USCIS Updates Maximum Validity Periods for EADs for Certain Applicants

Due to the major problems immigrants are facing because of the horrible processing times for new Employment Authorization Documents, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or USCIS, announced a change to the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents, or EADs, issued to certain applicants. USCIS will now generally grant two-year EADs for applicants filing new and renewed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to applicants in the following categories:

• Admitted as a refugee (a)(3);
• Granted asylum (a)(5);
• Granted withholding of deportation or removal (a)(10); and
• VAWA self-petitioner (c)(31).

Additionally, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs up to the end of the parole or deferred action period to applicants in the following categories:

• Paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit (c)(11); and
• Granted deferred action (non-DACA) (c)(14).

This is effective immediately. New and renewed EADs issued for impacted categories on or after Feb. 7, 2022, will reflect the updated validity periods. EADs issued before Feb. 7, 2022, are not affected. USCIS will continue to issue replacement EADs with the same validity date as the original EAD.