Reduced Work Permit Validity

On December 4, 2025, USCIS issued a new Policy Alert, PA-2025-27, which reduces the validity period of many work permits (employment authorization documents [EADs]) from five years back to 18 months.

The categories affected include work permits for refugees, asylees, aliens granted withholding of removal, asylum applicants, withholding of removal applicants, most green card applicants, and cancellation of removal applicants.

The policy change affects anyone who has filed or files a work permit application as of December 5, 2025.

Further, aliens paroled as refugees, aliens granted TPS, aliens granted parole, TPS applicants, and the spouses of an entrepreneur parolees will see the validity period of their work permits limited to one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of TPS, whichever is shorter.

Continuing to work in the United States without a valid work permit can lead to issues with renewing your status, adjusting status, or reentering the country among other potential problems. If you're unsure how these changes affect you, contact us today.