US to end work permit for spouses of H-1B visa holders? No need to panic yet — All about the buzz over H-4 EAD program
The Trump administration is considering ending employment authorisation for some spouses of H-1B visa holders. But there's no need to panic yet. Here's all you need to know what the buzz is about.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is contemplating removing employment authorization for certain spouses of H-1B visa holders, potentially impacting over a lakh Indian families that rely on the H-4 EAD (Employment Authorization Document) program. This proposal, not yet implemented, aims to revert to the DHS's previous policy of not extending eligibility for H-4 dependent spouses, which has been in place since 2015.
H-4 dependents, including spouses and unmarried children under 21 of an H-1B worker, currently have the option to work with an EAD if they meet specific requirements. The proposed change would eliminate this option, reverting to the DHS's earlier stance. If the proposal becomes a final rule, affected H-4 EAD holders would lose their ability to work legally in the US, potentially leading to significant disruptions in their lives and livelihoods.
The impact of this policy change remains to be seen, and further public comment periods are expected before any final decision is made.
Written by urgent.news from Live Mint's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
