The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is making it easier for eligible noncitizens to maintain work authorization while their EAD (Employment Authorization Document) renewal applications are pending. Here’s a breakdown of the key points:
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What’s Changing? The automatic extension period for certain EAD renewals is increasing from 180 days to up to 540 days. This prevents work authorization gaps for eligible individuals.
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Who Benefits? This applies to those who properly filed their EAD renewal application:
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On or after October 27, 2023 (with a pending application on the publication date in the Federal Register).
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Within 540 days of the rule’s publication in the Federal Register (future applications).
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Why the Change? USCIS aims to:
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Support access to work permits for eligible noncitizens.
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Address a surge in EAD applications while processing times are reduced.
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Give the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) more time to develop long-term solutions.
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USCIS Achievements in EAD Processing:
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Reduced processing times for EADs for green card applicants (compared to FY2021).
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Processed a record number of EAD applications in the past year.
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Shortened processing times for asylum applicants and parolees (less than 30 days).
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Extended the validity period for certain EAD categories (from 2 to 5 years).
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Streamlined processes for refugee EADs and online filing for asylum seekers and parolees.
What This Means for Employers and Applicants:
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Nearly 800,000 EAD renewal applicants and 60,000 to 80,000 employers will benefit by avoiding employment authorization gaps.
USCIS Seeks Public Input:
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The agency seeks feedback to inform future actions related to EAD processing.
Stay Informed:
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Visit the USCIS Automatic Employment Authorization Document Extension webpage for more details.
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Follow USCIS on social media for updates (Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, LinkedIn).
Note: This is a temporary measure. For overall EAD processing information, visit USCIS.gov.
