Employment Authorization Extended for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses

USCIS Director León Rodríguez recently announced that the Department of Homeland Security will extend eligibility for employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrant workers who are seeking employment-based lawful permanent residence. The Department of Homeland Security amended regulations to allow these dependent spouses to accept employment in the U.S. This will take effect May 26, 2015.

“Allowing the spouses of these visa holders to legally work in the United States makes perfect sense,” said Rodríguez. “It helps U.S. businesses keep their highly skilled workers by increasing the chances these workers will choose to stay in this country during the transition from temporary workers to permanent residents. It also provides more economic stability and better quality of life for the affected families.”