USCIS INCREASES AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO WORK PERMITS

On April 4, 2024, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a temporary rule to increase the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from up to 180 days to up to 540 days.  This change builds on extensive modernization efforts that have streamlined and improved access to work permits for eligible noncitizens.

The temporary measure will prevent already work-authorized noncitizens from having their employment authorization and documentation lapse while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate their pending EAD renewal applications and better ensure continuity of operations for U.S. employers.  This is the latest step by the Biden-Harris Administration to get work-authorized individuals into the workforce, supporting the economies where they live.

This temporary measure will apply to eligible applicants who timely and properly filed an EAD renewal application on or after October 27, 2023, if the application is still pending on the date of publication in the Federal Register.   The temporary final rule will also apply to eligible EAD renewal applicants who timely and properly file their Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization during a 540-day period that begins with the rule’s publication in the Federal Register.

As part of this temporary final rule, USCIS is soliciting feedback from the public that would inform potential future regulatory action.

For more information, visit the USCIS Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension page.

View USCIS new release, here.

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