EAD renewal planner
Most work permit (EAD) renewals no longer get an automatic extension. If your new card is not approved by the time the old one expires, you may have to stop working. Enter your card’s expiry date and the current USCIS processing time to see when to file and whether a gap is likely.
What changed. For EAD renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025, USCIS no longer extends your work permit automatically while the renewal is pending. DHS made this final in a rule effective October 14, 2026 (Federal Register 2026-20955). A receipt notice alone does not let you keep working after your card expires. Exceptions include TPS, E and L spouses and F-1 STEM OPT. The rule is being challenged in court, so check for news before you rely on it.
A calendar, not a decision. USCIS decides when your card is approved, and processing times change every month. These dates are estimates. Talk to your employer and an immigration attorney early. This is general information, not legal advice.
The rules behind these dates
- When to file. USCIS says you can file Form I-765 to renew your EAD up to 180 days before it expires. Filing early does not cut short your current card.
- No automatic extension for most renewals. If you filed on or after October 30, 2025, your work permit ends on the date on your card unless the new card is approved first. Renewals filed before October 30, 2025 keep any automatic extension they already had.
- TPS. TPS EADs can still be extended automatically by law or by a Federal Register notice for your country. Check the USCIS page for your country.
- E and L spouses are work authorized because of their status, and STEM OPT students who file on time keep an extension of up to 180 days.
- A gap means no work. Your employer has to re-check your work permit (Form I-9) when your card expires. Plan ahead with them.
See the current I-765 fee in the USCIS fee calculator.
Privacy: Everything is worked out in your browser. The dates you enter are not sent to us or stored.
Need help organizing your documents?
One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.
More tools
- Guide: your EAD renewal no longer gets an automatic extension
- USCIS filing fee calculator
- OPT and STEM OPT date planner
- H-1B 60-day grace period calculator
Official sources
- USCIS: Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
- USCIS: Employment Authorization Document
- USCIS news release: DHS ends automatic extension of employment authorization
- Federal Register, Oct 30, 2025: interim final rule
- Federal Register, Oct 14, 2026: final rule
- USCIS: check case processing times