The US government, under President Donald Trump’s leadership, has reversed a previous policy introduced during Joe Biden’s administration that allowed the automatic extension of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for certain foreign workers. This change, set to take effect from October 30, 2025, will significantly impact many Indian professionals working in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that automatic extensions for EAD renewals will no longer be permitted. The move is part of an effort to enhance vetting procedures and ensure employment authorizations are granted only after thorough review. According to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, the decision puts national security and proper immigration control above administrative convenience for foreign nationals.
Previously, under a 2022 Biden-era policy, EADs were automatically extended for up to 540 days to address long processing backlogs and prevent unemployment. This streamlined process helped reduce delays for over 1.5 million pending work permit applications.
EADs are essential legal documents that permit non-immigrant foreign nationals—such as dependents of diplomats, refugees, and students—to work in the US. Those eligible include spouses of H-1B and L-1 visa holders, and F-1 students under Optional Practical Training (OPT) and STEM programs.
This policy rollback follows another major change—significant fee hikes for H-1B visa petitions. With over 4.8 million Indian Americans in the US, many of whom depend on work authorization to remain employed, the new decision may lead to increased delays, employment gaps, and overall uncertainty for Indian workers.
