The Joe Biden administration on Thursday&nbsp;reversed former President Donald Trump's order on work permit for H4 workers who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas.

Watch:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/us-court-throws-out-h-1b-visa-program-changes-347053/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

The US government issues H-4 visa to family members of those who possess the H1-B visa which include spouse and children under 21 years of age. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) the proposed rule titled, "Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation," was being withdrawn.

Trump in 2017 had announced he would rescind the rule which was started during the Obama administration, however, the&nbsp;Trump administration was not able to complete the process during its tenure. Trump's move had affected nearly 90,000 spouses of H1B visa holders most of them Indians.

US Vice President Kamala Harris had resisted Trump's move at the time calling it anti-women and which prevented talented women of H1-B holders to work in various sectors in the United States.

In December, A US federal judge had blocked rule changes ordered by former President Donald Trump making it harder for people to get skilled worker visas. In its final months, the Trump administration had sued Facebook, accusing it of discriminating against Americans by favouring immigrant applicants for high-paying jobs.&nbsp;

The Department of Justice had said Facebook engaged in "intentional and widespread violations of the law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified US workers."

Silicon Valley companies depend heavily on overseas workers especially Indians to fill engineering jobs. According to a 2018 report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) 93 per cent of approved applications for H-4 employment authorisation were issued to individuals born in India, and five per cent were issued to individuals born in China.

The Joe Biden administration on Thursday reversed former President Donald Trump's order on work permit for H4 workers who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas.

The Joe Biden administration on Thursday reversed former President Donald Trump's order on work permit for H4 workers who are spouses of those possessing H-1B work visas. Watch: The US government issues H-4 visa to family members of those who possess the H1-B visa which include spouse and children under 21 years of age. According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) the proposed rule titled, "Removing H-4 Dependent Spouses from the Class of Aliens Eligible for Employment Authorisation," was being withdrawn. Trump in 2017 had announced he would rescind the rule which was started during the Obama administration, however, the Trump administration was not able to complete the process during its tenure. Trump's move had affected nearly 90,000 spouses of H1B visa holders most of them Indians. US Vice President Kamala Harris had resisted Trump's move at the time calling it anti-women and which prevented talented women of H1-B holders to work in various sectors in the United States. In December, A US federal judge had blocked rule changes ordered by former President Donald Trump making it harder for people to get skilled worker visas. In its final months, the Trump administration had sued Facebook, accusing it of discriminating against Americans by favouring immigrant applicants for high-paying jobs. The Department of Justice had said Facebook engaged in "intentional and widespread violations of the law, by setting aside positions for temporary visa holders instead of considering interested and qualified US workers." Silicon Valley companies depend heavily on overseas workers especially Indians to fill engineering jobs. According to a 2018 report by Congressional Research Service (CRS) 93 per cent of approved applications for H-4 employment authorisation were issued to individuals born in India, and five per cent were issued to individuals born in China.

President Biden withdraws plans to shelve H4 work permit allowing spouses of H1-B holders to work in US

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-trump-immigration-plan-may-increase-visas-for-highly-skilled-workers-213463">visa workers</a>, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women.

The introduction of such legislation comes days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it would publish this month the long-promised regulation that would prevent the work authorisation to spouses on H-4 visas.

H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India.

This week, the Trump administration announced plans to overturn current the DHS regulations that allow certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders who are stuck in green card backlogs to obtain employment authorisation, pursue their own professional goals and contribute to the US economy, said the lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren.

Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled professionals, and the DHS previously extended eligibility for employment authorisation to them recognising the economic burdens of families of many H-1B workers, particularly those who live in high-cost areas like Silicon Valley on a single income as they await green card approvals, they said.

Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, have received employment authorisation, and the H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule.

"H-4 visa holders deserve a chance to contribute to their local economies and provide for their families," Eshoo said.

"This is a matter of economic fairness and this legislation ensures it will continue," she added.

H-4 visa holders had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration. Indian-Americans were a major beneficiary of this provision. More than one lakh H-4 visa holders have been beneficiary of this rule.

"While the Trump administration sits on its hands and does nothing, American citizens in-waiting are stuck in line for their number to come up," Lofgren said.

"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," she said.

Last November, Eshoo and Lofgren originally introduced the H-4 Employment Protection Act.

In March 2018, Eshoo and Lofgren led 13 Members of Congress in writing to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, urging her to reconsider DHS's proposal to revoke eligibility for employment authorisation to H-4 dependent spouses.

A 2015 rule issued by the Obama administration allows work permits for spouses who otherwise could not be employed while H-1B visa holders seek permanent resident status, a process that can take a decade or longer.

The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the H- 1B visa scheme.

During his election campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programmes to prevent its abuse.&nbsp;

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women.

Two influential lawmakers from California have introduced legislation in the US House of Representatives to protect work authorisation of H-4 visa workers, a significant number of whom are Indian-American women. The introduction of such legislation comes days after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that it would publish this month the long-promised regulation that would prevent the work authorisation to spouses on H-4 visas. H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India. This week, the Trump administration announced plans to overturn current the DHS regulations that allow certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B visa holders who are stuck in green card backlogs to obtain employment authorisation, pursue their own professional goals and contribute to the US economy, said the lawmakers Anna G Eshoo and Zoe Lofgren. Many H-4 visa holders are highly skilled professionals, and the DHS previously extended eligibility for employment authorisation to them recognising the economic burdens of families of many H-1B workers, particularly those who live in high-cost areas like Silicon Valley on a single income as they await green card approvals, they said. Since the rule was implemented, over 100,000 workers, mainly women, have received employment authorisation, and the H-4 Employment Protection Act prohibits the Trump administration from revoking this important rule. "H-4 visa holders deserve a chance to contribute to their local economies and provide for their families," Eshoo said. "This is a matter of economic fairness and this legislation ensures it will continue," she added. H-4 visa holders had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration. Indian-Americans were a major beneficiary of this provision. More than one lakh H-4 visa holders have been beneficiary of this rule. "While the Trump administration sits on its hands and does nothing, American citizens in-waiting are stuck in line for their number to come up," Lofgren said. "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," she said. Last November, Eshoo and Lofgren originally introduced the H-4 Employment Protection Act. In March 2018, Eshoo and Lofgren led 13 Members of Congress in writing to DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, urging her to reconsider DHS's proposal to revoke eligibility for employment authorisation to H-4 dependent spouses. A 2015 rule issued by the Obama administration allows work permits for spouses who otherwise could not be employed while H-1B visa holders seek permanent resident status, a process that can take a decade or longer. The H-1B programme offers temporary US visas that allow companies to hire highly skilled foreign professionals working in areas with shortages of qualified American workers. Since taking office, the Trump administration has been talking about cracking down on the H- 1B visa scheme. During his election campaign, President Trump promised to increase oversight of our H-1B and L-1 visa programmes to prevent its abuse.

US lawmakers introduce legislation to protect work visa of spouses of H-1B holders

h-4-visas

H 4 Visas, News on H 4 Visas, stories on H 4 Visas, articles on H 4 Visas, H 4 Visas stories at Wion, H 4 Visas news, H 4 Visas latest news

h 4-visas

President Biden withdraws plans to shelve H4 work permit allowing spouses of H1-B holders to work in US

US lawmakers introduce legislation to protect work visa of spouses of H-1B holders