Foreign Spouses Gain Work Permit Extensions in USCIS Suit Accord

Spouses of high-skilled visa holders will get automatic extension of work authorization documents, allowing thousands to avoid gaps in employment because of paperwork delays, as part of a proposed settlement of a lawsuit against U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Fifteen visa holders had sued the agency in September over what they argued were unlawful delays in renewing employment authorization documents needed for permission to work in the U.S. Extended wait times for the documents have disrupted the careers and incomes of high-skilled non-immigrant visa holders.

Under the terms of Wednesday’s accord, H-4 and L-2 visa holders who have applied ...