The U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a new decision to cut work authorization validity, reducing the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for several categories of noncitizens, from five years down to just 18 months.
The decision of the U.S to cut work authorization validity was announced on Friday, December 5, 2025.
The policy also kicked off on December 5, 2025, impacting hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including asylum seekers, refugees, and applicants awaiting a green card.
USCIS explained the move is meant to improve its vetting process and reduce fraud. By reviewing workers’ eligibility more regularly, the agency said it hopes to catch potential security issues earlier and ensure everyone authorized to work in the country continues to meet all requirements.
According to USCIS Director Joseph Edlow, the decision of the U.S to cut work authorization validity will help protect public safety and allow more frequent background checks. The update follows concerns raised after a violent incident involving a foreign national in Washington, D.C.
This was contained in a press notice posted on the official website of the USCIS.
According to the notice, the new 18-month EAD validity cap will apply to individuals applying for employment authorization based on the following classifications:
- Aliens admitted as refugees.
- Aliens granted asylum.
- Aliens granted withholding of deportation or removal.
- Aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal.
- Aliens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA § 245.
- Aliens with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or NACARA relief.
The notice reads: “U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens.
“The reduced maximum validity periods for certain categories will result in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for authorization to work in the United States. Vetting an alien more often will enable USCIS to deter fraud and detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States.
“Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies. After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even clearer that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens,” said Director Joseph Edlow.
“The maximum validity period for initial and renewal EADs will be changed from 5 years to 18 months for several categories of aliens:
- Aliens admitted as refugees;
- Aliens granted asylum;
- Aliens granted withholding of deportation or removal;
- Aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal;
- Aliens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245; and
- Aliens with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.
“This change affects aliens with applications for employment authorization that are pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, and based on any of the above categories.
“As required by H.R. 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72, (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4, 2025, the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents will be one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), whichever is shorter for the following categories:
- Aliens paroled as refugees;
- Aliens granted TPS;
- Aliens granted parole;
- Aliens with a pending TPS application; and
- Alien spouse of an entrepreneur’s parole.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the decision follows a recent shooting incident in Washington D.C.
The man accused of shooting the two Guard members is allegedly an Afghan evacuee who purportedly entered the U.S. in September 2021, under the Biden administration, and who was granted asylum in April 2025, after Trump returned to the White House.
The Trump administration has publicly announced a series of immigration restrictions since the attack, including a pause on all asylum decisions by USCIS, a categorical suspension of visa and immigration processing for Afghans, and a review of green card cases involving immigrants from the 19 nations on the travel ban.
