Feeling Jobless on H4? 35+ Ideas of Things To Do!

Posted On: April 5, 2011

It’s not always fun being the “trailing spouse.” Sitting at home staring at the four walls wondering how to spend your time on a H4 or F2 visa? Just because you can’t work and make money doesn’t mean you have to sit idle, bored, listless and frustrated!

What can I do to keep busy on H4?

Learn cooking
Blog
Find local clubs of your hobby or interest
Figure out how to get a driver license
Volunteer in your field of expertise (take care with this depending on your visa status)
Learn about finances and manage household finances
Americanize your resume/ CV and get it critiqued
Go back to college
Learn more about American culture
Become an apprentice
Work on getting EAD based on your spouse’s immigration status
Get a pet
Start a family
Learn about your local community
Treat your home life like a job and plan your day as if it were your job
Explore your true interests and hobbies
Self-improvement through life coaching
Get a gym membership or use your apartment’s gym facilities, if available
Learn a foreign language
Americanize your English or increase confidence in talking to Americans
Take the TOEFL
Take GRE/GMAT
Find out how to ‘Americanize’ your degree and update your qualifications to the U.S. standards
Volunteer at your spiritual community (church, temple, mosque)
Teach Americans about Indian culture or your Indian language
Give Indian cooking classes
Learn sewing or some arts and crafts
Get involved in a community club
Find out about international wives, expat groups, or newcomers clubs
Network in your career field and find out how your career path is similar or different in USA.
Join a book club
Take free classes on line via MIT Open courses or search tutorials on YouTube
Network in your career field
Join Toastmasters
Get involved in a charity
Learn about other cultures by getting involved in other cultural organizations outside the Indian community
Learn dance or music
Get involved in your religious organization or local cultural associations

Did any of these almost 40 ideas resonate with you? If not, that’s ok. We can work together to brainstorm ideas that fit you, your personality, your career goals, interests, location, resources and other variables. I’m up for the challenge, are you?

So, you may now ask, “Jennifer you have given us so many ideas, how can I implement any of these ideas?”
Of course some ideas are easier said than done. One way to get these ideas implemented is by planning and talking with your spouse or other friends or family you already have in the U.S. However if your network in the U.S. is limited, that’s where a coach like me can fit in to help you fill in the gaps. I can help you in as little as two sessions brainstorm the aspects of your life that are most important to you and help you create goals to help you realize comfort before, during or after you shift to the U.S.

Note: Advice given in this article if unclear should be advised by your attorney. As each person’s situation is different, and the laws change from time to time, it’s best to advise with your immigration attorney on some matters; especially in relation to making money or the exact nature of volunteer work.

Thank you for reading.

End of Part 3, Series on Help for H4/F2 Visa Holders
Read Part 1: Do Not ‘Settle’ For Settling Abroad: Plan Ahead For the Best Cross-Cultural Adaptation
Read Part 2: Questions Every To-Be America-Bound Desi Spouse Should Ponder

Author of this post, Jennifer Kumar, an American has experience planning moves abroad having recently moved back to India for a second time. I understand the situations faced by dependent spouses and living in a new country trying to figure out how to fit in and find a place in a new community, country and culture. Feel free to follow her on Facebook by clicking here.