| Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash
NEW YORK. — In a sweeping policy shift with far-reaching implications for immigrant workers, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has officially ended the automatic extension of employment authorization for many noncitizens, a move that immigrant advocates warn could disrupt livelihoods and deepen labor shortages across key sectors.
Effective October 30, 2025, individuals who apply to renew their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) will no longer receive an automatic extension of their work permits while their applications are pending. It reverses a pandemic-era policy that granted up to 540 days of continued work authorization to prevent employment gaps caused by processing delays at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Policy Affects a Wide Range of Categories
The rollback affects a wide range of immigrant categories, including asylum seekers, refugees, spouses of H-1B visa holders (H-4), applicants for green cards, and survivors of domestic violence under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Notably, individuals with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) and those covered by statutory or regulatory extensions remain exempt.
In a statement, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow defended the change, asserting that “working in the United States is a privilege, not a right,” and emphasizing the need for more frequent vetting to prevent fraud and bolster national security.
Employers are Bracing for Disruption
But immigrant rights groups and legal experts argue the policy punishes law-abiding workers for bureaucratic backlogs. “This change will have catastrophic ripple effects,” said Conchita Cruz, co-executive director of the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project. “Thousands of immigrants who have lived and worked here legally for years could suddenly find themselves out of work—not because they did anything wrong, but because USCIS can’t keep up.”
The policy shift comes as USCIS continues to struggle with processing delays, despite recent investments in staffing and technology. Advocates fear that without the automatic extension, many renewal applicants will face weeks or months of forced unemployment, jeopardizing their income, housing, and health insurance.
Employers, too, are bracing for disruption. Industries that rely heavily on immigrant labor—such as healthcare, elder care, and food services—could see staffing shortages worsen as legally authorized workers are sidelined by paperwork delays. The interim final rule does not automatically affect EADs that were extended before October 30, 2025.
Another Layer of Uncertainty
To avoid lapses in work authorization, DHS now urges renewal applicants to file at least 180 days before their EADs expire. But critics argue that this timeline is unrealistic for many immigrants navigating complex legal systems or awaiting documentation.
For Filipino American communities—many of whom are frontline healthcare workers, caregivers, and essential employees—the policy change adds another layer of uncertainty. “This is not just a paperwork issue,” said a Filipino community organizer in Queens. “It’s about dignity, stability, and the right to contribute to the country we call home.”
As the new rule takes effect, immigrant advocates are calling on Congress to intervene and on DHS to reconsider the policy’s implementation timeline. In the meantime, legal service providers are urging affected individuals to consult immigration attorneys and file renewal applications as early as possible.
