H-1B Holders’ Spouses Would Lose Work Permits in New Trump Plan

The Trump administration is planning a rule to nix employment authorization eligibility for spouses of H-1B workers.

A notice of the proposed rulemaking (RIN: 1615-AD14) was added to a long-term regulatory agenda for the Department of Homeland Security, although it did not identify a target date for its release.

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The agency now aims to reverse a 2015 rule that extended employment authorization to H-4 visa holders, which include family members of workers on temporary visas. Those visa holders are typically highly-educated professionals themselves and can only seek work permits when their spouses complete the initial steps toward permanent status.

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