US ends automatic renewal of work permits for foreigners

The United States on Wednesday announced the end of the automatic extension of employment authorisation documents for foreigners.

The move came weeks after President Donald Trump raised the H1B visa fees to $100,000.

The employment authorisation documents, also known as work permits, are issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services and prove that a foreigner is authorised to work legally in the country for a specific period

Under the previous administration led by President Joe Biden, foreigners who used to timely file a Form I-765 to renew their employment authorisation documents used to get a 540-day automatic extension.

On Wednesday, the US Department of Homeland Security stated that the new rule prioritises the “proper screening and vetting of aliens before extending the validity of their employment authorisations”.

Foreigners who file to renew their employment authorisation documents on or after October 30, 2025, would no longer receive an automatic extension, the statement read.

Those impacted by the new rule included spouses of certain H-1B principal non-immigrants, spouses of L non-immigrants, spouses of E non-immigrants and foreigners with Refugee or Asylee status, AP reported.

H-1B non-immigrant visas allow US companies to temporarily employ foreign workers in speciality occupations.

An L non-immigrant visa allows companies to transfer an employee from one of its foreign offices to a US office, while an E non-immigrant visa refers...

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