The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a final rule that increases the automatic extension period of Employment Authorization Document (EAD or Form I-766) and employment authorization permanently. Effective January 13, 2025, the final rule increases the validity from 180 days to 540 days. It applies to eligible aplicants with renewal EAD applications that were filed in a timely fashion and are pending or file on/after May 4, 2022.

Review updated guidance here. DHS also has an automatic extension eligibility calculator available for use on that site.

This article is informational and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with an employment lawyer or accountant for additional clarification on how these changes impact your company.