Spouses, Dependent Kids Of H1-B Visa Holders Allowed To Return To The US

After facing criticism over the suspension of work visas till December, the Trump administration said that H1-B and L-1 working visa holders' spouses and dependents, who are presently stranded in India, will be permitted to travel back to the US.

Based on recent guidance issued by the State Department, a US government agency, family members of these visa holders will be able to get their visas stamped and fly to the US, once consulate offices open in their countries, exempting them from the 22 June order.

In June, the Trump administration suspended non-immigrant visas till December, over the ongoing employment crisis due to the pandemic. Those who did not hold a valid visa as of 24 June would not be allowed to travel to the country till 31 December.

There are 5.83 lakh visa holders currently in the US, according to a Times of India report, of which more than 3 lakh are Indians, largely serving in the technology sector.

L-1 workers are those who are on intracompany transfers.

Over a thousand dependants of these visa holders are reportedly stranded in India due to the lockdown and later due to the visa ban. They were on a visit to India to attend to a family-related situation.

Being separated from their families, a group of 174 Indian nationals, including seven minors had filed a lawsuit against the presidential proclamation on H-1B that would prevent them from entering the United States.