US Work Permit: Millions of Indians working in the US are issued an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also known as a work permit.
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US Work Permit: There is important news for workers planning to work in America. President Donald Trump’s government has significantly reduced the validity of work permits. Under the new USCIS policy, the validity of the ‘Employment Authorization Document’ (EAD) issued to several categories of workers will now be reduced from 5 years to 18 months. This means that those who previously had the permission to work for 5 years after receiving an EAD will now be able to work for only 18 months.
This decision by the Trump administration will impact refugees, asylum seekers, and green card applicants, among other immigrant groups. This government decision has once again tightened immigration rules. USCIS stated that the EAD period has been reduced due to current security concerns. The shorter validity period will allow workers to undergo more frequent scrutiny. This will allow USCIS to detect fraud and remove individuals considered a threat to the country.
What did the government say?
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said, “Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that people working in the United States do not jeopardize security or promote anti-American ideologies. The attack on a National Guard service member in the nation’s capital by a foreigner who entered the country during the previous administration reinforces the need for USCIS to conduct frequent vetting of foreigners to identify dangerous individuals.”
Which Indian workers will be affected?
Immigration lawyers say reducing the validity period of EADs will cause widespread disruption. Thousands of Indians on the employment-based green card waiting list will be particularly affected. These work permits allow them to continue working while their adjustment-of-status applications (such as green cards from H-1B visas) are pending. This means that this decision of the government will directly affect those Indian workers who are waiting to get Green Card.
Immigration lawyer Krupa Upadhyay told TOI, “This decision will most impact Indian applicants who are eligible for green cards. These include investors seeking adjustment of status based on pending I-526/EB-5 applications, which are investment-linked green card programs. Parents or spouses of US citizens awaiting adjustment of status in the US, and US workers seeking adjustment of status based on approved I-140s and available visas will also be affected.”
H-1B visa workers awaiting adjustment of status are in a more difficult situation. They will now have to apply for EAD renewal several months in advance to avoid job disruptions. Krupa said, “No one can work in the US without work authorization, so the likelihood of losing legal employment is high.” Currently, there will be no impact on those who are coming to work for a company on an H-1B visa, as they already have work authorization.
