Updated: October 30, 2025 7:34 AM IST 
The US Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will no longer automatically extend work permits, known as Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs), for foreign workers. The change is expected to affect thousands of migrants, especially Indians, who make up a large part of the foreign workforce in the US. According to the department’s statement on Wednesday, anyone applying to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will not get an automatic extension. However, work permits that were already extended before that date will stay valid.
The Trump administration said the new rule focuses on stronger “vetting and screening” to keep the country safe and protect national security.
This decision ends the policy under the Biden administration, which allowed immigrants to keep working after their work permits expired as long as they had applied for renewal in time.
The Department added that only a few exceptions will remain, such as cases covered by law or special extensions listed in the Federal Register for people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
The new rule means the government will check the background of migrant workers more often. Officials say this will help the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) prevent fraud and identify people who might pose a risk.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow called the decision a “common-sense step,” adding that working in the United States is “a privilege, not a right.”
The agency has advised immigrants to renew their work permits early, i.e. up to 180 days before they expire. “If someone waits too long to file their EAD renewal, they might face a temporary break in their work authorization or paperwork,” the statement said.
Current USCIS processing times for work permit renewals range from three to 12 months depending on the category and location, according to agency data.
Indian nationals face some of the longest green card waiting times due to per-country caps. During these waits, applicants must repeatedly renew work permits to maintain employment.
The new rule will impact many groups of immigrants, including asylum seekers, refugees, green card applicants, and the spouses of people holding H-1B, E, or L visas.
It will also affect students working in the US under the OPT or STEM extension programs, as well as people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS). Indian professionals are expected to be among the hardest hit, as many already face long delays in getting green cards.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) gets around 52,000 work permit renewal applications every month but processes slightly fewer, which has created a growing backlog.
Without the previous 540-day automatic extension, many foreign workers could face breaks in employment, lose income, or become uncertain about their legal right to work.
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