Effective October 30, 2025, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued an interim final rule ending the automatic extensions for expired EADs.

Previously, certain applicants received up to 540 days of automatic extension of their EAD if their renewal was timely filed. Starting October 30, 2025, applicants filing EAD renewals will no longer receive automatic extensions unless specifically authorized by law or Federal Register notice (e.g., F-1 STEM OPT extensions governed by a separate statutory provision or TPS-related EADs extended by Federal Register notice).

In order to avoid a break in employment authorization and a lapse in employment, we strongly advise anyone seeking a renewal of their EAD to properly file their renewal application as soon as practicable, and to use premium processing as necessary. At the time of this notice, current processing time for some extensions has taken over three months.