EAD Automatic Extension Increased to 540 Days, Then Made Permanent
A temporary final rule effective April 8, 2024 increased the automatic extension period for a timely-filed Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal from up to 180 days to up to 540 days, for renewal applications filed on or after October 27, 2023 (if still pending April 8, 2024) through September 30, 2025.
Published
2024-04-08
Summary
A temporary final rule effective April 8, 2024 increased the automatic extension period for a timely-filed Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal from up to 180 days to up to 540 days, for renewal applications filed on or after October 27, 2023 (if still pending April 8, 2024) through September 30, 2025. DHS made this 540-day extension permanent in a final rule published December 13, 2024, so it did not lapse when the temporary rule's own window closed.
Current status
As of this writing, a covered, timely-filed I-765 renewal still automatically extends the prior EAD's validity for up to 540 days from its printed expiration date, without waiting for approval — but a separate DHS rule published October 30, 2025 ends this practice going forward for renewal applications filed on or after that date. Which rule actually governs a specific case depends on exactly when its I-765 was filed; never assume the 540-day extension applies without checking the filing date against these cutoffs.
Source: USCIS: Final Rule Permanently Increases Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization and/or EADs
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