The United States has launched one of the most sweeping changes to employment authorization in years, directly affecting hundreds of thousands of immigrants who rely on work permits tied to pending green card applications. The updated rule significantly reshapes how a green card work permit is issued and maintained, reducing validity periods and increasing the frequency of renewals for many applicants across the country. This marks a major shift in what immigrants, employers, and legal advocates can expect going forward.
A Major Policy Shift: Work Permits Now Limited to 18 Months
The new rule, which took effect on December 5, 2025, reduces the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for many major immigrant categories. Previously, individuals could receive work permits valid for up to five years. Under the updated policy, most new and renewed permits will now be valid for no more than 18 months.
This change applies to both initial applications and renewals filed on or after the effective date. Importantly, the policy is not retroactive—any existing EADs granted for two, three, or five years will remain valid until their stated expiration date.
The categories most affected include:
- Individuals with pending green card (adjustment of status) applications
- Asylees and asylum applicants
- Refugees
- Applicants with pending withholding of removal cases
- Certain humanitarian categories, including specific parole programs and specialty protections
By shortening the validity period, the government aims to review cases more frequently, increase ongoing vetting, and tighten oversight of work authorization across the system. For applicants, however, the outcome is far more complicated.
Why the Government Made the Change
Officials have stated that the primary reasons for the new rule include:
More Frequent Security Screening
The reduced validity period allows immigration authorities to re-evaluate individuals more regularly. A shorter permit life cycle means more touchpoints for background checks and case reviews.
Ending Long Work-Permit Gaps
The previous five-year validity windows left long periods without updated vetting, something officials say posed national security and fraud concerns.
Recalibrating Humanitarian and Adjustment Categories
The administration has emphasized that bringing work-permit validity back to under two years creates alignment between workload, risk assessment, and broader immigration policy goals.
Removing Automatic Extensions
The rule also ends automatic work-permit extensions that previously helped immigrants stay employed while waiting on renewal processing. Now, individuals must plan renewals early to avoid employment interruption.
Taken together, the changes reflect broader tightening across the immigration system, including increased scrutiny, longer processing times, and more restrictive policies for certain nationalities and humanitarian categories.
How Immigrants Will Feel the Impact
More Frequent Renewals
Instead of renewing an EAD every few years, applicants will now need to renew far more often. Many will face the renewal process every year and a half—sometimes sooner if processing delays occur.
Higher Costs and Administrative Burdens
Repeated renewals come with cumulative filing fees, preparation time, and administrative demands. For families with multiple applicants, the cost impact may be significant.
Increased Risk of Employment Gaps
Without automatic extensions, applicants who file late—or who face long processing delays—could find themselves unable to work legally for days, weeks, or even months. This could jeopardize jobs, housing, and family stability.
Greater Uncertainty for Employers
Businesses that rely on immigrant workers must now monitor documentation with increased diligence. More frequent expiration dates mean more verification checks, more recordkeeping, and a higher chance that an employee may unexpectedly lose work authorization.
Pressure on an Already Backlogged System
USCIS already manages substantial processing delays. With explosive growth in renewal volume expected due to the shorter validity period, the strain could worsen—leading to even longer wait times.
Who Is Directly Affected
The rule broadly applies to:
- Applicants waiting for green card approval
- Individuals granted asylum
- Applicants with pending asylum claims
- Refugees admitted to the U.S.
- People granted withholding of removal
- Certain humanitarian applicants whose categories rely on EADs
Those who hold work authorization based on visa status—such as H-1B, L-1, or O-1 visa holders—are not affected, as they do not use EADs for employment.
Individuals who already hold long-validity work permits issued before December 5, 2025 remain protected. They do not need to take any action until their current documents expire.
What the Policy Does Not Change
- It does not invalidate any existing EADs.
- It does not change eligibility for green cards, asylum, or refugee status.
- It does not limit the ability of qualified applicants to work lawfully—only the duration of each permit.
- It does not alter work authorization for non-EAD visa categories.
However, it dramatically changes the experience of maintaining work authorization while waiting for long processing timelines to resolve.
Part of a Larger Immigration Tightening Trend
The work-permit overhaul accompanies other recently implemented reforms, including:
- Expanded vetting for several countries
- Pausing or slowing immigration benefits for certain high-risk nationalities
- Revisions to humanitarian processing
- Elevated scrutiny of all employment authorization renewals
These steps indicate a coordinated shift toward more restrictive and more frequently monitored immigration benefits, affecting millions of individuals navigating the system.
Practical Guidance for Applicants and Employers
Apply Early for Renewals
Experts recommend filing EAD renewals six to nine months before expiration. This increases the chance of uninterrupted employment.
Track Expiration Dates Closely
With shorter validity periods, a missed date could lead to significant disruption.
Maintain Updated Documentation
Names, addresses, employment details, and immigration paperwork must be current and consistent.
Communicate with Employers
Workers should be transparent with HR departments about renewal timelines so employers can proactively verify continued compliance.
Consider Legal Guidance
Due to the complexity of the new policy, some applicants may benefit from professional guidance to prevent delays or errors in filing.
Larger Questions Raised by the Policy
The rule sparks broader concerns and discussions, such as:
- Whether USCIS processing times will worsen under higher renewal volume
- Whether frequent lapses in work authorization may occur
- How employers in high-demand sectors will adapt
- Whether legal challenges will arise if the policy proves overly burdensome
- What long-term impact this will have on immigrant integration and workforce stability
As the policy unfolds, both industry leaders and immigrant communities will be watching closely.
The Bottom Line
The new rule dramatically changes how immigrants maintain legal work authorization in the U.S. By reducing EAD validity to just 18 months, the government is altering the landscape for applicants navigating the path toward permanent residence. For anyone relying on a green card work permit, these changes create tighter timelines, more frequent renewals, and greater personal and financial strain.
While the impact will vary by individual, the policy represents one of the most consequential updates to employment authorization in recent years—and its effects will be felt across workplaces, communities, and families nationwide.
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