Ending automatic work permit extensions

The Department of Homeland Security has published a final rule temporarily ending the practice of automatically extending work permits for foreign nationals who apply for renewal in certain work permit categories.

Find the original notice on the United States Government website at here.

With this rule, the Department of Homeland Security prioritises accurate vetting and screening of foreign nationals before extending the validity of their work permits.

Foreign nationals who apply to renew their work permits on or after 30 October 2025 will no longer receive an automatic extension of their work permit.

There are a limited number of exceptions to this rule, including extensions provided by statute or through a Federal Register notice for employment documents related to Temporary Protected Status.

Ending the automatic extension of work permits will result in more frequent vetting of foreign nationals applying for permission to work in the United States. More frequent review of a foreign national’s background will allow United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to prevent fraud and identify foreign nationals with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States.

USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said:

“USCIS is placing a renewed emphasis on robust vetting and screening of foreign nationals, removing policies that the previous administration implemented that prioritised the convenience of foreign nationals over the safety and security of Americans. This is a sensible step to ensure proper vetting and screening has been completed before extending a foreign national's work permit or documents. All foreign nationals should remember that working in the United States is a privilege, not a right.”

USCIS recommends that foreign nationals seek timely renewal of their work permits by filing the correct renewal application up to 180 days before their work permit expires. Foreign nationals who wait longer to file for a work permit renewal are more likely to experience a temporary interruption to their work permit or documents.

This final rule does not, for the time being, affect work permits that were automatically extended before 30 October 2025.