America reduces the duration of work permit, thousands of Indian professionals will be affected!

In a major change in America’s immigration system, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that now the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) will be reduced.

This decision will impact millions of Indian professionals and their families. The agency says this change is necessary to strengthen security checks and detect potential risks.

USCIS said the new policy will allow for more frequent screening of people seeking permission to work in the United States, to prevent fraud and to identify individuals with malicious intentions so they can begin removal from the country.

Director Joseph Edlow linked the decision to public safety concerns. He said shortening the employment-permission period would ensure that people who want to work in the United States do not pose a threat to public safety and do not promote anti-national ideologies.

Referring to a recent incident, he said the man who attacked National Guard troops in Washington was allowed into the country by the previous administration. After this incident, it has become more important that foreign nationals are checked frequently.

These changes directly impact several categories that are used by large numbers of Indian citizens, such as employment-based green card applicants and H-1B workers who are in the process.

Now as per the new policy, EADs given to refugees, asylum seekers, relief from removal process and those making Green Card applications (INA 245), were earlier valid for five years, but now they will be valid only for 18 months.

The policy alert states that this rule applies to all applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025.

The change could create new concerns for Indian applicants already facing years-long waits for green cards. Many Indians rely on long-term EADs and advance parole documents to maintain employment.

The Indian expatriate community is the largest beneficiary of employment-based visas in the US. They will be most affected by this change.