Overview
- Effective December 5, initial and renewal Employment Authorization Documents for key categories such as adjustment‑of‑status applicants and asylum applicants are capped at 18 months, while cards issued earlier keep their original expiration dates.
- For parole and Temporary Protected Status categories, new cards are limited to one year or the authorized parole/TPS period, whichever is shorter, expanding the pool of workers who must reapply more often.
- The October 30 end of the 540‑day automatic extension means employees can no longer work past expiration while renewals are pending, raising the risk of authorization gaps unless filings are made early.
- USCIS and legal advisors urge filing renewals up to 180 days before expiration as employers prepare for more frequent I‑9 reverifications, tighter tracking of expiration dates, and greater ICE audit exposure.
- USCIS cites security and fraud‑prevention goals for the rollback, while separate reports describe a developing, unconfirmed directive for re‑review and potential pauses affecting nationals from about 19 countries.