CBP Updates I-94 Admission Codes To Allow E And L Dependent Spouses To Work Without A Separate EAD

Further to policy changes first announced in November 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has implemented new Form I-94 admission codes that allow E and L dependent spouses entering the U.S. after January 31, 2022 to work without a separate employment authorization document (EAD).

A Form I-94 issued to an E or L dependent spouse admitted to the U.S. after January 31, 2022 is now alone sufficient to establish I-9 employment eligibility. However, at this time, a Form I-94 issued to an E or L dependent spouse admitted before January 31, 2022 is not alone sufficient to establish I-9 employment eligibility.A valid Form I-94 must be combined with a valid EAD or with evidence of a timely filed EAD extension in order to establish I-9 employment eligibility. See the limited automatic extensions policy below for further details.