USCIS INCREASES AUTOMATIC EXTENSION PERIOD FOR CERTAIN CATEGORIES

Effective May 4, 2022, The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Temporary Final Rule (TFR) increasing the automatic extension period for employment authorization or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), for applicants in certain categories. This rule only applies to those with employment authorization in certain categories who were eligible for a 180-day automatic extension under the existing rule. The TFR will provide an automatic extension of an additional 360 days for a total of up to 540 days. The eligible categories include: • Beneficiaries of temporary protected status (TPS), as nationals of countries to which they cannot safely return—(a)(12) and (c)(19) • Spouses of principal E nonimmigrants with unexpired I-94s showing E nonimmigrant status—(a)(17) • Spouses of principal L-1 nonimmigrants with unexpired I-94s showing L-2 nonimmigrant status—(a)(18) • Applicants for adjustment of status to lawful permanent residency—(c)(9) • Spouses of certain H-1B principal nonimmigrants with unexpired I-94s showing H-4 nonimmigrant status—(c)(26) The increased extension is available to those eligible renewal applicants with pending applications if the renewal application was filed: • Before May 4, 2022, if the 180-day automatic extension has expired; • Before May 4, 2022, if the 180-day automatic extension has not expired; or • Between May 4, 2022, and Oct. 26, 2023. • Beginning June 1, 2022, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for E13 multinational executive and manager petitions received on or before January 1, 2021. • Beginning July 1, 2022, USCIS will accept Form I-907 requests for E21 NIW petitions received on or before June 1, 2021, and E13 multinational executive and manager petitions received on or before March 1, 2021. • Starting July 1, the agency will reject the older 09/30/20 edition of Form I-907. See this link for more information.