Business Immigration Monthly - August 2023

USCIS TO END AUTOMATIC 540-DAY EXTENSION PERIOD OF CERTAIN EADS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently indicated that it will not continue the 540-day automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents ("EAD") renewals for certain eligible applicants. The temporary rule, in effect since May 4, 2022, was aimed at alleviating hardships to workers and employers due to growing processing times for EAD renewals.

Those EAD renewal applicants eligible for the 540-day automatic extension who file their applications with USCIS before October 26, 2023 will continue to benefit from the 540 days of continued employment authorization if a decision on their EAD application is not issued sooner. Eligible EAD renewal applicants who file their applications with USCIS on or after October 27, 2023 will be allocated the usual 180-day automatic extension of their EAD. EAD renewal applicants impacted include Refugees, Asylees, some TPS applicants, spouses of