The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Thursday a significant change in the duration of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD), reducing their maximum validity from five years to 18 months.
The agency stated that the measure will allow for more frequent background checks and improve the detection of potential fraud or security threats linked to applicants with pending immigration status.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow stated that the new policy aims to ensure that those who work legally in the country comply with updated review standards. He also noted that the recent attack against members of the National Guard in Washington, committed by a foreign national admitted under previous policies, demonstrated the need to strengthen periodic oversight.
The decision reinstates the 18-month validity limit historically applied to a wide range of immigration categories. Among the affected groups are refugees, individuals granted asylum, beneficiaries of withholding or suspension of deportation, and applicants for adjustment of status.
It also includes those with pending asylum applications or removal cancellation proceedings. All employment permits filed or in process as of December 5, 2025, will be subject to the new deadlines.
USCIS indicated that the measure responds to the need to regularly review prolonged immigration cases, to ensure that applicants remain eligible for work authorization while their processes are solved.
