USCIS Slashes EAD Validity Periods to 18 Months for Refugees, Asylees, and Adjustment Applicants – Effective Immediately

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today announced a major reduction in the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) across several humanitarian and adjustment-of-status categories. The change reverses a Biden-era policy that allowed up to five-year work permits and takes effect immediately for all pending and new applications filed on or after December 5, 2025.

The updated Policy Manual now limits initial and renewal EAD validity to a maximum of 18 months for the following groups:

• Admitted refugees  
• Granted asylees  
• Individuals granted withholding of removal  
• Pending asylum or withholding-of-removal applicants  
• Pending adjustment-of-status applicants (Form I-485)  
• Pending cancellation-of-removal, suspension-of-deportation, or NACARA cases  

A separate rule, required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1, signed July 4, 2025), continues to cap EAD validity at one year or the end of authorized status (whichever is shorter) for:

• Paroled refugees and other parolees
• TPS beneficiaries and pending TPS applicants  
• Spouses of entrepreneur parolees  

USCIS stated the shorter validity periods will allow “more frequent vetting” to detect fraud and national-security risks. “Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow.

Practical Impact on Affected Immigrants

You will need to renew your work permit roughly every 12–18 months instead of every five years. Each renewal costs $550 (current fee; subject to change) and requires a new Form I-765 with supporting documents. Processing times currently average 4–8 months, so file at least 180 days before expiration to avoid gaps in work authorization. Employers must re-verify work authorization more often when the EAD expires. 

The Donald Trump administration continues to roll out a series of immigration measures on the back of the DC shooting of two National Guard officers which left one dead and another seriously wounded. Having previously announced a rigorous reexamination and a pause to green card issuance to nationals from 19 affected countries, the White House now adds a new one to the list.

EAD Validity: Recommended Next Steps

1. Check your current EAD expiration date today.  

2. Mark your calendar to file Form I-765 up to six months in advance.  

3. Gather fresh supporting documents now (passport, I-94, approval notices, etc.).  

4. Consider consulting an immigration attorney, especially if your case is complex or you have upcoming travel.  

5. Speak with your employer’s HR team so they can plan I-9 re-verification.

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