USCIS Cuts EAD Validity for Adjustment-of-Status Applicants — From 5 Years Down to 18 Months
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a major rollback of Employment Authorization Document (EAD) validity for individuals with pending Adjustment-of-Status (AOS) applications under INA §245. Effective December 5, 2025, the maximum validity for both initial and renewal EADs — including those already pending or newly filed — will be limited to 18 months, down from the previous five-year validity.
The change means that applicants awaiting green card approval must renew their work permits more frequently, leading to added cost, paperwork, and a higher risk of employment interruptions. USCIS stated the shorter duration is intended to allow for more frequent vetting and screening of applicants for fraud prevention and national-security purposes.
However, immigration experts warn that this decision will impact hundreds of thousands of applicants with pending AOS cases, as renewal delays are already common. Reducing validity to 18 months could further strain USCIS processing capacity and create gaps in work authorization for lawful applicants who have long been waiting for permanent residency.
Individuals with pending or future AOS-based EADs should plan renewals well in advance to avoid disruptions under the new policy.
By: Rahul Reddy
Rahul Reddy is the founding partner of Reddy Neumann Brown PC. He founded our firm in 1997 and has over 28 years of experience practicing employment-based immigration. Rahul‘s vast knowledge of the complex immigration system makes him an invaluable resource and an expert in the field. His personal experience with the immigration system has made him empathetic to each of his clients’ cases and empowered him to help others achieve the American Dream.
Rahul‘s dedication to serving the immigrant community is evident, from his daily free conference calls to his weekly immigration Q&As on Facebook and YouTube Live. He is an active member of the immigrant community and one of the founders of ITServe Alliance. He has been a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1995.