Some H-4 Visa Holders to Receive Employment Authorization

USCIS has announced that it will extend employment authorization to some non-immigrants in H-4 visa status. This is very welcome news for spouses of some H-1B visa holders.

Beginning May 26, 2015, some H-4 visa holders will be granted employment authorization. To qualify, the H-4 visa holder must be married to an H-1B visa holder. In addition, the H-1B visa holder must either be the beneficiary of an approved Form I-140 visa petition, or they must be the beneficiary of a labor certification that has been pending for more than one year.

While this program was discussed as President Obama’s executive action announcement, this regulation was proposed in May 2014.

USCIS estimates that up to 179,600 people may benefit from this program in the first year and approximately 55,000 will benefit each year following.