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The US Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced a new rule mandating full re-vetting of all migrants before their work permits can be renewed. The move, which reverses a Biden-era policy allowing renewals without completed checks, is expected to affect thousands of foreign workers, especially Indians, who form a significant part of the expat workforce. In a statement on Wednesday, the Department said "Aliens who file to renew their EAD (work permits) on or after Oct. 30, 2025 (Thursday), will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD." The new rule prioritises "vetting and screening to protect public safety, national security," it noted. The previous policy set by the Biden administration let immigrants work in the US for 540 days even after their work permit expired given: The renewal application was timely filed; Their EAD category was eligible for an automatic extension; The category on their current EAD matches the “Eligibility Category” or “Class Requested” listed on the receipt notice. "There are limited exceptions to this rule, including extensions provided by law or through a Federal Register notice for TPS-related employment documentation," the statement from US Department of Homeland Security read. These measures, the Trump administration pointed out, had granted unprecedented leniency and had introduced new national security vulnerabilities. Calling it a "common sense” measure, the USCIS Director, Joseph Edlow, said working in the US is a "privilege, not a right." Work permits, officially known as Employment Authorization Documents or EADs, are seen as a Holy Grail in the immigration world, as they open up opportunities for legal jobs, and also are seen as a proxy for some tentative legal status. Under the USCIS, immigrants seek a timely renewal of their EAD by filing a renewal application up to 180 days before it is set to expire. "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 authorization or documentation," the statement read. What it Means for Indian Workforce The policy shift is likely to have a major impact on Indian professionals, including H-1B workers who have been waiting years or even decades for green cards, H-4 visa holders. Students on STEM extensions, and other employment-based green card applicants are also likely to be affected by the new immigration rules. The interim final rule, taking effect from Thursday, ends the policy that allowed employees to continue working for up to 540 days while their renewal applications were being processed. Work permit applications have exploded in recent years, largely due to President Biden’s lenient approach to immigration enforcement. USCIS recorded 3.5 million initial applications and 1.3 million renewals in fiscal 2024 under Biden. By contrast in 2020, Trump's previous administration received fewer than 2 million applications. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.
