Overview
- Effective December 5, 2025, initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents for affected categories are limited to 18 months, while cards issued earlier keep their printed expiration dates.
- The change hits many applicants for adjustment of status who rely on EADs to work lawfully while their green card cases are pending.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow framed the shift as a public‑safety measure requiring more frequent checks following the attack on National Guard members.
- Immigration lawyers warn of higher renewal costs of up to $605 per filing, extra paperwork, and a greater risk of work‑authorization gaps if processing times do not improve.
- Employers must prepare for more frequent I‑9 reverifications, and applicants can file EAD renewals up to 180 days before expiration to lessen lapse risk.