U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is increasing the validity of initial employment authorizations (EADs) for applicants seeking adjustment of status (the “green card”).
When an applicant applies for adjustment of status (I-485), they may also apply for employment authorization so that they may work in the United States while awaiting the decision on the adjustment application. Currently, USCIS issues adjustment applicants initial Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that are valid for 1 year. Subsequent EADs are issued with a validity of 2 years.
In the interest of reducing the burden on both the USCIS and the public, as the current median processing time for certain adjustment of status applications is close to or greater than 1 year, USCIS will now issue initial and renewal EADs to adjustment applicants that are valid for 2 years.
In 2020, the USCIS received nearly 370,000 EAD applications for adjustment applicants.
Replacement EADs, issued when an EAD has been lost, will not be affected by this update; USCIS will continue to issue replacement EADs with the same validity dates as the original EAD.