New plans to allow the spouses of highly skilled temporary non-immigrant workers to work in the U.S.

The Obama administration is looking to make adjustments to the nation’s immigrations system. They plan to allow the spouses of some highly skilled temporary non-immigrant workers to work in the United States. One problem for theses spouses, mainly from China, India or the Philippines, is that they are not allowed to work in the United States, even though they have skills and education. It may be, that an engineer can no longer work in their profession and there is nothing left but to guard the house, because they only have a H-1 B Visa. The H-1 B Visa allows U.S. employers to only temporarily employ foreign workers in special occupations. However, it does not allow the spouses of these temporary non-immigrants to work in the United States. The proposals have sparked a heated debate between immigrations lawyers and Republicans. Immigration lawyers represent the point of view, that new rules should grant work authorization only to spouses of H- 1B visa holders who have taken the first steps to apply for permanent- resident green cards. But for example, the current wait for most immigrants from India is at least 11 years. The immigrants can remain in the country while they wait. With the new rules, the spouses would be able to work during that waiting period as well.

Senator Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, represents the viewpoint that the changes would be a slap in the face for American workers who have lost jobs because companies prefer to hire lower- paid workers from abroad. He also questioned whether the president had the legal authority to change the rules and “where will this administration stop, what other categories of individuals will be granted work authorizations.” With regard to other countries, especially Australia and Canada, it should be noted that they have more generous policies for the families of highly trained workers in science, technology and engineering.