The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) increased the automatic extension of employment authorization documents (EADs) for certain individuals from 180 days to 540 days back in April 2024.
Beginning January 13, 2025, this 540-day extension will be permanent and will apply to certain renewal EAD applications pending or filed on or after May 4, 2022.
This automatic 540-day EAD extension applies to the following categories:
- (a)(3) – Refugee
- (a)(5) – Asylee
- (a)(7) – N-8 or N-9
- (a)(8) – Citizen of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau
- (a)(10) – Withholding of Deportation or Removal Granted
- (a)(12) – Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Granted
- (a)(17) – Spouse of principal E-1, E-2, or E-3 nonimmigrants with unexpired I-94
- (a)(18) – Spouse of principal L-1 nonimmigrant with unexpired I-94
- (c)(8) – Applicants with a pending asylum application
- (c)(9) – Applicants with a pending adjustment of status application
- (c)(10) – Suspension of deportation applicants (filed before 04/01/1997); cancellation of removal applicants; special rule cancellation of removal applicants under NACARA
- (c)(16) – Creation of Record (adjustment based on continuous living in the US since 01/01/1972)
- (c)(19) – Certain TPS applicants found eligible upon initial review
- (c)(20) – Section 210 legalization (pending I-700)
- (c)(22) – Section 245A legalization (pending I-687)
- (c)(24) – LIFE legalization
- (c)(26) – Spouses of certain H-1B principal nonimmigrants with unexpired I-94
- (c)(31) – VAWA self-petitioners
Applicants with work authorization based on the above categories must file their I-765, Application for Employment Authorization renewal application before the expiration date on their current EAD card to qualify for this extension.
If you have any questions regarding your eligibility for this 540-day extension, the EAD renewal application process, or any other immigration related matter, please do not hesitate to contact KILO Immigration by filling out this contact form.