U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Update

WASHINGTON—The U.S. government has made it easier for certain immigrants to keep working legally while waiting for their paperwork to be processed.

Here’s what’s happening:

• If you’re eligible to work in the U.S. but your work permit (called Employment Authorization Document or EAD) is expiring, you can now automatically extend it for up to 540 days instead of the previous 180 days.

• This change aims to prevent people who are already authorized to work from losing their jobs while they wait for their permit renewals to be approved.

• The Biden-Harris Administration hopes this will help more people get jobs and support the economy.

• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has been working to speed up the process for getting work permits, but they’ve been overwhelmed by the number of applications they’ve received.

• The new rule is temporary and gives USCIS more time to figure out long-term solutions. They’re also asking for feedback from the public.

• This extension applies to people who submitted their renewal applications on or after October 27, 2023, and are still waiting for a decision when the new rule is published.

Without this change, almost 800,000 people could lose their right to work, affecting around 60,000 to 80,000 employers. This rule doesn’t change the length of time someone can stay in the U.S. legally.

For immigration questions or concerns, please reach out. We are here to help.