Overview
- An interim final rule now denies automatic extensions to EAD renewals filed on or after October 30, reversing a policy that had allowed up to 540 days of continued work.
- USCIS frames the shift as a vetting measure to deter fraud and identify security risks, with coverage noting officials cited a June 2025 Boulder incident in their rationale.
- EADs already extended before October 30 remain valid, and limited exceptions authorized by statute or Federal Register notice, including certain TPS-related extensions, still apply.
- Groups affected include H-4 and L-2 spouses, asylum seekers, adjustment-of-status applicants, and F-1 students on OPT, who must stop working if renewals are not approved before current cards expire.
- Employers and universities warn of likely work gaps due to processing backlogs, USCIS urges filing up to 180 days before expiry, and reporting highlights disproportionate effects on Indian nationals.