A week after two National Guard members were shot by an Afghan national near the White House, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it had updated its Policy Manual to slash the validity of work permits issued to many Green Card applicants and other protected immigrants from five years to just 18 months.
The move will also impact refugees, asylum seekers, and applicants awaiting adjustment of status. This will significantly impact Indian professionals in the US.
This is the latest step to tighten immigration procedures. Last week, President Donald Trump directed USCIS to conduct a comprehensive review of every Green Card held by permanent residents from 19 countries previously classified as “countries of concern”.
The US called the attack an “act of terror,” increasing scrutiny on immigrants as the attacker was Afghan.
The agency stated that the changes apply to employment authorisation applications filed or pending on or after December 5, 2025.
USCIS CALLS FOR INCREASED VETTING FOLLOWING WASHINGTON DC ATTACK
In its statement, the USCIS said the change was designed to increase the frequency of security reviews.
“Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorisation will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies,” the agency said on Thursday.
The announcement referenced last week’s attack on two National Guard members in Washington, DC, calling it proof that more regular vetting is needed.
“After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even more clear that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens,” said Director Joseph Edlow.
Under the changes, effective from December 5 (US time), individuals applying for or awaiting adjustment of status (green-card processing), as well as refugees, asylees, those under withholding of removal, and other protected-status immigrants, must now renew their Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs) far more frequently.
USCIS WORK PERMIT OVERHAUL COULD WORSEN DELAYS FOR THOUSANDS OF IMMIGRANTS
The move will impact tens of thousands of immigrants whose applications have been pending in multi-year queues.
Advocates warn that forcing applicants to renew work permits every 18 months, or even annually, could deepen delays in a system already burdened by record backlogs.
The Trump administration maintains the policy is essential for public safety, while critics argue it is a thinly disguised effort to deter asylum seekers and humanitarian migrants from remaining in the US.
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