New Trump rule leaves thousands of immigrants at risk of losing their work permits
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a new rule ending the practice of automatically extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain noncitizens who file renewal applications on or after Oct. 30, 2025.
According to DHS, the change aims to prioritize thorough vetting and background screening before granting a new period of employment authorization.
The measure will affect thousands of immigrants who, until now, could continue working while their EAD renewal applications were pending with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
End of automatic work permit renewals
The new interim final rule, published for public inspection in the Federal Register, eliminates the automatic extension of up to 540 days that was granted to certain categories of renewal applicants while USCIS processed their cases.
DHS stated that the decision aligns with executive orders signed by President Donald Trump, including “Protecting the American People Against Invasion” (E.O. 14159) and “Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats” (E.O. 14161), which strengthen national security and immigration enforcement measures.
“USCIS is placing a renewed emphasis on robust alien screening and vetting, eliminating policies the former administration implemented that prioritized aliens’ convenience ahead of Americans’ safety and security,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.
“It’s a commonsense measure to ensure appropriate vetting and screening has been completed before an alien’s employment authorization or documentation is extended. All aliens must remember that working in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” he added.
Who will be affected by the new DHS rule
The rule impacts noncitizens in several employment authorization categories, including:
• Applicants for adjustment of status or asylum.
• Beneficiaries of Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
• Spouses of H-1B or L-1 visa holders.
• Individuals with pending applications for cancellation of removal or other immigration benefits before USCIS.
Only EADs that were automatically extended before October 30, 2025 will remain valid under the previous regulations.
Automatic extensions provided by law or through special Federal Register notices, such as those related to TPS, will also continue to apply.
Read more: Trump’s new citizenship test rule: Fail this part and your interview ends immediately
What Employment Authorization Document holders should do now
USCIS recommends that immigrants file their EAD renewal applications up to 180 days before their current cards expire to avoid interruptions in employment.
Those who fail to renew on time could face a lapse in employment authorization, and employers would be required to suspend them until USCIS approves the new card.
Applicants can visit USCIS’s official Employment Authorization Document page for details on eligible categories, renewal timelines, and filing instructions.
From automatic extensions to stricter vetting
Before this policy change, automatic extensions were first implemented in 2016 and expanded in 2024 to reduce delays in work permit processing.
With the new rule, DHS says it will conduct more frequent background checks on noncitizens applying for employment authorization, aiming to prevent fraud, strengthen national security and protect the integrity of the program.
This story was originally published October 30, 2025 at 12:53 PM.
