The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a policy change impacting thousands of noncitizen workers and their employers across the United States. In an interim final rule released this week, DHS ended the practice of automatically extending employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain categories of applicants who file renewal requests.
Beginning Oct. 30, 2025, noncitizens who submit EAD renewal applications will no longer receive an automatic extension of their employment authorization while their renewal is pending, with limited exceptions. This change marks a shift from prior policy and may require both employees and employers to adjust their compliance and workforce planning strategies accordingly.
Under previous DHS regulations, certain EAD renewal applicants automatically received up to a 540-day work authorization extension while their applications were being processed. The new interim final rule eliminates that automatic extension for most EAD categories.
DHS explains that this change is intended to “prioritize proper screening and vetting” of all EAD applicants before extending their authorization to work. According to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, the goal is to strengthen national security by ensuring that “appropriate vetting and screening has been completed before an alien’s employment authorization or documentation is extended.”
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