A new concern has arisen for thousands of Indian professionals working in America. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ended the automatic extension facility of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) i.e. work permit. This new rule has become effective from 30 October 2025.
Till now, foreign workers could continue working for 540 days while their EAD renewal application was pending, but now this facility will not be available. That is, if the renewal is not approved on time, the employee will have to stop working immediately.
The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recommends that foreign workers apply at least 180 days before the expiration of their work permit. However, the current processing time is three to twelve months, making it difficult to get permission in a timely manner.
This change will have the greatest impact on Indian professionals, especially H-1B visa holders, spouses working on H-4 visas, STEM OPT students and employment-based Green Card applicants. Indians, already facing long waiting processes for green cards (sometimes up to 20 years), are now left with uncertainty over both jobs and visas.
USCIS has linked this decision to national security. Joseph Edlow, the agency’s director, said, “Working in the United States is not a right, but a privilege. Every alien must undergo proper screening.”
However, this rule will not apply to certain categories, such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders or extensions already approved. EADs that have had their automatic extension extended before October 30, 2025, will not be affected.
According to experts, this policy could lead to employment instability and economic crisis for the Indian community. It is likely to have a serious impact, especially on the IT, health and research sectors.