Donald Trump administration urges US court not to block work permits to spouses of H1B visa-holders

In a major relief to thousands of Indians living in the United States (US), the Trump administration has urged a federal district court not to block an Obama-era rule allowing certain categories of spouses of H-1B visa-holders to work in the country, saying that American workers have not been irreparably harmed by such work authorisation.

An H-4 visa is issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to the immediate family members (spouse and children under 21 years of age) of the H-1B visa-holders, most of whom are Indian IT professionals.

They had obtained work permits under a special order issued by the previous Obama administration in 2015. It is normally issued to those who have already started the process of seeking employment-based lawful permanent resident status in the country.