US Ends Automatic EAD Extensions; Many Workers Affected

The Department of Homeland Security's interim final rule, effective Oct. 30, 2025, ends automatic extensions of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for most renewal applicants — EADs that were automatically extended before that date remain valid — meaning filers will lose work authorization once their current card expires unless their renewal is approved. The rule rescinds a Biden-era practice that allowed up to 540 days of automatic extension; DHS and USCIS say the change restores more robust screening and vetting for national-security and public-safety reasons, with USCIS Director Joseph Edlow saying working in the U.S. is "a privilege, not a right." The rule is expected to affect large numbers of migrant and temporary workers — including H-1B holders and dependents, H-4 spouses, OPT/STEM students, TPS beneficiaries, asylum seekers and many employment-based green-card applicants — with official reporting citing hundreds of thousands to over a million EAD renewal filings annually. Attorneys and advocates warn the shift could force people out of jobs amid lengthy USCIS backlogs, and DHS urges applicants to file renewals up to 180 days before expiry to reduce the risk of lapses. DHS also says more frequent vetting will deter fraud and identify potential security risks, and limited exceptions remain under specific statutes or Federal Register notices.