The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced a major change to how migrants renew their work permits. Under the new policy, migrants will no longer receive automatic extensions for their Employment Authorization Documents. Instead, they will now go through a full review and background check before their permits are renewed. This change will begin in 2025 and affects many migrants already living and working in the US.
This new rule replaces a policy from the Biden administration, which allowed migrants to receive up to 540 extra days on their work permits automatically while their renewal applications were being processed. The government had introduced that system to prevent people from losing their jobs while waiting for approval. However, the new administration says that policy created serious security risks and allowed renewals to happen without proper checks.
Work permits, also known as Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), are very important for migrants. They allow people to legally work, get a Social Security number, apply for a driver’s license, and in some cases even serve as temporary proof of legal status. Many migrants rely on work permits to support their families and maintain stability while waiting for asylum or other immigration decisions.
The agency responsible for handling these applications, USCIS, said the new vetting process is necessary because there have been cases where individuals with work permits were later involved in crimes. Officials say reviewing applications more carefully will help protect public safety. They noted cases of individuals who received automatic renewals even though they were under investigation.
The demand for work permits grew strongly in recent years, especially under the Biden administration. More migrants applied for protection programs such as DACA, Temporary Protected Status, and asylum, leading to a large increase in work permit requests. In some years, more than three million people applied. This rise made it difficult for USCIS to complete thorough reviews on time.
With the new change, migrants are being urged to apply early when renewing their work permits. Officials say processing times will vary based on the type of application, and delays could happen if people wait too long to submit their documents.
The new policy will take effect immediately for applications filed from October 30 onward. The government says it did not wait for a public comment period because the change was needed quickly to prevent future security risks. Migrants and employers will now have to adjust to the new system as the review process becomes stricter.
As this policy begins, many migrants may face uncertainty about their work status. However, officials say the goal is to ensure that everyone with a work permit is properly vetted and still eligible to live and work in the United States.