No Guaranteed Visa

The Oct. 3 front-page article "Immigrant Wives' Visa Status Keeps Them Out of Workplace" and Ruth Gill's Oct. 20 letter both glossed over the fact that H-1 visas are non-immigrant visas that allow a worker to apply for a green card if a company sponsors him or her, but that a green card is not guaranteed.

Further, the H-1 visa is "held" by the company and is issued for what are supposed to be "shortage" occupations. The employer sponsors the worker, and the worker is restricted to this position and is able to change employers or positions only under specified conditions.

So what sense would it make to require holders of H-1 visas to be subject to restrictions yet allow their spouses to freely seek work?

Spouses are allowed to work, provided that they find their own sponsorships.

It's unfortunate that Ms. Gill was apparently not able to find a sponsorship in her field, but her situation is hardly unique to two-career couples, regardless of whether an H-1 visa holder is involved.

MARA ALEXANDER

Alexandria