As of October 30, 2025, USCIS has stopped automatically extending work permits (EAD) while a renewal application is pending: a receipt notice no longer grants the right to work after the card expires. To avoid losing work authorization, you need to file for renewal early, track your dates, and check whether expedited processing is available. Below is what exactly changed and what steps are available.

What changed

Previously, when filing an EAD renewal on Form I-765 on time, applicants received a receipt notice that automatically extended work authorization on its own, in some cases for up to 540 days. In October 2025, USCIS issued an interim rule eliminating such automatic extensions, and in October 2026 it was finalized.

The rule applies to anyone who filed Form I-765 on or after October 30, 2025. It affects nearly all EAD categories: pending adjustment of status, C9, asylum, refugee, VAWA, and TPS, with certain exceptions. For TPS, an exception applies only if the country received a new TPS designation and it was a blanket policy for everyone in that category. F students awaiting STEM OPT extension still receive an automatic 180-day extension.

Who is not affected by the rule

The rule does not apply to those who are authorized to work based on a visa or status in the US and do not need a separate work permit. For example, holders of L-1, O-1, or H-1B visas.

What to do if your EAD has expired

If your EAD has expired, you can no longer work in the US. Immediate relatives of US citizens who are in the process of adjustment of status or plan to file for it may not work without authorization under any circumstances. A recent USCIS policy from May 2026 has already become grounds for denials: unauthorized employment has led to denials even for immediate relatives of US citizens, and such cases continue to occur.

If stopping work after your EAD expires would be difficult, plan ahead: talk to your employer before the document expires and work out a plan for a potential gap in advance.

When to file for renewal

An EAD renewal can be filed up to 6 months before the current document expires. USCIS generally recommends filing no later than 90 days before expiration, but does not prohibit filing 180 days in advance. So it’s best to mark the expiration date on your calendar ahead of time.

An office building where biometric data is collected for immigration applications, with a small line in front of the entrance

Online filing and biometrics

Many USCIS applications are available for online filing, including EAD for many categories. Filing online is cheaper, and case status is tracked almost immediately. Biometric appointments are generally scheduled sooner. If the assigned date is too far out, it can be rescheduled to an earlier one in your USCIS online account.

Expedited processing of an EAD can be requested free of charge, either through USCIS directly or with someone else’s help. A valid reason is required. The request is submitted through the USCIS Contact Center or in the online account. The decision is made at USCIS’s discretion.