U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced Thursday it will require some categories of immigrants with work permits to renew them much more often, changing the timeline from five years to 18 months.
The decision to shorten work authorization periods is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to erect new hurdles for documented immigrants, including through increased vetting. The change is effective starting Dec. 5, and impacts all pending and future work permit applications.
The move will affect immigrants who received work permits admitted under refugee status, who were granted or have pending asylum applications and who have been exempted from deportation for a number of reasons, among other categories.