Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced a temporary final rule will be published on Monday, April 8, 2024, extending work permits for 540 days for immigrants whose work permit renewal applications are stuck in processing backlogs. You can read the rule here.
- Who benefits: The rule states that over 800,000 immigrants would lose their work authorization without this new extension! This includes asylum seekers, immigrants with pending green card applications or withholding of removal, refugees, and some TPS holders. The rule benefits individuals who applied for their work permit renewal any time on or after October 27, 2023.
- How long is the extension for: the extension will be for 540 days, meaning that when someone applies for a work permit renewal, they will get a receipt extending their work permit for 540 days!
- How long will the rule be in place for: Immigrants will benefit from this rule as long as USCIS receives the work permit renewal application on or before September 30, 2025. But the rule will stay on the federal register until September 20, 2027, accounting for the period of time it will take until the last 540-day extensions have expired.
- What about drivers’ licenses: This work permit extension can be used to extend immigrants’ access to drivers’ licenses. Immigrants will need to take their new receipts with the 540-day extension to the DMV to renew their drivers’ licenses.
For more information check out this article in The Hill: Biden extends some immigrant work permits, potentially saving thousands of jobs