USCIS cuts EADs to 18 months; OBBB caps TPS/parole to 1 year
USCIS announced it will shorten employment‑authorization document (EAD) validity for a wide range of noncitizens — including refugees, asylees, those granted withholding, pending asylum/withholding and adjustment applicants, and others seeking long‑standing humanitarian relief — from five years to 18 months for any request pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, citing post‑incident vetting needs and more frequent background checks. Separately, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, certain parole and Temporary Protected Status categories will be capped at one‑year EADs (or the end of status) for applications pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025, with USCIS saying officers will apply a holistic review that can include applicants’ positive contributions.
📌 Key Facts
- USCIS has reduced standard employment authorization document (EAD) validity from five years to 18 months for requests filed or pending on/after Dec. 5, 2025.
- The 18‑month EAD policy covers refugees, asylees, those granted withholding, pending asylum/withholding applicants, adjustment (green‑card) applicants, and people seeking suspension/cancellation or other long‑standing humanitarian relief.
- Separately, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act imposes a statutory cap that limits certain parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) categories to one‑year EADs (or until the end of status) for applications filed or pending on/after July 22, 2025.
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow framed the changes as necessary to enable more frequent background checks and post‑incident vetting, saying shorter EADs help ensure workers do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti‑American ideologies.
- CBS reporting ties the policy shift explicitly to the D.C. National Guard attack investigation as a motivating context cited by officials.
- USCIS says officers will apply a holistic review and will consider applicants' positive contributions when adjudicating work‑authorization under the new rules.
📊 Relevant Data
At the end of August 2025, the U.S. immigration court backlog totaled 3,432,519 cases, with 2,271,857 immigrants having filed formal asylum applications awaiting decisions.
TRAC's Immigration Court Quick Facts — TRAC Reports
As of 2024, the Afghan diaspora in the United States is comprised of approximately 250,000 individuals who were either born in Afghanistan or reported Afghanistan as a country of ancestry.
Afghan Immigrants in the United States — Migration Policy Institute
Since 2021, federal authorities have flagged more than 5,000 Afghan migrants on national security grounds, with potential derogatory information found on 6,868 individuals who came from Afghanistan as part of the Biden administration's Operation Allies Welcome.
Over 5K Afghan migrants flagged on 'national security' grounds since 2021, document reveals — New York Post
In fiscal year 2024, there was an increase of 1.1 million initial work permit applications, with 750,000 comprised of asylee applicants and public parolees.
Work permit applications suggest prior immigration is still pushing up labor supply—for now — Brookings Institution
📰 Sources (3)
- USCIS Director Joseph Edlow is quoted saying the shorter EAD period aims to ensure workers 'do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies.'
- CBS specifies the policy applies to refugees, asylees, and immigrants with pending asylum or green-card (adjustment) applications.
- CBS reiterates the effective date: applies to applications filed after Friday, Dec. 5, and to those pending as of that date, and ties the change explicitly to the D.C. National Guard attack investigation.
- Effective date: 18‑month EAD validity applies to any request pending or filed on/after Dec. 5, 2025.
- Scope detail: applies to refugees, asylees, those granted withholding, pending asylum/withholding applicants, adjustment applicants, and those seeking suspension/cancellation or long‑standing humanitarian relief.
- Separate statutory cap: under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, certain parole and TPS categories are limited to one‑year EADs (or end of status), effective for applications pending or filed on/after July 22, 2025.
- Quote/context: USCIS Director Joseph Edlow links the policy to post‑incident vetting needs and more frequent background checks.
- Process note: USCIS says officers will consider applicants’ positive contributions as part of a holistic approach.