The Biden administration has announced an extension of work permits for certain categories of immigrants, a move that could prevent hundreds of thousands of individuals from losing their jobs suddenly.
The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing a temporary final rule extending the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from 180 to 540 days.
This extension allows eligible immigrants whose EADs have expired since October 27 to continue working for at least another 360 days while their EAD renewals are processed.
Joe Biden (Credits: Asharq Al-Awsat)
USCIS Director Ur Jaddou emphasized that this rule aims to prevent lapses in employment authorizations and provides an opportunity for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to consider long-term solutions.
The largest groups benefiting from this change are asylum seekers and foreign nationals in the process of changing their status to permanent residency.
Up to 800,000 immigrants were at risk of losing their work permits without this rule. Additionally, USCIS will benefit from the extension as it continues to rebuild its processing capacity.
President Biden (Credits: AZCentral)
This is the second time the Biden administration has extended work permits to 540 days. The previous extension, announced in 2022, expired on October 27, 2023. The new extension covers all categories of immigrants previously included.
The implementation of longer extensions reduces the likelihood of future mass expiration of EADs. USCIS has been issuing five-year EADs to eligible immigrants since September, providing a larger buffer to prepare for potential future scenarios.
Stakeholders, including advocacy groups, mayors, and the business community, have welcomed the extension. It provides relief to immigrants facing uncertainty about their work authorization and reduces disruptions for businesses. The extension addresses concerns raised by various stakeholders and ensures continued access to employment for eligible individuals.
