In May 2022, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Temporary Final Rule (TFR), increasing the extension period for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EAD or Form I-766) from 180 days to 540 days. This was done to limit the number of individuals who lost jobs or otherwise had a gap in employment authorization due to USCIS's inability to adjudicate the renewal application and issue the new EAD within 180 days of the old card expiring.

That temporary increase will expire on October 26, 2023. Certain EAD renewals received by USCIS after October 26, 2023 (as reflected on the Form I-797C) will only give the employee a 180-day work authorization extension, as opposed to the 540 days we have become accustomed to. Importantly, this is a prospective decrease, meaning that anyone with a Form I-797C with a received date between May 22, 2022, and October 26, 2023, is entitled to the 540-day extension period.

USCIS is reporting that processing times for certain EAD renewals can range from 8-16 months (with a median of 2.7 months), which could result in the extension period being exhausted prior to receiving the new card.

Individuals may not continue working if their current work authorization expires and they cannot show evidence of continuing work authorization. Employers are reminded that they should keep abreast of work authorization end dates and have policies in place to determine the appropriate action, such as termination or suspension, when an individual cannot provide proof of continuing work authorization.

More information on employment authorization extensions can be found here, an EAD extension calculator can be found here, and information on USCIS processing times can be found here.

Posted: October 12, 2023