Will Take Public Opinion Before Deciding on H-4 Visas Revocation Proposal: U.S. Govt.

After facing criticism from various sections over the proposal to revoke working authorization of H-4 visa holders, the Trump administration has assured American lawmakers and corporate world that it will take public opinion before enforcing the proposal.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) wrote letters to the senators Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand, who had asked the government to not to revoke the work authorization of H-4 visa. Letters to these senators were written last month and posted on USCIS website this month, PTI reported.

The Senators were informed that an opportunity will be given to the public to register their feedback on the proposed changes related to H-4 work visas.

L Francis Cissna, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services wrote in the letter, “The public will be given an opportunity to provide feedback during a notice and comment period on any proposed revisions to regulations providing employment authorization to certain H-4 non-immigrants,” PTI reported.

If the revocation is enforced, it could impact up to 70,000 H-4 Visa holders with work permits.

The letters haven’t said anything about the final stance on the proposal of revoking work authorization of H-4 visa holders. It has only said that DHS is committed to safeguarding the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. Protecting the wages and job options for U.S. workers are included in its commitments.

In 2015, the Obama administration had permitted H-4, the spouses of H-1B visa holders to work. Indian and Chinese women mostly benefit from the work permit. H-1B visas are the most sought-after visas among Indian IT professionals.

In April this year, Cissna had written a letter to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, Charles E.Grassley and said, “Our plans include proposing regulatory changes to remove H-4 dependent spouses from the class of aliens eligible for employment authorization, thereby reversing the 2015 final rule that granted such eligibility.”