Overview
- Beginning October 30, renewal applicants in affected categories may not continue working after an EAD expires until USCIS approves the new card.
- Those impacted include refugees, asylees, green card applicants, spouses of E, H, L and H‑4 visa holders, some TPS beneficiaries, VAWA self‑petitioners, and citizens of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and Palau.
- USCIS says previously granted automatic extensions remain valid, and certain TPS-related extensions under statute or Federal Register notices still apply.
- Applicants are advised to file renewals up to 180 days before expiration to reduce the risk of a gap in work authorization.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow framed the change as restoring security-focused vetting, stating that prior policies favored convenience and that working in the U.S. is a privilege.