Indian talents allege delay in processing of H-4 work permits
THERE has been inordinate delay in issuing of H-4 work authorisation permits to certain categories of spouses of those possessing H-1B foreign work visas, the most sought after among Indian IT professionals, a group of highly talented Indian women in the US has said.
An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.
A group of Indian women over the weekend organized a protest march in San Jose, California on the occasion of International Women's Day to highlight the suffering of tens of thousands of immigrant women being forced out of their livelihoods, organizers of the event SaveH4EAD said.
Spouses of Indian professionals on H-1B visas, mostly women, are the biggest beneficiary of the Obamaera rule that gave employment authorisation cards. ‘We are here to reiterate that this is our home, this is where we have spent the last many years of our lives, raised families and contributed positively to the society and economy as skilled legal immigrants,' said Pratima Joglekar, California chapter lead volunteer and organizer of the event.
The group has sought the Biden administration's attention to end these arbitrary policies that are disproportionately oppressing women of color and robbing them of their livelihood.
‘My wife's H-4 renewal is pending for five months. We're going through a very difficult time in paying her residency tuition as she's not being allowed to work as a Teaching Assistant. I'm the only earning member and it has been extremely stressful for our family,' said Sreenidhi Krishnamoorthy, whose wife is currently a student at San Jose State University.
Participants of the march alleged that USCIS has delayed the processing of H-4 and H4EAD ((Employment Authorisation Document) applications excessively, to the point that it is effectively killing the program.
‘These delays have led to a serious humanitarian crisis causing havoc in the lives of thousands of skilled legal immigrant women across the US. They're losing their jobs and health insurances during this pandemic, are unable to renew driver's license and state ID, unable to travel to their home country or elsewhere, facing grave financial distress, going through severe mental health issues, deep impact on family and kids, among other issues,' a media release said.