H4 visa is issued for partners who are dependent and children who accompany H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H-3 visa holders to the US.
Two US Congress on Thursday introduced a bill at the House of Representatives aimed at providing automated rights to work for H-4 visa holders, which is a partner and children accompanying H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, and H -3 visa holder to the United States. Under the current rules, only certain categories of H-4 visa holders can register for employment authorization documents.
Congress Carolyn Bourdeaux and Maria Elvira Salazar introduces the H-4 work authorization law that seeks to change the current law and provide a H-1B visa pair that holds automatic immigrants to work after receiving their H-4 visa. This will delete the requirements for visa holders to submit a form I-765, the Work Authorization Document (EAD).
Parliamentarians say that many employers who face the shortage of acute workers and new bills can fill labor gaps, provide work, and help immigrant families grow together.
“At present, the very skilled immigrant pair must fight through the bureaucratic years before they are allowed to work in the United States,” Bourdeaux said in a statement.
“This bill removes unnecessary obstacles to ensure that families can contribute and prosper together. If we will continue to be competitive and attract the biggest thoughts and talents throughout the world, we must ensure that high-value immigrant family members are able to build life and careers in the United States , just like everyone else, “he added.
At present, the H-4 visa holder must apply to work authorization and wait for approval before they can work. Given the backlog in citizenship and US immigration services (USCIS), the application for EAD can take time ranging from six to eight months, with several applications taking over one year to be approved.
Parliamentarians say that the bill can also help reduce the backlog of EAD applications in USCIS by providing immediate work authorization to H-4 visa holders and reducing the number of work authorization that must be processed by USCIS.
