Extension of Immigrant Work Permits Clears White House Review

A rule (1615-AC78) to update the automatic extension period for immigrant work permits pending renewal has cleared review by the White House budget office, the final regulatory step before its release to the Federal Register.

US Citizenship and Immigration Services issued a temporary rule earlier this year increasing the automatic grace period for certain work permits from 180 to 540 days. Long wait times put hundreds of thousands of immigrants at risk of losing employment authorization.

But a large processing backlog persists, and that temporary measure is set to expire next year. Lawmakers have pressed the Biden administration ...