Increase of the Automatic Extension Period of Employment Authorization and Documentation for Certain Employment Authorization Document Renewal Applicants

<RULE> DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY <CFR>8 CFR Part 274a</CFR> <DEPDOC>[CIS No. 2785-24; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2024-0002]</DEPDOC> <RIN>RIN 1615-AC78</RIN> <SUBJECT>Increase of the Automatic Extension Period of Employment Authorization and Documentation for Certain Employment Authorization Document Renewal Applicants</SUBJECT> <HD SOURCE="HED">AGENCY:</HD> U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). <HD SOURCE="HED">ACTION:</HD> Final rule. <SUM> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUMMARY:</HD> This final rule amends DHS regulations to permanently increase the automatic extension period for expiring employment authorization and/or Employment Authorization Documents (Forms I-766 or EADs) for certain renewal applicants who have timely filed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. After two temporary rules, DHS is finalizing the recent temporary rule and making the increase permanent to help prevent eligible renewal EAD applicants from experiencing a lapse in employment authorization and/or the validity of their EAD as a result of lengthy USCIS processing times. </SUM> <EFFDATE> <HD SOURCE="HED">DATES:</HD> This final rule is effective January 13, 2025. </EFFDATE> <FURINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:</HD> Charles Nimick, Chief, Business and Foreign Workers Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746; telephone 240-721-3000 (not a toll-free call). U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), DHS, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, MD, Camp Springs, 20746; telephone (240) 721-3000 (this is not a toll-free number). </FURINF> <SUPLINF> <HD SOURCE="HED">SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD1">Table of Contents</HD> <EXTRACT> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">I. Executive Summary</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Purpose of the Regulatory Action</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Summary of Legal Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Summary of Regulatory Changes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Severability</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Summary of Costs and Benefits</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">II. Background</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Legal Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Legal Framework for Employment Authorization and Verification</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Types of Employment Authorization: 8 CFR 274a.12(a), (b), and (c)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. The Application Process for Obtaining Employment Authorization and EADs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Automatic Extensions of EADs for Renewal Applicants and Related Employment Eligibility Verification Requirements for Employers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Renewing Employment Authorization and/or EADs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Minimizing the Risk of Gaps in Employment Authorization and/or EAD Validity Through Automatic Extensions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. 2022 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Overview</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Impact of the 2022 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. 2024 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Overview</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Impact of the 2024 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">III. Purpose and Discussion of the Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Circumstances Resulting in the 2022 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. USCIS Enjoined From Increasing Its Filing Fees</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Public Health Emergency Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Unprecedented Increase in EAD Application Filings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Combined Impact on Renewal EAD Application Processing Times</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Circumstances Resulting in the 2024 Temporary Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Overview</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Surge in Initial EAD Application Filings by Pending Asylum Applicants</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Significant Increase in Referrals to USCIS for Credible Fear Assessments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Impact of Asylum Filing Surges and Backlogs on C08 Renewals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">5. Additional Designations for Temporary Protected Status</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">6. Combined Impact on Renewal EAD Application Processing Times</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Automatic Extension Period of up to 180 Days in Current 8 CFR 274a.13(d)(1) Is Insufficient</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">IV. Discussion of Public Comments</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Summary of Comments on the 2024 TFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. General Support for the 2024 TFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. General Opposition to the 2024 TFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Legal Authority</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Purpose of the 2024 TFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Positive Impacts of the 2024 TFR</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Impacts on U.S. Employers and the Economy</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Provide Stability and Decrease Burdens for U.S. Employers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Contributions to Local, State, and U.S. Economy</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Alleviate Shortages in the U.S. Labor Market</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. Impacts on the U.S. Government</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Allow a Second 540-Day Automatic Extension Period for Noncitizens Who Received the 2022 TFR Automatic Extension</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Make Permanent and Extend the Temporary Automatic Extension Period Beyond 540 Days</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Permanent Increase to the Automatic Extension Period</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Increase Necessary To Address Processing Backlogs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Benefit to USCIS</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. Benefit to Workers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iv. Benefit to Employers</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Increase the Automatic Extension Period to 730 Days</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">K. Expand EAD Categories Eligible for Automatic Extension</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">L. EAD Validity Period</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">M. Automatic Renewals</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">N. Application, Adjudication, and Notification Processes</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. General Comments on Adjudication and Application Times and Prioritization of Reviews</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. EAD Processing Resources and Priorities</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Decentralizing of EAD Processing and Other Processing Recommendations</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. General Processing</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iv. Notification to Applicants</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">v. Suggestions To Improve USCIS' Systems or Applicant-USCIS Communication</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Transparency, Clarity, and Outreach to External Stakeholders</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Alternative Actions</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">4. Regulatory Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">V. Regulatory Changes: 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vii), 8 CFR 274a.13(d)(1), (d)(3) and 8 CFR 274a.13(d)(6); Authority Citation</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Modifying 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vii)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Revising 8 CFR 274a.13(d)(1) and (d)(3), and Removing (d)(5) and (d)(6)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Revising Authority Citations for 8 CFR Part 274a</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VI. Statutory and Regulatory Requirements</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">A. Executive Order 12866 (Regulatory Planning and Review) and Executive Order 13563 (Improving Regulation and Regulatory Review)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. No Action Baseline—Effects of This Final Rule</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Without TFR Baseline—Effects of the 2022 and 2024 TFRs</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">i. Introduction</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">ii. Background and Population</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">iii. Impact Analysis</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">a. Module A. Earnings of Renewal EAD Applicants</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">b. Module B. Impacts That Could Accrue to Labor Earnings</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">1. Earnings Impact to EAD holders</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">2. Labor Turnover Cost Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">c. Module C. Monetized Impacts for the 2022 and 2024 TFRs, FY 2023 Through FY 2027</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">d. Module D. Other Impacts</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">3. Alternatives Considered</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">B. Regulatory Flexibility Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">C. Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">D. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996 (Congressional Review Act)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">E. Executive Order 13132 (Federalism)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">F. Executive Order 12988 (Civil Justice Reform)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">G. Executive Order 13175 (Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal Governments)</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">H. National Environmental Policy Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">I. Family Assessment</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP1-2">J. Paperwork Reduction Act</FP> <FP SOURCE="FP-2">VII. List of Subject and Regulatory Amendments</FP> </EXTRACT> <HD SOURCE="HD1">I. Executive Summary</HD> <HD SOURCE="HD2">A. Purpose of the Regulatory Action</HD> This final rule amends 8 CFR 274a.13(d) and the related employment eligibility verification provision at 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vii) to permanently increase the automatic extension period for employment authorization and the validity of certain EADs from up to 180 days to up to 540 days. This automatic extension period is available to certain applicants who timely filed a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to renew their EADs. Since the promulgation of 8 CFR 274a.13(d) with its 180-day automatic extension period in 2016, <SU>1</SU> <FTREF/> DHS has issued two temporary final rules (TFRs) temporarily increasing the automatic extension period to up to 540 days in order to prevent a substantial number of renewal EAD applicants from experiencing a lapse in their employment authorization and/or documentation. <SU>2</SU> <FTREF/> With the 2024 TFR that is currently in effect, DHS focused on near-term needs of renewal applicants, ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ Preview showing 10k of 444k characters. Full document text is stored and available for version comparison. ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━