As the federal fiscal year draws to a close on September 30, 2024, there are several notable updates from U.S. courts and federal agencies affecting the employment-based immigration system.
H-4 Employment Authorization Continues
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit issued a decision on August 2, upholding the regulation that authorizes the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend employment authorization to the spouses of certain specialty occupation workers. The Court affirmed that the employment authorization rule is consistent with the statutory framework and that DHS has the authority to grant work permits. In practical terms, this means that spouses of H-1B workers who have passed certain milestones in the green card process can continue to seek career opportunities by legally working in the United States.Continue Reading August 2024 U.S. Immigration Updates For Employers