Effective October 14, 2026
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In the past, many immigrants who filed timely EAD extension application requests automatically received extensions of up to 540 days which allowed them to keep working while their applications were being processed. As of October 14, 2026, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued a new rule that ends the protection that the automatic extensions provided for some categories.
Categories affected in the decision are the H-4 Dependent Spouses category, L-2 Spouses category, Adjustment of Statues (green card applicants) category and other categories eligible for the 540 day extension. If an extension applicant’s EAD expires before a new card is issued, the migrant must stop working until the new status is issued.
This decision does NOT affect the automatic extensions of the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) categories that are EAD related or OPT/STEM OPT students whose 180 day extensions remain intact.
Specific details about your status can be obtained from your immigration attorney.
