NO MORE WORK AUTHORIZATION CARDS REQUIRED FOR E AND L SPOUSES!

Posted

In Employment Authorization (EAD), Investors (E Visas), L Visas

As of January 31, 2022, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced that they have implemented a new system that will provide new codes of admission for dependents of E or L visa holders. With this new system in place, corresponding codes will be designated and applied to newly issued I-94’s for new arrivals of E and L dependents.

Spouses of E and L visa holders will now be able to legally work in the US without needing to apply or receive a work authorization card. USCIS acknowledges that they will consider valid notated I-94s as valid proof of work authorization towards the I-9 requirement.

The following are the new code categories that will be used by CBP and notated on the dependents’ I-94 at the time of their admission:

E-1S – Spouse of E-1
E-1Y – Child of E-1
E-2S – Spouse of E-2
E-2Y – Child of E-2
E-3S – Spouse of E-3
E-3Y – Child of E-3
L-2S – Spouse of L-1A or B
L-2Y – Child of L-1A or B

This new code system will only be applied to new arrivals starting as of January 31. E and L dependents who were already in the US, with an already issued I-94, will need to depart and re-enter the US in order to update their I-94s with the new annotated code.

As recommended, E and L spouses are advised to carry with them proof of marriage to the E or L visa holder any time they travel in order make sure they receive the correct code on their I-94. Also, be sure to check the I-94 after entry to ensure that the proper code was designated upon entry. Watch this VIDEO to learn how to check your I-94.

If you would like more information, please visit the USCIS policy manual HERE. Please make sure to also check out our other blogs HERE and don’t forget to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel where we post videos you can’t miss.