BOP NEWSLETTER • April 2024

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) extended the renewal period for work permits to 540 days?

Employment authorization documents (EADs) typically have a validity of 180 days from the EAD’s stated expiration date. This temporary final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on April 8, will extend that to 540 days. However, applicability is limited to:

• EAD applicants who have properly filed renewal applications on or after Oct. 27, 2023, as long as these applications remain pending on April 8 and the applicant’s current EAD or 180-day auto-extension period has not expired.
• EAD renewal applicants who timely file their Form I-765 renewal application between April 8, 2024, and Sept. 30, 2025.

The temporary measure will prevent work-authorized individuals from having their employment authorization and documentation lapse while waiting for USCIS to adjudicate pending EAD renewal applications, said USCIS Director Ur Jaddou.

Work permits are granted to various categories of immigrants, and those covered under this policy change include green card applicants, the spouses of H-1B recipients, workers granted Temporary Protected Status and asylum seekers. The rule does not apply to applicants seeking initial approval for work authorization.