On October 29, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security announced an interim final rule ending the practice of automatically extending work authorization based on employment authorization documents (EADs) for applicants who timely filing renewal EAD applications in certain employment authorization categories.   

What Does This Mean?  

Previously, most applicants filing to renew their EADs would receive a notice from U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) that provided an automatic 540-day extension of the expiring EAD during the pendency of the renewal application. According to this new interim final rule, most applicants who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD work authorization. These include the following categories:   

1. 1. Refugees (A03) 
   2. Asylees (A05) 
   3. Withholding of removal (A10) 
   4. Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries (A12 or C19), subject to exceptions noted below 
   5. Spouses of E-1/E-2/E-3 nonimmigrants (A17) [Spouses of E-1, E-2 and E-3 nonimmigrants have work authorization incident to status and so could work based on proof of being in E-1S, E-2S, or E-3S status.] 
   6. Spouses of L-1 nonimmigrants (A18) [Spouses of L-1 nonimmigrants have work authorization incident to status and so could work based on proof of being in L-2S status.] 
   7. Pending asylum applicants (C08) 
   8. Adjustment of status applicants (C09) 
   9. Cancellation of removal/suspension of deportation applicants (C10) 
   10. Creation of record of lawful admission applicants (C16) 
   11. TPS applicants deemed prima facie eligible (C19), subject to exceptions noted below 
   12. Legalization applicants under INA §210 or §245A (C20, C22) 
   13. Legal Immigration Family Equity Act applicants (C24) 
   14. Certain H-4 spouses of H-1B nonimmigrants (C26) 
   15. VAWA self-petitioners (C31) 

The interim final rule does not affect EADs automatically extended before October 30, 2025.  As a reminder, those with EADs based on DACA were not and continue not to be eligible for auto-EAD extensions. 

Limited Exceptions  

Under the interim final rule, extensions provided by law or through a Federal Register notice for TPS-related employment documentation remain the exception. USCIS provides a listing of the categories that remain eligible for automatic extensions: Automatic Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Extension | USCIS, updated 10/29/2025.   

Moving Forward 

Individuals who file their EAD extension applications beginning October 30 are not eligible for the auto-extension. 

Individuals seeking a renewal of their EAD should timely file a renewal application up to 180 days before their EAD expires to avoid and/or minimize any lapse in employment authorization or documentation. Due to the end of automatic EAD extensions, it is more important than ever for applicants to file their EAD renewal applications well in advance of the current EAD’s expiration date.  It also is more important than ever for applicants to maintain their underlying immigration status, if possible, such as an H-1B, L-1, etc., to help avoid a gap in work authorization due to possible EAD processing delays. 

Foster LLP will continue to monitor changes in immigration benefits and will provide additional updates via our firm’s website at fosterglobal.com.