US ends automatic work permit extensions weeks after $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike

“This is a common sense measure to ensure appropriate vetting and screening has been completed before an alien’s employment authorisation or documentation is extended,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “Working in the United States is a privilege, not a right.”

The rule will affect various categories, including spouses of H-1B, L, and E visa holders, as well as individuals with refugee or asylee status.

The DHS advised foreigners to apply for renewal up to 180 days before their EAD expires. It clarified that EADs already extended before October 30 will remain valid under the previous policy.

Previously, under the Biden administration, those who filed Form I-765 for timely renewal were eligible for a 540-day automatic extension.

The move comes amid a broader tightening of immigration policy under President Donald Trump, who in September raised annual H-1B visa fees to $100,000.

According to US Census Bureau data, there were about 4.8 million Indian Americans as of 2022, two-thirds of whom are immigrants.

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