Automatic Employment Authorization Extension Increased to 540 days!

Certain categories of employment authorization are eligible for automatic extensions of employment authorization upon the submission of an application for a new employment authorization document. Normally, the amount of time given is 180 days from the expiration date of the current employment authorization document (EAD). However, just this week, Department of Homeland Security temporarily increased the extension period from 180 days to 540 days! This provides an extra year of coverage for employment authorization above the normal extension.

USCIS states, "This temporary increase is available to eligible renewal applicants with pending applications if you filed your Form I-765 renewal application either:

• Before May 4, 2022, and your 180-day automatic extension has since expired;

• Before May 4, 2022, and your 180-day automatic extension has not yet expired; or

• Between May 4, 2022 and Oct. 26, 2023, inclusive of these dates."

Unfortunately, this is only temporary and is an effort to relieve the extreme delays in EAD processing. This new 540 day total automatic renewal is only available through October 26, 2023. If you file for a renewal application after Oct. 26, 2023, the normal 180-day automatic extension period will apply.

For more information and the categories available for automatic EAD extension, see the USCIS website at: https://www.uscis.gov/eadautoextend.