The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has permanently extended the automatic renewal period for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from 180 days to up to 540 days. This change, effective January 13, 2025, aims to prevent work authorization lapses due to processing delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for the 540-day automatic extension, you must:

• Timely and properly file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) to renew your EAD before it expires.

• Belong to an eligible employment category, such as refugees, asylum seekers, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, certain spouses of work visa holders (e.g., H-4, L-2), or applicants for adjustment of status .

The extension starts from the "Card Expires" date on your EAD and continues for up to 540 days or until USCIS adjudicates your renewal application, whichever comes first .

How to Confirm Your Eligibility

USCIS provides an Automatic EAD Extension Eligibility Calculator to help determine if you qualify. You'll need your EAD category code (found under "Category" on your card) and your Form I-797C receipt notice for the renewal application.

What Employers Need to Know:

Employers can accept an expired EAD as valid if:

• The EAD category code is eligible for the extension.

• The employee presents a Form I-797C receipt notice for a timely filed renewal application with the same category code.

This rule aims to reduce employment disruptions and support the U.S. workforce by minimizing authorization gaps during EAD renewal processing .

For more information or to file your renewal, visit the USCIS EAD Renewal Page.