Archive · 30 Aug 2026
Proposal Could End Work Permits for H-1B Spouses
Some spouses of people with H-1B jobs in the United States can currently ask for permission to work.
This permission is called an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD.
A new government proposal could take away that option.
It would reverse a policy introduced in 2015.
The affected spouses are generally connected to H-1B workers and hold H-4 status.
However, the work permits have not been canceled now.
The proposal is still at an early stage of the rulemaking process.
Officials would need to continue that process before any change takes effect.
A proposal could reverse a 2015 policy allowing qualifying H-1B spouses to seek work permits.
The permits are issued through Employment Authorization Documents, or EADs.
The proposal would affect spouses holding H-4 work permits.
The change is still in an early stage of the federal rulemaking process.
H-4 work permits have not been immediately canceled.
- Who
- Qualifying spouses of H-1B workers could be affected.
- What
- A proposal could reverse the policy allowing some H-4 spouses to apply for Employment Authorization Documents.
- When
- The policy was introduced in 2015; the proposal is currently at an early stage of rulemaking.
- Where
- The United States.
- Why
- The proposal would reverse the policy that currently allows qualifying H-1B spouses to seek work authorization.
- Affected group
- Qualifying spouses of H-1B workers
- Current work permit
- Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Related status
- H-4
- Existing policy
- Introduced in 2015
- Potential change
- Reverse eligibility for qualifying spouses to apply for EADs
- Current status
- The proposal is in an early stage of federal rulemaking
- Immediate impact
- H-4 work permits have not been immediately canceled