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Indian H-1B visa holders and their families could face employment uncertainty under the revised US work permit rules (Img: X)
Washington: The Trump administration has introduced two immigration measures that could affect thousands of Indian professionals and families living in the United States. The changes target work permit renewals and visa extensions, raising concerns about employment interruptions, stricter scrutiny and longer processing times.
Under the first rule, foreign nationals whose Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) expire while renewal applications are pending will generally no longer receive automatic extensions of their work authorization. The policy, which was introduced temporarily last year, has now been made permanent.
The second measure proposes ending the long-standing practice of giving weight to previous visa approvals when reviewing extension applications, provided there have been no significant changes in the applicant’s circumstances.
The EAD rule could particularly affect certain spouses of H-1B visa holders who depend on work permits for employment in the US. Even applicants who submit renewal requests on time could face temporary job interruptions if their existing permits expire before new documents are issued.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) estimates that the change could cost employers around $450 million in lost productivity and employee turnover over 18 months. It could also result in approximately $14.5 million in lost payroll taxes.
The proposed visa rule could affect Indian professionals seeking extensions while continuing with the same employer. Under the existing approach, immigration officers generally rely on previous approvals when there are no material changes in a case.
Ending this practice could mean more detailed reviews, additional documentation requests and longer processing times. Immigration services firm Fragomen estimates that around 200,000 extension petitions annually could fall under the policy.
The administration says the changes are intended to strengthen national security and prevent fraud in the immigration system.
The DHS has argued that automatic work permit extensions could create security risks. Officials have also maintained that greater scrutiny of visa extensions would help prevent applicants who obtained approvals fraudulently from benefiting from subsequent renewals.
However, critics have raised concerns about the financial and professional consequences for law-abiding immigrants and their families.
