USCIS Ends Automatic Work Permit Extensions: What to Do Now
USCIS Has Stopped Automatically Extending Work Permits — What You Need to Know Now
For the past few years, many people relied on an important safety net: automatic extensions of work permits while renewal applications were pending.
That safety net is now gone.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has stopped automatically extending work permits when a renewal application is filed. In plain English, that means this:
Your work permit now expires on the date printed on the card — and you will not receive an automatic extension while you wait for the new one.
What Changed?
Until recently, USCIS was automatically extending many work permits — first for several months, and eventually for up to two years — because processing times had become extremely long.
USCIS recognized that it was taking them many months, and sometimes longer than a year, to issue new Employment Authorization Documents (EADs). The automatic extensions were meant to prevent people from losing their jobs simply because the government was slow.
That policy has ended.
Now, USCIS is saying:
Your work authorization expires when it expires
You get a new one only when the new card is approved and issued
There is no automatic bridge in between
Why This Is a Serious Problem
USCIS can take many months to process a work permit renewal.
That creates a very real gap:
You may still be legally eligible to work
But you may not have valid documentation to prove it
And documentation matters.
In the past several months, I’ve seen employers become far more sensitive — and far less flexible — about expired work permits. Even short gaps can lead to:
Suspensions
Reduced hours
Or outright termination
Filing Late Is Now Risky
Recently, I’ve had clients come in after filing their renewal at the last minute. In the past, we could rely on:
Automatic extension notices
Receipt notices
Attorney letters explaining continued authorization
Employers were usually willing to work with that.
Under the new rules, none of that helps if there is no automatic extension. Simply filing the renewal application has no legal effect on your ability to work once the card expires.
The Best Advice Right Now
Until USCIS changes course, the best advice is simple:
File your work permit renewal as early as possible.
You are allowed to file up to six months before your work permit expires. That is what you should do.
If you are my client, I strongly recommend coming into the office at least several days before your work permit expires. That gives us time to:
Make sure all documents are ready
Avoid last-minute emergencies
Account for vacations, illness, or delays
Being early is no longer just convenient — it is essential.
What We Can Hope For
Ideally, USCIS will begin processing work permit renewals consistently within that six-month window.
Even if there is still a delay, filing early shortens the gap between:
The expiration of your current card, and
The issuance of the new one
That can make the difference between keeping your job and losing it.
Final Thoughts
Many people who are legally authorized to work will now find themselves without proof of that authorization — through no fault of their own.
Until the rules change, early filing is your only real protection.
If you have questions or need help renewing your work permit, don’t wait until the last minute.
If your work permit is expiring — or you are unsure when to file your renewal — do not wait until the last minute.
Early planning can make the difference between keeping your job and losing it.
If you would like help reviewing your situation or filing your work permit renewal, our office is available to assist you.
📍 16 Pine Street, Lowell, Massachusetts, Unit 2
📞 978-459-8359
🌐 www.attorneyhaskell.com
You can also visit our website to schedule a consultation.