Trump wants to reform his policies mainly for illegal immigrants, but still wants good people to stay and work in the United States and continue to create contributions. Prior to Trump's inauguration, Homeland Security took the lead in making changes to pave the way for a future path of reform.

On 11 December, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the automatic extension of employment authorisation and Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) has been increased from the original maximum of 180 days to a maximum of 540 days, reducing the likelihood that eligible EAD renewal applicants will be disqualified while USCIS is processing their renewal applications, and that this new rule will be formally implemented on 13 January 2025.1 The new rule is expected to be implemented by the end of the year.

Who does it apply to?

For those who have submitted an Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) renewal application on or after 4 May 2022 Even if the EAD has ostensibly expired, the EAD is still considered valid as long as there is a receipt notice of Form I-797C received indicating that a timely EAD renewal application was filed and other automatic renewal requirements were met.

In addition to this final rule, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has taken a number of steps to reduce overall EAD processing times and streamline adjudicative processing, including:

• Simplify the processing of refugee EAD applications;
• Reduced Processing Time: From FY 2021 to the present, the median processing time for EADs for individuals applying for adjustment of status has been cut in half;
• Working with the community: educating work-eligible individuals and providing on-site support for applicants;
• Reduce the processing time for EAD applications for asylum applicants and certain parole applicants by at least or equal to the median of 30 days;
• Extension of validity period: Extension of the validity period of the EAD from two to five years for certain categories of applicants;
• Expansion of online application for EAD applications: Expansion of online application for EAD for asylum seekers and temporary entrants.