On December 4, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) to 18 months for several categories of applicants including those with pending adjustment of status or asylum/withholding of removal applications. This is a reduction from the previous five-year maximum validity period.
This change will affect those who file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on or after December 5, 2025, applying for an EAD in an affected category, including:
- Foreign nationals admitted as refugees.
- Foreign nationals granted asylum.
- Foreign nationals granted withholding of deportation or removal.
- Foreign nationals with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal.
- Foreign nationals with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245.
- Have pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.
Existing EADs will remain valid through their expiration date.
Additionally, effective as of the passing of the recent “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law on July 4, 2025, the validity period for EADs for those paroled into the U.S. or who entered hold Temporary Protected Status (TPS), will be a maximum validity period of either one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of TPS, whichever is shorter.
These changes, coupled with the recent elimination of automatic extensions for timely filed EAD renewal requests, increase how frequently EAD holders must file their renewal requests. They also increase the risk of accruing periods of unauthorized employment if the applicant works without a valid EAD. Individuals who rely on an EAD for work authorization in the U.S. should closely track their EAD expiration dates and file any renewal requests as early as possible — at least 180 days prior to the EAD expiration date.
Fredrikson’s Immigration Team continues to closely monitor immigration trends and developments. Please contact our team if you have any questions.
