US Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Protect H4 Work Visa Of Spouses Of H1B Holders
Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced act in the United States House of Representatives to protect authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a visa issued to immediate family members of H-1B visa holders.
Washington, May 30: Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced an act in the United States House of Representatives to protect authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a visa issued to immediate family members of H-1B visa holders. This development comes after the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) said that it would publish the long-promised law that would prevent work authorisation to spouses on H-4 visas. H1B Visa Row: Silicon Valley-based Firm Sues US Government For Rejecting Application of 'Highly-Skilled' Indian Professional.
Most of the H-4 visa holders are skilled professionals and previously DHS stretched work authorisation to prevent a burden on H1-B visa holders, particularly those who live in the posh areas like Silicon Valley on a single income.
Earlier, the Trump administration announced its plan to reverse current DHS regulations that allow certain H-4 spouses of H-1B permit holders who are stuck in the green card backlogs to obtain employment and contribute to US economy, said lawmakers Zoe Lofgren and Anna G Eshoo. H1B Visa Holders May Get Barred From Entering US on Changing Job; Here's Why.
Since H-4 visa spouses were allowed to work, over one lakh workers have received employment authorisation and the H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibited Trump administration from invalidating this rule. "H-4 visa holders deserve a chance to contribute to their local economies and provide for their families," Eshoo said. H1B Visa: White House Receives Proposed Regulation to End Work Authorisation for Spouses of Workers.
"Nobody benefits from this system, least of all the American economy when H-1B dependent spouses are prohibited from working. Many of these are accomplished and qualified individuals whose skills we'll lose to other countries unless the Administration finds a more sensible approach to immigration," Eshoo said.
Last November, Eshoo and Lofgren introduced the H-4 Employment Protection Act. In March last year, the 13 members of Congress led by Eshoo and Lofgren had written to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, requesting her to review its proposal to revoke eligibility for employment authorisation to H-4 dependent spouses.
The H-1B, a visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act, allows companies to higher skilled foreign professional. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has been talking about cracking down the H-1B programme. During the election campaigning, Trump promised to increase supervision of H-1B and L-1 visa to prevent its abuse.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 30, 2019 01:57 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).