US Department of Homeland Security, on May 3, 2022, announced an automatic extension on work permits for selected categories of immigrants for a year and a half, effective May 4, 2022. Thousands of Indian immigrants are expected to benefit from this fresh announcement.
The extension period of 180 days shall be extended up to 540 days on current employment authorisation cards (EAD), from the expiration date. This extension is, however, for a temporary period only.
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USCIS is allowing an automatic extension of 540 days to those EAD renewal applications whose 180-day extension has expired. EAD holders whose applications are still covered under the 180-day extension shall receive additional extension up to 360 days, past the expiration of the current EAD.
Valid EAD holders on May 4, 2022, whose application is pending, and those who file before October 27, 2023, will be eligible for an extension of 540 days if EAD expires before the application is processed.
As per USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou, the current extension of 180 days is insufficient as many EAD caseloads are pending. EAD holders eligible for the extension can resume their employment.
Currently, 1.5 million work permit applications are pending at the legal immigration agency of the US. The pending caseload is avoiding a lot of immigrants to work legally and is resulting in a labour shortage.
It is expected that the new rule will let immigrants, eligible for an automatic extension, have a golden opportunity for extended employment and a chance to support their families for longer. Additionally, the workload of US employers shall also eventually lessen rather than becoming a cycle of pending caseloads.
The rule is expected to benefit 87,000 immigrants whose EADs have either lapsed or are about to in the next 30 days. Throughout the policy duration about 4,20,000 immigrants are expected to file renewal applications, and ultimately get saved from losing their employment.
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Ajay Bhutoria, Leader Indian-American community, stated the policy is a welcome change as many companies are facing staffing issues.
H-1B visa holders’ spouses and immigrants seeking green cards, who have EADs, are also included in the policy.
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Source: NDTV
