Another blow to H-1B workers in US: Trump admin ends 540-day automatic work permit extension for immigrants
The Trump administration has ended a 540-day work permit extension for eligible immigrants awaiting renewals. In a separate move, it has cut the time refugees have to challenge the termination of their status from 30 days to 10, drawing concern from refugee advocates.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced the termination of an automatic 540-day extension for H-1B workers, asylum seekers, and spouses of H-1B workers. This permanent change, effective upon publication in the Federal Register on October 14, eliminates the grace period that allowed eligible immigrants to continue working while their permit renewals were pending.
This extension, introduced under the Biden administration, was previously temporarily suspended last year. The DHS stated that the move would enable officials to conduct background checks on applicants more frequently. However, critics argue that the decision will negatively impact immigrant workers who are at risk of losing their jobs due to processing delays at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
By June 30, 2026, over 432,000 work permit renewal applications had been pending for six months, with more than 91,000 pending for over 18 months.
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