change/extension of status)$420 USD

I-539 (paper, change/extension of status)$470 USD

optional

Premium processing (I-907, optional, paid by principal's sponsor for underlying P-1/2/3 petition)$2,965 USD

optional

Total$625–$3,640 USD

Processing Time

Standard (I-129 petition)	2–6 months
Premium processing (I-129)	2 weeks
In-country change of status (I-539)	5–10 months

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be the spouse or unmarried child under age 21 of a valid P-1, P-2, or P-3 visa holder

Principal must have an approved or pending I-129 petition

Must demonstrate qualifying relationship (marriage certificate or birth certificate)

Evidence of principal's financial support

Must demonstrate intent to depart when principal's status ends (nonimmigrant intent required)

Must be admissible under INA §212(a) grounds

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond intended stay)

DS-160 confirmation page

Visa interview appointment confirmation

MRV fee receipt

US passport-style photo

Proof of relationship to principal (marriage certificate for spouse; birth certificate for child)

Principal's I-797 approval notice and I-94 printout

Evidence of financial support from petitioner/employer

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No annual cap — unlimited number of P-4 visas issued
No separate petition required for dependents; covered under principal's I-129
Can accompany or follow-to-join principal at any point during their authorized stay
Extendable in same increments as principal, up to 10 years for P-1A dependents
Children under 21 and spouses both qualify
Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and can present at port of entry

Worth Knowing

P-4 holders are NOT authorized to work in the United States
No Employment Authorization Document (EAD) pathway exists based solely on P-4 status
Those wishing to work must change to a work-authorized status (e.g., H-1B, O-1)
Single-intent visa — must demonstrate intent to depart when principal's status ends
No direct green card pathway from P-4 status itself
If principal's status ends or they depart, P-4 holder must also depart
In-country I-539 change of status processing currently runs 5–10+ months
Remote work for any employer (US or foreign) is not permitted without separate work authorization

Application Process

Principal's sponsor files Form I-129 petition with USCIS including derivative P-4 request

Upon I-129 approval, P-4 applicant completes Form DS-160 online at ceac.state.gov

Pay $205 MRV fee

Schedule and attend visa interview at nearest US Embassy or Consulate

Present at US port of entry; CBP officer sets I-94 admission period

For in-country change of status: file Form I-539 concurrently with principal's I-129 extension

Application Forms

DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application	Fill online
I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status	Fill online
I-129 Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker	Fill online

Verified Claims (35)

Last verified May 30, 2026

Application Steps

Principal's sponsor files Form I-129 petition with USCIS including derivative P-4 request; Upon I-12…

uscis.gov

Blockers

—

uscis.gov

Can Convert To

—

uscis.gov

Living in United States

Cost of Living

Baseline

Avg Salary$51,000

Quality of Life

186/200

Full Country Guide

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Cost Breakdown

MRV fee (petition-based nonimmigrant visa)$205 USD

Visa issuance fee (reciprocal, varies by nationality)—

I-539 (online, change/extension of status)$420 USD

I-539 (paper, change/extension of status)$470 USD

optional

Premium processing (I-907, optional, paid by principal's sponsor for underlying P-1/2/3 petition)$2,965 USD

optional

Total$625–$3,640 USD

Requirements

PUBLISHED REQUIREMENTS

Must be the spouse or unmarried child under age 21 of a valid P-1, P-2, or P-3 visa holder

Principal must have an approved or pending I-129 petition

Must demonstrate qualifying relationship (marriage certificate or birth certificate)

Evidence of principal's financial support

Must demonstrate intent to depart when principal's status ends (nonimmigrant intent required)

Must be admissible under INA §212(a) grounds

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Valid passport (valid at least 6 months beyond intended stay)

DS-160 confirmation page

Visa interview appointment confirmation

MRV fee receipt

US passport-style photo

Proof of relationship to principal (marriage certificate for spouse; birth certificate for child)

Principal's I-797 approval notice and I-94 printout

Evidence of financial support from petitioner/employer

Advantages & Considerations

Key Benefits

No annual cap — unlimited number of P-4 visas issued
No separate petition required for dependents; covered under principal's I-129
Can accompany or follow-to-join principal at any point during their authorized stay
Extendable in same increments as principal, up to 10 years for P-1A dependents
Children under 21 and spouses both qualify
Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and can present at port of entry

Worth Knowing

P-4 holders are NOT authorized to work in the United States
No Employment Authorization Document (EAD) pathway exists based solely on P-4 status
Those wishing to work must change to a work-authorized status (e.g., H-1B, O-1)
Single-intent visa — must demonstrate intent to depart when principal's status ends
No direct green card pathway from P-4 status itself
If principal's status ends or they depart, P-4 holder must also depart
In-country I-539 change of status processing currently runs 5–10+ months
Remote work for any employer (US or foreign) is not permitted without separate work authorization

Application Process