The U.S. government says it will end the automatic renewal of work permits for migrants beginning October 30, 2025, as part of a broader strategy to tighten background checks and national security procedures.
According to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), this change means that holders of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) must now wait until their renewal applications are fully processed before their work authorization can be extended.
“The current 540-day automatic extension policy, implemented under the Biden administration, will be discontinued.“
Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Joseph Edlow said the new rule was designed to ensure every applicant undergoes comprehensive vetting before being approved to continue working in the country.
“Working in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” Edlow said, emphasizing that the government is restoring a “commonsense process” focused on safeguarding Americans and enhancing immigration integrity.
“The updated rule reflects a return to stricter Trump-era immigration practices, aiming to close loopholes that allowed migrants to work before full background checks were completed. DHS officials noted that the policy will enhance fraud detection and improve the identification of potential security threats.”
“Some exemptions will remain in place, including for individuals under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and other cases explicitly permitted by federal law or Federal Register notices.”
“To avoid employment interruptions, USCIS is urging non-citizens to submit renewal requests up to 180 days before their EADs expire. Work permits that have already received automatic extensions before October 2025 will not be affected by the new rule.”
