{"abstract":"The Department of Homeland Security proposes to extend the availability of employment authorization to certain H-4 dependent spouses of principal H-1B nonimmigrants. The extension would be limited to H-4 dependent spouses of principal H-1B nonimmigrants who are in the process of seeking lawful permanent resident status through employment. This population will include those H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants if the H-1B nonimmigrants are either the beneficiaries of an approved Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (Form I-140) or who have been granted an extension of their authorized period of admission in the United States under the American Competitiveness in the Twenty- first Century Act of 2000 (AC21), as amended by the 21st Century Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Act. This regulatory change would lessen any potential economic burden to the H-1B principal and H-4 dependent spouse during the transition from nonimmigrant to lawful permanent resident status, furthering the goals of attracting and retaining high-skilled foreign workers.","action":"Proposed rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","name":"Homeland Security Department","id":227,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/homeland-security-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/227","parent_id":null,"slug":"homeland-security-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2014/05/12/2014-10734.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":214,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":274,"title":8}],"citation":"79 FR 26886","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":"2014-07-11","correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"Written comments must be received on or before July 11, 2014.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["CIS No. 2501-10","DHS Docket No. USCIS-2010-0017"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"2014-10734","effective_on":null,"end_page":26901,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2014/05/12/2014-10734.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2014/05/12/2014-10734/employment-authorization-for-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/2014-10734?publication_date=2014-05-12","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2014-05-12/2014-10734/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":16,"page_views":{"count":81679,"last_updated":"2026-06-25 04:15:03 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-05-12/pdf/2014-10734.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":"https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2014-10734.pdf?1399640090","publication_date":"2014-05-12","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2014/05/12/2014-10734.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1615-AB92":{"issue":"201410","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1615-AB92/employment-authorization-for-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses","title":"Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201410&RIN=1615-AB92&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1615-AB92"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{"supporting_documents":[],"regulatory_plan":{"html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1615-AB92/employment-authorization-for-certain-h-4-dependent-spouses","title":"Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses"},"comments_url":"https://www.regulations.gov/docketBrowser?rpp=50&so=DESC&sb=postedDate&po=0&dct=PS&D=USCIS-2010-0017","supporting_documents_count":0,"docket_id":"USCIS-2010-0017","regulation_id_number":"1615-AB92","title":"Allowing Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses to Apply for Employment Authorization","checked_regulationsdotgov_at":"2014-07-13T05:00:56Z"},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":26886,"subtype":null,"title":"Employment Authorization for Certain H-4 Dependent Spouses","toc_doc":"Employment Authorization for Certain H4 Dependent Spouses","toc_subject":null,"topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Aliens","Employment","Foreign officials","Health professions","Penalties","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Students"],"type":"Proposed Rule","volume":79}