USCIShas announced a temporaryfinal rule increasing the automatic extension period for certain employmentauthorization documents (EADs) from 180 days to 540 days.
Therule applies to eligible workers with pending renewal applications filed on orafter October 27, 2023, and to those who file renewal applications betweenApril 8, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
Eligibleworkers include, but are not limited to:
- E-1/2/3spouses (A17);
- L-1spouses (A18);
- CertainH-1B spouses; and
- Workerswith pending Adjustment of Status applications (C9).
Afull list of the eligible categories may be found on the USCIS website here.
Thetemporary final rule follows a previous measure from 2022 that increased theEAD automatic extension period for workers with renewal applications filedbefore October 27, 2023.
USCISestimates the temporary final rule will benefit 800,000 workers and 60,000 to80,000 employers by preventing prevent lapses in work authorization.
Fromnow until June 7, 2024, USCIS invites comments from the public on whether theautomatic extension period for EADs should be permanently increased to540 days or whether a different solution should be implemented.
MULaw encourages workers with pending EAD renewal applications to contact theirMU immigration attorney to determine if they qualify for the automatic 540 EADextension.
Pleaserefer to the USCISpress release for further details. Comments may be submitted on the FederalRegister until June 7, 2024.