H-1B visa: Spouses on H-4 visa face new threat

Some spouses of foreign workers on the controversial H-1B visa may lose their work permits after the Trump administration changed employment rules.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security on Oct. 30 stripped holders of the H-4 spousal visa of the ability to receive automatic extensions for their work permits when their renewal applications have been submitted but not fully processed by immigration authorities.

Previously, foreign citizens on the H-4 and certain other visas could have their work permits automatically extended by 540 days if their permit applications were submitted on time but expired while still being processed.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director Joseph Edlow, announcing the rule change, said his agency was placing renewed emphasis on “screening and vett