Hi there, thanks for your article and estimated timeline in each case.
I have a question.
My current H4 EAD is valid till Jan 2020, which mean i can file another extension in October 2019. However, according to your timeline and DHS progress, it is not sure if H4 EAD rule stays valid till that time.
Since my husband is planning to switch his job. And he needs to have an H1 transfer which will be valid from the day of transfer to next 3 years. Let’s say he gets a job in December 2018 and apply for H1 transfer.
Can I also apply for H4 and H4 EAD renewal along with that? If that is possible, it gives me some more EAD life (Dec 2018 to Dec 2021) to find a better solution meanwhile.
thank you very much
Update Sep 27, 2018 - US Senator send letter to USCIS
U.S. Senators Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) sent a letter to USCIS and DHS urging them not to revoke employment authorization for roughly 100k high-skilled immigrant women, mostly from India, currently covered under the “H-4 rule.”
I hope this push from IT industry and Senators help turn the tide against H4 spouses!
DHS thinks that they will save costs of operation when H4 EADs are stopped.
Also, employers of H-4 workers could incur costs when their employees’ EADs are terminated.
Does that mean that existing H4 EADs will not be allowed to continue with their validity? Only time will tell.
Nov 26, 2018 – HR 7150: H4 Employment Protection Act of 2018
DHS has NOT published any rules yet as we reach end of Nov.
California Congresswoman introduced H.R. 7150 bill to protect H4 EAD work permit from DHS removal.
If H4 Employment Protection Act of 2018 bill becomes a law especially with Democrat majority in house, it might bring a big relief for H1B families.
The bill stands low probability of approval before DHS H4-EAD termination.
It would be interesting to see if the bill moves faster than DHS speed of removing work authorization.
Hi @Sandhiya_Arumugham
Immigration Voice is an independent non-profit organization lead by an Attorney. Their main purpose is to safeguard H1B’s interests and fight for removing country based limits thereby decreasing the long wait for Green Card.
Most of the members in this organization are from GC backlogged countries like India and China.
H4 EAD news update today : Finally, DHS has submitted the revoke rules to OMB and marked it as ’ Economically Significant ’ which means that OMB will wrap up comments period within 30 days.
April 2, 2019 - DHS to Federal court - H4 EAD does not impact US workers
DHS informs federal court in SaveJobsUSA vs DHS court case that SaveHobsUSA has not provided any proof that it adversely affects the job prospects of American workers.
H4EAD Good News today as SaveJobsUSA vs DHS case reaches result and court decides in favor of DHS.
ImmigrationVoice reports that court did not find DHS overstepping its authority in issuing H4 EADs. Court has sided with H4 EAD workers and SaveJobsUSA can now ask for re-trial in the lower court, which had earlier sided with DHS too.
SaveJobsUSA had claimed that DHS has no authority to issue H4 EAD work permits.
Note that DHS is still on its way to H4 EAD as per their intentions using the rule making process. This result of this court case is kind of a temporary relief.