The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has unveiled a temporary final rule (TFR) to make work permits more accessible to immigrants. This move builds upon recent efforts to modernize immigration processes, particularly regarding eligibility for employment authorization documents (EADs). Under the new rule, the automatic 180-day period for certain EADs will be extended to 540 days.
This decision follows substantial improvements in EAD processing times over the past year, ensuring that work-authorized noncitizens do not face interruptions in their employment status while awaiting USCIS decisions on EAD renewal applications. By extending the validity period of EADs, the USCIS aims to maintain continuity for both immigrants and US employers.
The Biden Administration has been actively working to integrate work-authorized individuals into the labor force, thereby supporting local economies.
In addition to the USCIS announcement, USCIS Director Ur M Jaddou emphasized the agency's commitment to improving work access for eligible individuals. The temporary extension to 540 days aims to prevent lapses in employment authorization while allowing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to explore long-term solutions through public input and strategic planning.
The TFR will particularly benefit asylum seekers and foreign nationals seeking permanent residency, providing them with greater stability in their employment situations. According to USCIS estimates, up to 800,000 immigrants were at risk of losing their jobs and work permits without this regulatory change.
This move is part of broader efforts to restore USCIS processing capacity, which was significantly impacted during the previous administration. The Biden administration previously extended the EAD validity to 540 days in 2022 and has now reinstated this extension to support immigrant communities and streamline immigration processes.
The extension will encompass all immigrant categories covered by the previous extension in 2022, providing relief to a diverse range of individuals navigating the US immigration system.
