Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has abruptly ended the automatic extension of certain Employment Authorisation Documents, effective from October 30, according to a media report.
“Aliens who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension of their EAD… Ending automatic extensions of EADs results in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for employment authorisation towork in the US,” the DHS said in a statement.
The overnight rule change affects H-1 visa holders’ spouses, F-1 students on OPT, and asylum seekers, who may now face gaps in employment while their renewals are processed. The change is expected to significantly impact Indian workers, who make up the largest share of H-1B visa holders and international students. Now, these foreign workers will undergo screening and vetting to have their employment authorisations renewed. DHS stated that the move aims to prevent fraud.
During the Biden era, migrants in defined categories — including spouses of H-1B visa holders (H-4) and students under Optional Practical Training (OPT) — could continue working legally after their EAD expired if they had timely filed a renewal and qualified for the automatic extension.
From now on, every applicant will be required to undergo a new round of vetting and screening before their employment authorisation can be renewed. USCIS recommends aliens seek timely renewal of their EAD by properly filing a renewal application up to 180 days before their EAD expires. The longer an alien waits to file an EAD renewal application, the more likely they are to experience a temporary lapse in employment authorisation or documentation, the DHS said in the statement.
F-1 students participating in Optional Practical Training (OPT) — a bridge to post-graduation jobs — now risk interrupted careers if their applications lag. Indian students make up the largest cohort of international students in the US. The new EAD rule change has sparked massive backlash online. On Reddit, one person commented “if we’re only able to file 180 days before it expires it almost definitely guarantees an employment gap.”
