The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a significant policy change, reducing the validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), commonly known as work permits, from five years to 18 months for several categories of applicants. This decision, which took effect on December 5, 2025, has triggered widespread anxiety among green card applicants and employers alike.
The updated policy impacts a range of individuals, including those with pending applications for adjustment of status (green card processing), refugees, asylees, and individuals seeking withholding of deportation or removal. The USCIS stated that the change applies to employment authorization applications filed or pending on or after December 5, 2025.
USCIS officials argue that this adjustment is necessary to facilitate more frequent vetting of foreign nationals seeking work authorization. They claim that shorter validity periods will enable the agency to conduct more regular security reviews, detect fraud, and identify individuals who may pose a threat to public safety or promote "harmful anti-American ideologies". Director Joseph Edlow referenced a recent attack on National Guard members in Washington, D.C., as evidence of the need for increased scrutiny.
However, critics argue that the policy is a thinly veiled attempt to deter asylum seekers and humanitarian migrants from remaining in the U.S.. Immigration experts warn that the move will negatively impact hundreds of thousands of applicants with pending Adjustment of Status (AOS) cases, as renewal delays are already common. Reducing the validity period to 18 months could further strain USCIS processing capacity and create gaps in work authorization for lawful applicants who have been waiting for permanent residency for extended periods.
The change also raises concerns about increased costs and paperwork for both applicants and the USCIS. Attorney Emily Neumann noted that the new policy will lead to more frequent filings, exacerbating existing backlogs and increasing processing times. This, coupled with the elimination of automatic EAD extensions for pending applications, could result in individuals losing their jobs if their renewal applications are not processed in a timely manner.
For employers, particularly those in sectors heavily reliant on immigrant labor such as hospitality, construction, and healthcare, the policy change presents significant challenges. The need for more frequent renewals could disrupt workforce stability and create uncertainty for businesses.
Individuals holding EADs in the affected categories are advised to check their expiration dates and file for renewal as soon as possible, as USCIS allows renewal applications up to 180 days before expiration. They should also understand the specific rules applicable to their category and plan for potential gaps in work authorization.
This policy marks a significant departure from the previous five-year EAD validity period established under the Biden administration, which aimed to reduce backlogs and ease administrative burdens. The USCIS has framed the shorter validity periods as a security measure. This change is part of a broader trend of tightening immigration procedures and increasing scrutiny on immigrants.
