The Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended the validity of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) to five years for immigrants who have certain types of status.
The immigrants favored by this new Government measure are those who have refugee status or those who have an asylum or humanitarian protection permit, as reported by the agency belonging to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on its website. Also, those whose deportation order or cancellation of removal has been suspended.
With this expansion, the USCIS aims to "significantly reduce the number of Forms I-765", that is, the EADs, and thus shorten the management and processing times for petitions and reduce delays.
In its guidance on work permits, the Government explains that "certain Afghans and Ukrainians who have temporary stay permits are authorized to work based on their temporary stay permit."
Expansion of work permits for Venezuelans
This extension comes days after the Biden Administration - through DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas - announced the renewal and expansion of the immigration permit known as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Venezuelans who have arrived in the country before December 31. July of this year. Thus, it allows 472,000 Venezuelans to work and reside legally in the United States.
"Temporary protected status provides individuals already present in the United States with protection from removal when the conditions in their home country prevent their safe return. That is the situation that Venezuelans who arrived here on or before July 31 of this year find themselves in. Accordingly, we are granting them the protection that the law provides. However, it is critical that Venezuelans understand that those who have arrived here after July 31, 2023 are not eligible for such protection, and instead will be removed when they are found to not have a legal basis to stay," he explained. Mayorkas.
