Other H-4 visa holders are not eligible to get a [[Social Security Number]] and cannot be employed,<ref name="faq.ssa.gov"/> but they can hold a driver's license and open bank accounts. If an H-4 noncitizen is not eligible for employment authorization in the United States, they may nevertheless have tax liability in the United States, and in order to file a U.S. tax return, must obtain an ITIN ([[Individual Taxpayer Identification Number]]).
On the Spring 2019 Regulatory Agenda, the [[Trump administration]] announced a proposed regulation to rescind the 2015 rule and to stop granting employment authorization to H-4 spouses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=201904&RIN=1615-AC15|title=View Rule|website=www.reginfo.gov|access-date=2019-05-29}}</ref> Some media outlets reported that the majority of people who would be lose work authorization as a result of the proposal were highly skilled Indian women.<ref>{{Cite news|others=PTI|date=2021-01-28|title=U.S. withdraws move to rescind work authorisation for H-1B spouses|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-withdraws-move-to-rescind-work-authorisation-for-h-1b-spouses/article33682619.ece|access-date=2021-01-29|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> USCIS data back up the assertion that the vast majority of H-4 EAD beneficiaries are Indian women.<ref>{{cite web|title=Applicants for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) for H-4 Nonimmigrants by Gender and by Country of Birth FY 2015-2018 (Oct. 1, 2014-Dec. 25, 2017)|url=https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/data/H-4-EADs-by-Gender-Country-BAHA.pdf|access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> The proposal to rescind the H-4 EAD program was withdrawn by the [[Biden administration]] in January 2021.<ref name="Wire 2021">{{cite web | last=Wire | first=AB | title=Breaking: Biden administration withdraws Trump’s move to rescind H4 EAD regulation | website=The American Bazaar | date=2021-01-26 | url=https://www.americanbazaaronline.com/2021/01/26/biden-withdraws-trumps-move-to-rescind-h4-ead-regulation-443990/ | access-date=2021-01-28}}</ref> However, the future of the H-4 EAD program continues to be threatened by ongoing litigation against DHS in U.S. federal court which alleges that the H-4 EAD program is illegal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://redbus2us.com/h4-ead-latest-news-updates-rule-removal-timeline/|title=H-4 EAD Lawsuit History|website=RedBus2US}}</ref>
