Restrictions on H-4 Spouses Could Return
Looking for A Specific Post? Search Below
H-1B visas allow specialty workers to come to the United States as non-immigrants and work. However, one negative of the visa is that, for a long time, the spouses of H-1B visa holders could not also work while in the United States. As a result, some workers eligible for an H-1B visa would not come to the United States because they did not want to be away from their spouses, and the spouses did not want to disrupt their careers by traveling to the United States. Other spouses traveled to the U.S. but had to wait a decade or more to receive authorization before they could work.
In 2015, the U.S. made things much better for spouses in H-4 status. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) allowed spouses in H-4 status to request permission for work authorization once their spouses reached a certain point in their process for permanent residency. Spouses had to submit a Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization along with supporting evidence and a fee. According to the Obama Administration, this change would relieve some of the economic stress on families and help their transition into American society.
Trump Administration Proposes Changes
After DHS adopted the rule in 2015, tens of thousands of spouses of H-1B visa holders have benefited from work authorization. They have been able to contribute to their family’s income and paid additional taxes into the Treasury.
However, President Donald Trump ran on a strict anti-immigration platform centered on the debatable premise that immigrants are taking jobs away from American workers. As a result, it is unsurprising that the Department of Homeland Security is on the verge of rescinding the Obama-era regulation, which will deprive the ability of H-4 spouses to obtain permission to work.
The full contours of the new DHS rule are currently unknown. However, it is sure to reintroduce all of the economic disincentives that kept talented immigrants from coming to the United States to work before 2015. Such a change will also dramatically affect those businesses that currently are employing H-4 spouses in key jobs. Without work authorization, these employers will need to try to find other workers to fill the slots—not an easy proposition in such a tight economy.
The Future of Work Authorization is Unclear
As with many aspects of immigration law, the future remains uncertain. For example, experts do not yet know whether the Trump administration will simply stop granting new authorizations or whether they will strip the permits from H-4 spouses who already have them. The latter would be a more dramatic action, but not outside the realm of possibility.
If you are seeking work authorization as an H-1B spouse, or if you currently have authorization, you might be concerned about the future changes. At Kriezelman Burton & Associates, we work with people just like to navigate the ever-changing U.S. immigration system. We can analyze your situation and determine your best options.
If you have questions, please contact us by calling 312-332-2550 or submitting an online contact sheet.
Co Mówią Nasi Klienci
Ocena 5 gwiazdek | Na podstawie 200+ pozytywnych opinii na Google
Exceptional Legal Representation I want to sincerely thank Kevin Raica for handling my case so efficiently. From our very first meeting, he demonstrated confidence and a clear plan for moving forward, which put us at ease right away. He kept the process moving and resolved our case in a timely manner. His professionalism and dedication made a stressful situation much easier to navigate. I have already recommended his services to…
Kriezelman Burton & Associate are Excellent immigration law firm that understands and guide one through any immigration cases. Attorney Khiabett is one of their best attorneys you can trust, she understands, patient, attentive, and gives honest advice about any immigration case her client has. I HIGHLY recommend the law firm to anyone having immigration concerns. Thank you for all you do.
Outstanding experience and successful Green Card approval with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC! The immigration process can often be stressful and overwhelming, but working with Kriezelman Burton & Associates, LLC in Chicago made the entire journey smooth, transparent, and successful from start to finish. I want to express my deepest gratitude to Justin Burton for his exceptional professionalism, strategic guidance, and confidence from day one. Knowing my case was in…
Great lawyer, helped us to get a green card in few months, so thanks a lot. Recommended
Kevin Raica literally saved my life. He helped me out of a dangerous situation that my previous attorney had put me in. After 17 years without status and 6.5 years of working with my previous attorney, I had experienced so many denials that I had completely lost hope. When I met Kevin, everything changed. He genuinely cared about my situation and gave me hope when I couldn’t see any for…
We sincerely thank the entire team for the professionalism, responsiveness, patience, and dedication shown throughout our case. From our very first visit, Justin reassured us that everything would be all right. Thank you, Khiabett, for your expertise, professionalism, and calm guidance before and during the interview, which greatly reduced our stress and gave us confidence. We also deeply appreciate Kamila's hard work, patience, and responsiveness throughout the process. For sorting…
I would like to sincerely thank Attorney Justin Burton and PL Kamila Lada for support with my adjustment of status case. I have been working with the firm for over a year now, and I have received nothing short of exceptional services and support throughout various cases for myself and family members. Highly recommend consulting and retaining this firm.
We have been in the dark with our case for over 2 decades, while working with other big firms who just kept me in the dark and sat on our case without making any effort to move it forward until I met the wonderful team at Kriezelman & Burton. AO and JP are truly God-sent angels who with their knowledge, collaboration, sense of direction and outside the box thinking, managed…
Highly recommend attorney Kevin Raica and attorney Agata Bigdanowicz. They were super helpful, responded on time, and won my case in record time. It took about a month and half in total for me to get my approval after filing!
Brittni Rivera and her team (Carina Lopez) are fantastic! They are responsive, efficient and beyond compassionate. Brittni Rivera and her team treated me with dignity and respect as they patiently answered all of my questions. They didn't move on without making sure I understood each step. Their work ethic was impressive. It felt like they were an extension of my personal team. I can't say enough to convey my gratitude…
Schedule a consultation!:
Umów się na konsultację!
Libertyville
Reklama prawnika. Informacje te mają wyłącznie charakter ogólny. Przedstawionych informacji nie należy interpretować jako formalnej porady prawnej ani tworzenia relacji prawnik/klient. Wcześniejsze wyniki i referencje nie stanowią gwarancji, rękojmi ani przewidywania wyniku Twojej sprawy i nie powinny być w ten sposób interpretowane. Wyniki z przeszłości nie mogą zagwarantować przyszłych wyników. Jakikolwiek wynik w pojedynczej sprawie nie ma na celu stworzenia oczekiwań podobnych wyników w przyszłych sprawach, ponieważ każdy przypadek wiąże się z wieloma różnymi czynnikami, dlatego też wyniki będą się różnić w każdym przypadku. Podając dane kontaktowe, użytkownicy potwierdzają i wyrażają wyraźną zgodę na kontakt za pośrednictwem udostępnionych metod komunikacji, w tym wiadomości SMS. Mogą obowiązywać stawki za wiadomości i transmisję danych. Częstotliwość wiadomości może się różnić. Odpowiedz STOP, aby zrezygnować.
NUVEW | Prawo autorskie 2026 Wszelkie prawa zastrzeżone | Informacja o dostępności | polityka prywatności