{"id":1130,"date":"2021-11-26T14:33:51","date_gmt":"2021-11-26T14:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/?p=1130"},"modified":"2021-11-26T14:33:53","modified_gmt":"2021-11-26T14:33:53","slug":"changes-to-work-authorization-for-e-l-2-and-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/changes-to-work-authorization-for-e-l-2-and-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses\/","title":{"rendered":"Changes to Work Authorization for E, L-2, and Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (<strong>USCIS<\/strong>) has given policy guidance, to modify the rules regarding employment authorization for <strong>E, L-2, <\/strong>and certain <strong>H-4 nonimmigrant dependent spouses<\/strong>. The new policy is particularly useful for E and <strong>L-2 dependent spouses<\/strong>, who no longer need to apply for an employment authorization document (<strong>EAD<\/strong>) in order to work. These changes were made following a settlement agreement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (<strong>DHS<\/strong>) after a claim filed by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (<strong>AILA<\/strong>) and AILA partners on behalf of certain dependent spouses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2>Automatic Extension for Certain H-4, E, and L Dependent Spouses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As detailed in the updated guidance, certain <strong>H-4, E, and L-2 dependent spouses<\/strong> now qualify for an automatic extension. Of existing employment authorization and accompanying <strong>EAD<\/strong> if both of the following conditions are met:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The<strong> dependent spouses<\/strong> file an application to recharge the EAD before it terminates.<\/li><li>The dependent spouse&#8217;s <strong>I-94<\/strong> is as yet valid.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If both criteria are met, the validity period of the<strong> current EAD<\/strong> automatically extends, and it will stay valid until the earlier of the <strong>I-94 expiration date<\/strong>, the approval or denial of the EAD renewal application, or <strong>180 days<\/strong> after the expiration date listed on the existing EAD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>E and L Dependent Spouses are now Employment Authorized Incident to Valid Status<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most importantly, the <strong>policy guidance<\/strong> gives dependent spouses invalid E or L-2 status <strong>employment authorization<\/strong> incident to status. In other words, if a dependent spouse is invalid<strong> E or L-2 status<\/strong>. The individual automatically has valid, unrestricted work authorization without the need for an EAD. However, until the USCIS implements changes to the <strong>I-94<\/strong> to distinguish E and L spouses from <strong>E and L children<\/strong>, E and L spouses. It will still require a valid EAD for completion of <strong>Form I-9<\/strong>, the employment eligibility verification form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"has-text-align-right\">[<a href=\"http:\/\/h1btransfersusa.com\/blog\/uscis-conducts-third-h-1b-cap-lottery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><span class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-green-cyan-color\">USCIS Conducts Third H-1B Cap Lottery<\/span><\/a>]<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Unfortunately, dependent spouses in <strong>H-4 status<\/strong> are not eligible to work incident to status. The reason behind this is that the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) passed by Congress explicitly provides <strong>E and L-2 spouses <\/strong>with work authorization. Employment authorization for H-4 spouses, on the other hand, was given pursuant to a <strong>DHS regulation<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The new policy is effective immediately. It should make life easier for many dependent spouses, particularly those in E or L-2 status. As for <strong>H-4 dependent spouses<\/strong>, we eagerly await the availability of premium processing for <strong>EAD applications<\/strong> and extensions. There is still no word on when the USCIS will finally give this relief.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has given policy guidance, to modify the rules&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[57],"tags":[95,618,1050,818,1005,335,1048,223,1052,48,1051,1049,1053,1055,11],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v15.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Changes to Work Authorization for E, L-2, Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"USCIS has given policy guidance, to modify the rules regarding employment authorization for E, L-2, and certain H-4 dependent spouses.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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