U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is shortening how long Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) remain valid, cutting it from five years to just 18 months.

The agency announced Thursday that the shorter work-permit windows will force more frequent background checks on noncitizens working in the U.S., which officials argue will help detect fraud, identity security threats and remove individuals who pose a risk.

"Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies," Director Joseph Edlow said. "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."

The policy shift restores the previous 18-month limit for a wide range of categories, replacing the five-year validity period adopted in 2023.

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A woman holds an American flag at a citizenship ceremony.

The reinstated limit applies to refugees, aliens granted asylum and those granted withholding of deportation or removal.

It also affects aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal, as well as applicants seeking to adjust their immigration status. Those pursuing suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal or relief under long-standing humanitarian programs fall under the same rules.

The shorter validity periods will apply to any employment authorization request pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025.

USCIS says the change is intended to ensure regular review of applicants whose immigration cases remain unresolved.

A separate set of limits required under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – which was signed into law by President Donald Trump this year – will apply to certain parole and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) categories, capping work-permit validity at one year or the end of the parole or TPS period, whichever comes first.

That includes aliens paroled as refugees, individuals granted TPS and applicants with pending TPS requests. (Fox News)

• The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said officers must consider the positive contributions of applicants moving forward as part of a holistic approach. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)