Can H4 visa holder apply for unemployment benefits in Washington state?

Yes, H4 visa holders with valid work authorization (EAD) can apply for Washington ESD unemployment benefits as long as they meet the regular eligibility requirements. The key is that she was legally authorized to work when she earned those wages. She'll need to show proof of work authorization when filing her claim.

I'm also on H4 with EAD and filed for unemployment last year when I got laid off. The process is the same as for any other worker - you file through the Washington ESD website and provide your work history and reason for separation.

Wait, are you sure about this? I thought visa holders couldn't get government benefits. This seems risky for immigration purposes.

Just want to add that getting through to Washington ESD can be really difficult right now. I've been trying to reach them about my claim for weeks with no luck. If you need to speak with someone urgently, I recently discovered Claimyr (claimyr.com) which helps you get through to ESD agents. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/7DieNd3C7zQ that shows how it works.

The important thing is that she earned those wages legally while authorized to work. Washington ESD looks at whether the work was legal when it was performed, not the current visa status.

also make sure her EAD hasnt expired when she files the claim. if it expired between when she worked and when she files, that could complicate things

I had a friend who was on H4 and got unemployment benefits no problem. The only thing that took longer was the identity verification process because they had to verify her work authorization documents.

Just file the claim online through the Washington ESD website. The system will guide you through all the required information and document uploads. Don't overthink it - if she was legally working and paying into unemployment insurance, she's entitled to benefits.

One thing to be aware of - if her H4 status changes or if there are any issues with her EAD renewal, that could affect ongoing benefits. But for now, with valid work authorization, she should be fine to apply.

Washington ESD is pretty good about handling cases with work authorization documents. They see this situation fairly regularly with H4, L2, and other visa holders who have work permits.

The weekly claims process will be the same too - she'll need to certify each week that she's able and available for work, and that includes being legally authorized to work. As long as her EAD is valid, this shouldn't be an issue.

Just make sure she has all her paystubs and W-2s ready when filing. Washington ESD will want to verify her earnings and work history, especially for the most recent 18 months.

if she gets stuck in adjudication because of the work authorization verification, dont panic. it just means they need to review the documents more carefully. this happened to my coworker and it added about 2 weeks to the process

The job search requirements will be the same too - she'll need to log her job search activities on WorkSourceWA and be actively looking for work she's authorized to perform.

I work in HR and we have several H4 employees. When they've been laid off in the past, they've all been able to get unemployment benefits without major issues. The key is having that EAD and valid Social Security number.

One more tip - when she files, she should select that she's authorized to work in the US and be ready to upload her EAD document. The system will prompt for this information during the application process.

Washington state is generally pretty good about these situations. As long as she meets the basic requirements - lost job through no fault of her own, earned sufficient wages, and is authorized to work - she should qualify for benefits.

Just file the claim as soon as possible. There's a waiting period anyway, so it's better to get the process started even if there are minor delays for document verification.

This thread has been really helpful. I'm in a similar situation with my L2 visa and was wondering about the same thing. Sounds like the process is similar for any visa holder with work authorization.

I went through this exact same situation with my H4 EAD last year. The application process was straightforward - just make sure to have her EAD card, Social Security card, and recent paystubs ready when filing online. Washington ESD processed my claim normally, though they did take an extra week to verify my work authorization documents. The key thing is that she paid into the unemployment insurance system while legally working, so she's absolutely entitled to those benefits. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

I'm also on H4 with EAD and was recently laid off, so this thread is incredibly timely for me! Reading through everyone's experiences has been so helpful. One question I haven't seen addressed - did anyone have issues if their employer didn't properly report their work authorization status to Washington ESD? I'm wondering if I should contact my former HR department to make sure they have my EAD information on file before I submit my claim. Also, has anyone dealt with a situation where their EAD renewal is pending while collecting benefits? My current EAD expires in a few months and I'm worried about timing.

I'm currently on H4 EAD and this thread has been incredibly informative! One thing I wanted to add from my research is that it's worth keeping copies of all your employment documents (offer letters, paystubs, termination notice) along with your EAD documentation. I've heard that sometimes Washington ESD may ask for additional proof that you were legally authorized to work during your entire employment period, especially if there were any gaps or if you started working shortly after getting your EAD. Also, make sure your Social Security Administration records are up to date with your work authorization - sometimes there can be discrepancies that cause delays in benefit processing. Has anyone experienced issues with SSA records not matching their EAD status when filing for unemployment?