Immigrant work permits now last 540 days, up from 180

The US government has permanently extended how long certain work permits automatically remain valid. This means people waiting for their renewal applications to be processed can keep working for an extra year.

The US immigration system has been slow for years, leaving many people in limbo while their applications are processed. This change means hundreds of thousands of people will not lose their jobs or income while waiting for paperwork. It also reduces the administrative burden on employers who would otherwise have to terminate and rehire staff.