USCIS Extends Limited Automatic Extension Of Work Authorization From 180 To 540 Days

On  May 3, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a  Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that would increase the automatic extension period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain designated categories of EAD renewal applicants who timely filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization before their EAD's current expiration. This rule was issued in response to the extensive backlog of EAD renewal applications currently pending with the USCIS, which has resulted in incredible challenges for both employers and employees.

This TFR amended existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations by extending the automatic extension period for EAD applicants from 180 days to 540 days.   The change went into effect on May 4, 2022 to provide those non-immigrants, otherwise eligible for the automatic extension, an opportunity to maintain employment authorization while USCIS attempts to address its long backlog of EAD