Five years to 18 months — is the US slashing immigrant work authorization? Here’s what new USCIS work permit rules say

The Trump administration has once again introduced new changes, making its immigration policy more restrictive.On Thursday, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) updated its Policy Manual to sharply limit the length of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for several categories of immigrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and applicants awaiting adjustment of status.Under the new policy, the maximum duration for initial and renewal work permits will drop from five years to 18 months for refugees, people granted asylum, those with withholding of removal, and applicants with pending cases for asylum, adjustment of status or other humanitarian relief, as per press release. The change applies to employment authorization applications filed or pending on or after December 5, 2025.

USCIS said the shift is intended to increase the frequency of vetting and screening for noncitizens seeking authorization to work in the United States as part of a broader immigration enforcement push.“Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies,” Director Joseph Edlow said. He also pointed out the recent attack on National Guard and said that such incidents made vetting necessary so that the government can stop “aliens.” After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even more clear that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens,” Edlow added.Separately, recent requirements in the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” signed into law July 4, 2025, will cap work authorization at one year — or the end of an individual’s parole or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) period, whichever is shorter — for immigrants paroled as refugees, those granted or applying for TPS, other parolees, and spouses of entrepreneur parole recipients. Those limits apply to any work permit applications filed or pending on or after July 22, 2025, when USCIS published a notice in the Federal Register outlining implementation.