BILL TO ALLOW ‘L’ AND ‘E’ DEPENDENTS TO WORK
(now signed into law)

The President has signed into law two new immigration bills.

1) Bill H.R. 2777 allows spouses of ‘E’ visa holders to work in the United States. Currently, spouses are allowed to accompany the principal visa holder for the length of their assignment, but are banned from working.

2) Bill H.R. 2778 allows spouses of ‘L’ visa holders to work in the United States. Currently, spouses are allowed to accompany the principal visa holder for the length of their assignment, but are banned from working. The new rule will come as a welcome measure to many as most families depend on a dual income.

Bill H.R. 2778, has an added proviso for facilitating transfer/s of L-1 workers to the U.S. At the moment, the employee whether in executive, managerial or specialized knowledge (cadre) should have worked for the foreign company for one year within the three years prior to coming to the U.S in order to meet the criteria for an L-1. This bill would reduce that period from one year to six months for those companies sending their executives/managers/workers with specialized knowledge and skills, under the L-1 blanket scheme.

The new rule will come as a welcome measure to many as most families depend on a dual income.