U.S. ends automatic work permit extensions for Nigerians, other immigrants

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has introduced a new rule that ends the automatic extension of employment authorization documents (EADs) for immigrants in specific visa and eligibility categories who apply for renewal.

The interim final rule, announced on Wednesday, marks a major shift in the country’s employment authorization process.

With this rule, DHS said it “prioritises the proper screening and vetting of aliens before extending the validity of their employment authorisations”.

Immigrants who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD. There are limited exceptions to this rule, according to DHS, including extensions provided by law or through a Federal Register notice for TPS-related employment documentation.

Ending automatic extensions of EADs results in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for employment authorization to work in the U.S., it noted.

Additionally, it explained that reviewing an alien’s background more often will enable U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to deter fraud and detect immigrants with “potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States”.

“USCIS is placing a renewed emphasis on robust alien screening and vetting, eliminating policies the former administration implemented that prioritized aliens’ convenience ahead of Americans’ safety and security,” said USCIS director Joseph Edlow.

Mr Edlow added, “It’s a commonsense measure to ensure appropriate vetting and screening has been completed before an alien’s employment authorization or documentation is extended. All aliens must remember that working in the United States is a privilege, not a right.”

USCIS urged immigrants to seek a “timely renewal of their EAD by properly filing a renewal application up to 180 days before their EAD expires”.

It warned that the longer an alien waits to file an EAD renewal application, the more likely it is that they may experience a temporary lapse in their employment authorisation or documentation.

The interim final rule does not affect EADs automatically extended before October 30, 2025.