By: Richard Hanus, Esq.
November 3, 2025
Applicants for Employment Authorization Extensions Face New Hurdles
By now, nearly everyone has seen the news of our government’s loud, heavy handed show of force against otherwise law abiding undocumented immigrants (non-criminals), and where mass arrests, detentions and separation of families has become all too commonplace. The lesser known news on the immigration front though is the degree to which the current administration is making legal immigration more complicated. One example – the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/CIS) recently announced that certain classes of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) will no longer be automatically extended with the submission of an extension application and DHS/CIS issuance of a filing receipt. The measure – implemented in the name of heightened vetting and fraud prevention – reverses 8+ years of a practical policy and is set to take effect starting October 30, 2025, impacting I-765 Applications for Employment Authorization Documents filed after this date.
Starting in 2017 and up through last week, foreign nationals seeking an extension of certain classes of Employment Authorization Documents maintained eligibility to work while their extension requests remained pending. At first the extension was for 180 days, and then later expanded to 540 days, and all because of the overwhelming processing backlog plaguing our immigration system. Because of this policy, foreign nationals holding EAD’s were able to continue to legally work in the U.S. and U.S. employers maintained their workforces without disruption, and notwithstanding government processing failures.
It was estimated 400,000+ foreign nationals and their employers benefitted from this policy. Now, after October 30, 2025, EAD holders must file their extension requests as early as possible (typically 180 days in advance of expiration). Hopefully U.S. immigration authorities will step up their game to process these requests timely, and avoid potentially disastrous consequences for immigrants, their families and their employers.
Dramatic Transformation: U.S. Immigration Authorities No Longer Accept Payment By Checks or Money Orders
Historically, 90% of U.S. immigration filings are submitted with payment in the form of paper checks or money orders. Effective October 28, 2025, however, paper checks and money orders are no longer acceptable means of payment. Instead, DHS/CIS will only accept payment via electronic fund transfers from U.S. bank accounts, such as ACH direct debit – with account information provided on Form G-1650 OR credit card – with information provided on Form G-1450. Applicants without a U.S bank account will still be eligible to submit their filings, with payment submitted by way of prepaid credit card, (with information provided on Form G-1450). Applicants facing certain hardships may qualify for an exemption to this requirement and apply for consideration by way of Form G-1651, but such requests are subject to meeting specific hardship or other criteria.
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