WASHINGTON (Chatnewstv.com) — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Wednesday it is ending the practice of automatically extending employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain immigrants while their renewal applications are pending.
The change, introduced as an interim final rule, takes effect Oct. 30, 2025. Officials said the new policy prioritizes the “proper screening and vetting of aliens” for public safety and national security reasons.
Immigrants filing to renew their EADs in certain categories on or after Oct. 30 will no longer receive the automatic extension. Limited exceptions will remain, including those provided by law or a Federal Register notice for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)-related employment documentation.
The DHS stated that ending automatic extensions will lead to more frequent background reviews, enabling U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to deter fraud and “detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal.”
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the agency is shifting away from previous policies.
“USCIS is placing a renewed emphasis on robust alien screening and vetting, eliminating policies the former administration implemented that prioritized aliens’ convenience ahead of Americans’ safety and security,” Edlow said. “It’s a commonsense measure to ensure appropriate vetting and screening has been completed before an alien’s employment authorization or documentation is extended.”
Edlow added a reminder for all foreign nationals: “All aliens must remember that working in the United States is a privilege, not a right.”
USCIS recommends that immigrants seeking to renew their EADs file their renewal applications up to 180 days before their current document expires. The agency warned that delays in filing could result in a “temporary lapse in their employment authorization or documentation.”
The interim final rule will not affect EADs that were automatically extended before the Oct. 30, 2025, effective date.
