New USCIS Guidance Extends Validity Period For Employment Authorization Documents For Certain Categories

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is extending the validity period for certain categories of immigrants eligible to receive Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). Immigrants such as those who currently hold refugee or asylee status and those granted withholding of removal, among others, can now receive EADs valid for five years for initial and renewal filings. This change comes after the agency has struggled to timely approve EAD renewal applications even after granting automatic extensions for certain individuals of 540 days.

Immigrants seeking EADs currently applying for asylum, withholding of removal, and adjustment of status under INA 245 will benefit from an increased validity period of their initial applications with a change from two to four years. Those seeking suspension of deportation or cancellation of removal will see their validity period increase from one to five years.