1615-AB92 201504 Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 1600 Department of Homeland Security DHS Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) amended its regulations by extending the availability of employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of principal H-1B nonimmigrants who have begun the process of seeking lawful permanent resident status through employment. Allowing the eligible class of H-4 dependent spouses to work encourages professionals with high demand skills to remain in the country and help spur the innovation and growth of U.S. companies.

]]> Other Significant Previously Published in The Unified Agenda Completed Actions No No 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(26) 8 CFR 2 8 CFR 214.2(h)(9)(iv) 8 U.S.C. 1101 8 U.S.C. 1102 8 U.S.C. 1103 8 U.S.C. 1182 8 U.S.C. 1184 8 U.S.C. 1186a 8 U.S.C. 1187 8 U.S.C. 1221 8 U.S.C. 1281 8 U.S.C. 1282 8 U.S.C. 1301 to 1305 8 U.S.C. 1372 Pub. L. 104-208, sec 643 Pub. L. 106-386 Compacts of Free Association with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and with the Government of Palau, sec 141 48 U.S.C. 1901 note and 1931 note 48 U.S.C. 1806 8 U.S.C. 1324a Pub. L. 110-229 Yes NPRM 05/12/2014 79 FR 26886 NPRM Comment Period End 07/11/2014 Final Action 02/25/2015 80 FR 10284 Final Action Effective 05/26/2015 Includes Retrospective Review under E.O. 13563. No No None No No www.regulations.gov www.regulations.gov No Yes Lori MacKenzie S. Division Chief, Operations Policy & Stakeholder Communications, Immigrant Investor Program 1615 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS 202 357-9214 lori.s.mackenzie@uscis.dhs.gov 131 M Street NE., Washington DC 20529-2200