Beyond 180 Days: How the New Rule Benefits Foreign Workers in the U.S.

To be able to work in the United States as a foreigner, there are two different permits, depending on the length of stay and the applicant's characteristics. On the one hand, there is the Green Card, which grants legal permanent residence and allows one to live and work indefinitely in the country. On the other hand, there is the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which is temporary and has a fixed duration. It is with this latter document that a significant change has occurred.

In this sense, Donald Trump 's return to the White House has meant greater uncertainty for job seekers due to his harsh immigration policies . However, the changes in this document will clearly benefit foreign workers.

This temporary work permit is issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to individuals who have entered the country under asylum, refugee, or nonimmigrant status. Until now, the maximum period granted was 180 days (six months).

However, in 2024, the USCIS extended the extension period. A measure that went into effect in 2025. What does this mean? Instead of 180 days, temporary work is authorized for up to 540 days (a year and a half). The reason for this extension is to avoid interruptions in employment for bureaucratic reasons.

This significant change will apply to renewal applications submitted after May 4, 2022, as well as to all applications pending from the effective date of the measure.

How to apply and how much it costs

To obtain a temporary work permit, you must file Form I-765. In addition to applying for an EAD, this form can also be used to renew a previous EAD card or replace a lost or stolen card.

Regarding the price, there are differences depending on whether you submit it online or on paper. For the former, the standard form costs $470 , and the latter, $520.