The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have announced a major policy change that will end the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for renewal applicants.
What Will Change
Currently, some individuals who file timely EAD renewals automatically receive an extension of their work authorization for up to 540 days, allowing them to keep working while their new card is being processed.
Starting October 30, 2025, this automatic extension will no longer be available.
If a renewal is still pending when the current EAD expires, the individual will lose work authorization and must wait until USCIS approves and issues the new card before resuming employment.
Who Will Be Affected
The rule mainly affects:
- Asylum seekers, refugees, and individuals granted Withholding of Removal
- Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders
- H-4 dependent spouses of H-1B workers
- Applicants waiting for green card approval (Form I-485)
Exceptions
The change will not apply to:
- F-1 students in STEM OPT programs
- L-2S, E-1S, E-2S, and E-3S spouses who are authorized to work automatically through their visa status
- Automatic extensions provided by law or Federal Register notices (such as certain TPS designations)
- DACA recipients, who have never been eligible for automatic extensions
- Renewal applicants who file before October 30, 2025
What to Do Next
For employers
Review employees with EADs expiring after October 30, 2025, and update I-9 tracking to prevent work gaps.
For employees
File EAD renewals at least 180 days before expiration and plan ahead to avoid interruptions.
If continuous employment is essential, explore alternative visa or work authorization options.
DHS says the change is intended to strengthen vetting and security checks. However, with processing times already exceeding a year for some categories, employers and workers should prepare early to avoid disruption.
