130 US politicians support work permits for H-1B spouses

A group of 130 US lawmakers belonging to different political parties led by Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has recommended the US Govt. to carry on allowing work authorization to a particular set of dependent spouses of non-immigrant workers bearing H-1B visas. The current US administration has planned to end the Obama-era rule letting spouses of H-1B visa holders to legally work in the US, a move that could have a catastrophic impact on more than 70,000 such work permit holders. The recommendations by these US lawmakers to the secretary of homeland security Kirstjen Nielsen came weeks ahead of the Trump administration's formal move to repeal the rule allowing spouses work authorization in June. The letter by the US lawmakers said: & quot The opportunity for H-4 visa holders to work has made our economy stronger while providing relief and economic support to thousands of spouses, mostly women, who have resided in the United States for years.& quot & quot Many are on the path to permanent residency... Rescinding the rule will hurt the competitiveness of US employers and the US economy, as well as H-4 accompanying spouses and their families. We strongly urge you to reconsider this action,& quot said the lawmakers. Signed by 130 lawmakers from the Republican and the Democratic Party, a copy of the letter dated May 16 was released to the press. & quot We write to urge you to maintain the current regulation granting work authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrant workers,& quot the letter said. According to a recent Congressional report, 93% of H-4 visa holders in the US having work authorization are from India.