New USCIS Policy allows certain applicants to obtain Employment Authorization Documents that will be valid for 2 years

On February 7, 2022, USCIS updated its General Guidelines on the Maximum Validity Periods for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), or work permits, for certain filing categories.  This guidance allows eligible applicants to obtain EADs that will be valid for 2 years when they file initial or renewal EAD applications (filed on Form I-765).  Before this change, applicants were only able to obtain EADs that had a 1-year validity period.

Eligible applicants include:

Asylees

Refugees

Non-citizens with Withholding of Deportation or Removal

Non-citizens with Deferred Action

Parolees

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners

Note that USCIS has advised that it will apply these updated validity period guidelines to EADs issued under the above categories on or after February 7, 2022 and that EADs issued before this date will not be affected.  USCIS has further advised that it will continue to issue replacement EADs with the same validity dates as the original EAD that was previously issued.

For more information regarding this new USCIS Policy Guidance affecting certain applicants for Employment Authorization Documents, contact U.S. Immigration Lawyer Sean D. Hummel to schedule a consultation.