Starting Oct. 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says it will implement expedited processing of some Employment Authorization Document (EAD) applications and begin issuing some EADs with longer validity times in an effort to help qualified immigrants gain access to work authorization more quickly.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will prioritize EAD applications filed by parolees who have scheduled an appointment through the CBP One mobile app in an effort to reduce the processing time for these applications from 90 days to 30 days.

USCIS will also reduce the EAD processing times for EADs based on CBP One parole as well as the Cuban, Haitian, Venezuelan, and Nicaraguan parole programs. The stated goal is to bring down processing times from 90 to 30 days.

In an effort to improve the application process overall, USCIS is increasing the maximum validity period of initial and renewal EADs to five years for certain applicants, including refugees and asylees, asylum and green card applicants. This change will reduce the need for EAD renewal applications and streamline the EAD application and production process.