Is H-4 EAD program ending? What you need to know

​There have been speculations going around that Trump Administration has plans to stop granting work permits to spouses of H-1B visa holders, overturning a 2015 H-4 EAD Rule, which allowed work permits for eligible H-4 visa holders.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is already facing a lawsuit from Save Jobs USA to this effect. As per recent development, court granted the DHS’s motion to hold the proceedings in abeyance pending further order of the court and denied the motion to reschedule briefing and oral argument. Parties were directed to file motions to govern further proceedings by January 2, 2018.

DHS sought time to review the H-4 EAD rule to ensure that it meets the newly announced priorities and to decide whether to undertake a new rulemaking concerning the H-4 Rule and comply with the President’s Order “Buy American and Hire American”.

Finally, there is no official notification from DHS other than above. The rule is still under review by authorities and it is likely that a decision may come out at any time in coming months.