PTI, Bloomberg, May 17, 2018

A bipartisan group of 130 U.S. lawmakers led by influential Indian-American Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has urged the Trump administration to continue granting work authorisation to certain dependent spouses of non-immigrant workers holding H-1B visas, the most sought-after among Indian IT professionals.

The Trump administration is planning to end the Obama-era rule allowing spouses of H1-B visa holders to work legally in the U.S., a move that could have a devastating impact on more than 70,000 H-4 visa holders, who have work permits.

H-4 visas are issued to the spouses of H-1B visa holders, a significantly large number of whom are high-skilled professionals from India.

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“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,” the letter said.

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Signed by 130 lawmakers from both the Republican and the Democratic Party, a copy of the letter dated May 16 was released to the press.

“We write to urge you to maintain the current regulation granting work authorisation to certain H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B non-immigrant workers,” the letter said.

According to a recent Congressional report, a staggering 93 percent of the total H-4 visa holders in the U.S. having work authorisation are from India.

Providing work authorisation for accompanying spouses helps U.S. employers recruit and retain highly-qualified employees, putting U.S. policy on par with other countries, such as Canada and Australia, competing to attract talented foreign nationals, the lawmakers argued.

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“It is an American value that everyone, regardless of gender, deserves to be able to use and enhance their skills, be financially self-sufficient, thrive mentally and physically, and pursue their dreams,” they said, adding that the majority of H-4 spouses are women, and their inability to work widens an already existing gender inequality gap.

For some, the inability to work, pursue one’s goals, or contribute to one’s family can lead to a loss of self-worth and depression, which significantly impacts the H-1B holders as well as their family members.

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H-4 visa holders had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration.

Indian-Americans were a major beneficiary of this provision. More than one lakh H-4 visa holders have been beneficiary of this rule.

A 2015 rule issued by the Obama administration allows work permits for spouses who otherwise could not be employed while H-1B visa holders seek permanent resident status – a process that can take a decade or longer.