Validity Benefits: The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a temporary extension of the automatic validity period for expiring Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), commonly known as work authorizations.
This extension, applicable to certain renewal applications, increases the maximum duration from the current 180 days to 540 days.
Validity Benefits….
The move particularly benefits asylum-seekers, H-4 visa holders, and green card applicants, who rely on valid EADs to avoid job loss or employment gaps.
Given the prolonged processing times by USCIS, this extension ensures that work authorization remains intact while applications are pending.
USCIS stated that without this extension, nearly 800K EAD renewal applicants would face employment authorization lapses, impacting around 68K American employers.
Immigration experts highlight the backlog affecting EAD applications of Indian spouses of H-1B visa holders, as well as green card applicants awaiting their turn.
The extended period means that applicants whose EADs expired since October 27, 2023, can continue working for an additional 360 days while awaiting EAD renewals.
The extended automatic extension, up to 540 days, applies to eligible EAD applicants who filed renewal applications on or after October 27, 2023, and whose applications are pending as of April 8, 2024.
Additionally, applicants renewing EADs between April 8, 2024, and September 30, 2025, are also eligible for the increased auto-extension, provided their current EAD or 180-day auto-extension period has not expired.
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