US move to abolish spouse visa
The Trump administration is planning to revoke a rule that makes spouses of thousands of immigrant workers eligible to work while in the US, a move that could impact tens of thousands of Indians.
The administration believes that abandoning the Obama-era rule of granting work permits to H-4 visa holders - who are spouses of professionals holding H-1B visas, mostly Indians - will benefit some US workers.
Most H-4 holders are spouses of high-skilled professionals from India. They had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the Obama administration in 2015.The move to end the rule could have an impact on more than 70,000 H-4 visas holders, who have work permits.
The Department of Homeland Security has already delayed three times this year issuing of the necessary notification. Last month, two powerful Democratic women Senators - Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand - had urged the Trump administration not to go ahead with its decision to revoke authorisation to immigrants those on H-4 visas as such a move would have an impact on about 100,000 women.
“Preventing women from engaging in employment can lead to isolation, depression, anxiety, feelings of guilt, and a loss of self-worth. Revoking a wife’s ability to work leaves her and her children entirely dependent on her spouse.
“Increased isolation - coupled with complete financial dependence - can make leaving an abusive relationship dangerous and, in some cases, impossible,” they wrote.
India is continuing to engage with the US over the H1B visa, a senior official in MEA said on Thursday. “It is a very important topic for us and that is the reason why we have time and again at various levels have taken up this matter with the US side,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to queries by journalists here.
Stating that there are certain bills which have been introduced, he, however, said that “it is important to note that none of these bills have been passed so far”. “When we have engaged with the US, we have emphasised that our partnership, which we have in the digital sphere, has been mutually beneficial,” the spokesperson said.
“We have highlighted the role which has been played by the highly skilled Indian professionals who have actually contributed to the growth and development of the US economy,” he stated.
“And also they have helped the US to maintain a competitive edge in the world towards innovation and science and technology.”