As MeBIC has written previously, the Administration plans to rescind an Obama-era regulation allowing certain H-4 visa spouses of H-1B professional visa holders to work legally in the U.S. while waiting for their residency, a process that can take years, and even decades. Eliminating the rule will hurt the U.S.’s ability to attract global talent, as explained in previous posts, and by an H-4 spouse in an op-ed.
In a May 16, 2018 letter to Kirstjen Nielsen, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), a bipartisan group of 130 Members of Congress urged her to maintain the current regulation.
Business associations such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Society for Human Resource Management, the National Association of Manufacturers, and groups, such as FWD.us, representing high-tech industries have also written to the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about the damaging effects that rescinding the H-4 spousal work rule would have on the U.S. economy .
With national and Maine unemployment at record lows at 3.9% and 2.7% respectively, we need all the workers we can get, and H-4 spouses are already here in the U.S. It makes no sense to revert to a policy that forces them out of our economy. Let us hope that DHS and USCIS will rethink their intention to end H-4 spousal work authorization.
Should they move forward to eliminate the rule. there will be a required notice and comment period when the public can register opposition. Maine businesses that would like more information or assistance in submitting comments should contact MeBIC.