A major rule change by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has put thousands of Indian professionals and their dependents at risk of sudden job loss. Starting October 30, 2025, the automatic extension of Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs), the crucial work permits for non-US citizens, has been scrapped.
Until now, workers were allowed to continue their jobs for up to 540 days while waiting for renewal approval. Under the new rule, however, anyone whose renewal isn&rsquo;t processed before their EAD expires will be forced to stop working immediately.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has urged applicants to submit renewal requests at least 180 days before expiry, but delays in processing, which can stretch up to a year, mean even early filers could face employment gaps.
Indian nationals are among the worst-hit groups, especially:
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H-1B visa holders awaiting green cards
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H-4 visa spouses dependent on EADs
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Students on STEM OPT extensions
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Green card applicants with pending adjustment status
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Immigration experts say the move will disproportionately impact Indian workers who already face decades-long green card backlogs. Many fear forced unemployment, income loss, and visa status violations if their renewals aren&rsquo;t approved in time.
The DHS has defended the policy as a national security measure, arguing it allows for more &ldquo;frequent vetting&rdquo; of foreign nationals. Exceptions apply only to Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders or cases explicitly covered by federal law.
With processing times now ranging from three to twelve months, the change adds yet another challenge for the hundreds of thousands of Indians powering the US tech, research, and healthcare sectors.

Ending automatic EAD extensions could leave thousands of Indian expats jobless overnight

New US Rule Threatens Indian Workers’ Jobs

Ending automatic EAD extensions could leave thousands of Indian expats jobless overnight

October 30, 2025 | 17:51 IST