USCIS to Reduce EAD Validity Periods to 18 months or Less

 USCIS announced today a reduction in the validity periods of various Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) as follows:

The maximum validity period for initial and renewal EADs for the following categories will be changed from 5 years back to 18 months: 

• Aliens admitted as refugees;
• Aliens granted asylum;
• Aliens granted withholding of deportation or removal;
• Aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal;
• Aliens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245; and
• Aliens with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.

This change affects all EAD applications that are pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, and based on any of the above categories.

USCIS is also adjusting the validity periods of the other EAD categories, based on the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," signed into law on July 4, 2025 by the President. The validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents will be one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), whichever is shorter for the following categories:

• Aliens paroled as refugees;
• Aliens granted TPS;
• Aliens granted parole;
• Aliens with a pending TPS application; and
• Alien spouse of entrepreneur parole.

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule a legal consultation.)