In the wake of a Washington, D.C. shooting involving National Guard members, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a sweeping policy change affecting Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for refugees, asylees, and certain other migrants. The maximum validity period for EADs will be reduced from five years to 18 months for Form I-765 applications filed on or after December 5, 2025, and for those with pending applications as of that date.
The change applies to refugees, asylees, individuals with withholding of removal, those with pending asylum or adjustment applications, and other categories listed by USCIS under HR 1. In some cases, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and parole-related categories may also be affected. This policy is designed to enable more frequent vetting of work-authorized migrants and strengthen public safety.
The policy is aligned with recent legislation and ongoing immigration enforcement under HR 1, and is effective for filings on or after December 5, 2025. The change follows USCIS policy manual updates and is intended to ensure more timely vetting.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow framed the move as a crucial step toward more frequent vetting, arguing that recency matters more than long-term permissions in safeguarding public safety.
USCIS announced the change in a news release and policy manual updates available at uscis.gov. Coverage of the change has also appeared in outlets such as CBS News and The Hindu, which provide additional context and reporting.
Applicants filing on or after December 5, 2025, should plan for the 18-month EAD window. The policy is not retroactive and does not change the validity period of EADs already issued or currently valid. For those with pending applications as of the effective date, the new rule will apply once their applications are adjudicated. This change forms part of a broader tightening of immigration policy under HR 1 and reflects ongoing efforts to tighten work-authorization vetting at the border and nationwide.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through the ads.