The Biden administration has announced the extension of work permits for certain selected categories of immigrants. This includes migrants seeking Green Card and H-1B visa holder’s spouses, who have been issued employment authorization cards (EAD), for a year and a half
The announcement was done by the Department of Homeland Security (USA) on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2022. This will certainly be beneficial for Indian immigrants on work permits to the USA and those who come within the selected categories’ purview. The work permits with an extension period of up to 180 days will automatically be extended to 540 days from the expiration days mentioned on the existing EADs.
According to the USCIS (US Citizenship and Immigration Services), Director Ur M. Jaddou, the current 180 days extension for the work permit is insufficient.
The USCIS has also announced the Temporary Final Rule (TFR) that immigrants to the US waiting for the renewal of their EAD application and whose 180 days have lapsed will be granted an additional time frame of EAD beginning May 4, 2022, extending to 540 days starting from the EAD expiration date. This move will surely be beneficial for Indian immigrants with work permits in the USA and a good opportunity for employment as well as the ability to provide care to an immigrant family.
This new policy change by the US Government will also allow employers to continue with existing employees who are immigrants on work permits. This would eventually reduce Visa processing backlogs. The change will help 87,000 immigrants whose work permit has expired or is set to lapse in the next 30 days.
According to Mr. Ajay Jain Bhutoria, Leader of the Indian-American community, the new change in policy is highly welcomed. This will help employers continue with their existing workforces, thus reducing staffing issues, and at the same time will help reduce the Visa processing backlog.
Over an estimated backlog of 1.5 million work permit applications on hold for renewal at the nation’s legal immigration agency will be resolved to pave a way for employees to work legally.