The Trump administration is planning to end the Obama-era regulation allowing spouses of H1-B visa holders to work legally in the U.S. This move could have a devastating impact on more than 70,000 H-4 visa holders who have work permits. There is a clear economic benefit to keeping this talented pool of individuals in the workplace. Based on recent statistics, spouses with H-4 EADs earned almost $1.2 billion in the 2016 fiscal year alone. The proposed rule is currently in final clearance, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) told a federal court in a status update. For more on this read the recent article in The Houston Chronicle where USCIS is urged to reject President Trump’s proposal to no longer allow H-4 spouses of H-1B specialty workers to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), writing that the policy change would not only “deprive individuals of their potential” but “deprive all of us of a talented, motivated pool of workers that America needs to thrive.”
Proposal to Revoke H-4 Work Permits Getting Final Touches
