By Ajibola Olaide, JKNMedia Reporter
AMID efforts to streamline work permit access for non-citizens, including Nigerians, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has implemented significant changes through a Temporary and Final Rule (TFR).
Under this new regulation, the automatic extension period for certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) has been prolonged from 180 days to a maximum of 540 days.
The move is aimed at reducing disruptions in employment authorization while awaiting renewal application decisions and ensuring stability for eligible non-citizens in the workforce.
Ur M. Jaddon, Director of USCIS, emphasized the importance of this step in preventing lapses in employment authorizations and supporting long-term solutions. The extension to 540 days is expected to provide stability for both individuals and employers, ensuring continuity in the workforce.
This initiative, he said, is part of USCIS’s broader efforts to enhance access to employment for authorized individuals, noting particularly benefits for eligible applicants with pending EAD renewal applications filed for timely or after October 7, 2023.
The extended duration aims to safeguard approximately 800,000 EAD renewal applicants, which include asylum seekers and Temporary Protected Status holders, along with their employers. This move could potentially benefit up to 800,000 employers, contributing to a more stable and reliable workforce across various sectors.
