Extension of EAD validity

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On February 7, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published updated policy guidance to change the maximum validity period that may be granted for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued to certain applicants, as well as to provide general guidance on adjudicating Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.

Starting today, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs that are valid for two years to applicants in the following categories:

  • Admitted as a refugee (a)(3);

  • Granted asylum (a)(5);

  • Granted withholding of deportation or removal (a)(10); and

  • VAWA self-petitioner (c)(31).

Additionally, USCIS will generally grant new and renewed EADs up to the end of the parole or deferred action period to applicants in the following categories:

  • Paroled into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit (c)(11); and

  • Granted deferred action (non-DACA) (c)(14).

Increasing the maximum validity period that may be provided on EADs for these categories will help ease processing backlogs by reducing the frequency and number of times these applicants must renew their EADs and will help prevent gaps in employment authorization and documentation.

This policy update is effective immediately. Therefore, new and renewed EADs issued for impacted categories on or after February. 7, 2022, will reflect the updated validity periods. EADs issued before February. 7, 2022, are not affected. USCIS will continue to issue replacement EADs with the same validity date as the original EAD.