H-4 Work Authorization Act: Priority Bill Spotlight

Allowing H-4 spouses to work would unlock new potential for our workforce and economy

Passing the H-4 Work Authorization Act would remove a significant barrier that prevents tens of thousands of women from entering the workforce.

In all, more than 175,000 H-4 spouses live in the U.S., according to FWD.us analysis.¹ Some 87% of H-4 spouses are women, and most are in their late twenties or their thirties. Like their spouses, H-4 visa holders tend to be highly educated, skilled individuals. Nearly all (89%) of H-4 spouses hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and roughly half (48%) have earned an advanced degree.

The success of the existing yet limited H-4 EAD regulation makes clear how extending work authorization to more people would also greatly benefit the U.S. workforce and economy. H-4 spouses who have received EADs work in diverse and underserved professions, including as doctors, teachers, and entrepreneurs creating new jobs for Americans. H-4 EAD holders live in communities across the country, with more than half of H-4 EAD recipients living in states that are losing their prime working-age population.

H-4 EAD Approvals (Initial and Renewal) FY 2015-2021