US Ends Automatic Work Permit Renewal for Migrants; Thousands of Indian Workers Affected

In a major policy shift, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has ended the automatic renewal of work permits for migrant workers, a move expected to affect thousands of Indian professionals who constitute a large segment of America’s foreign workforce.

The rule, effective immediately, eliminates automatic extensions of Employment Authorisation Documents (EADs), requiring migrant workers to undergo fresh vetting before their work permits can be renewed.

“Aliens who file to renew their EAD on or after October 30, 2025, will no longer receive an automatic extension,” the DHS said, adding that more frequent background checks will help detect fraud and identify individuals with “potentially harmful intent.”

USCIS chief Joseph Edlow described the measure as a “common-sense step” to ensure proper screening, asserting that “working in the US is a privilege, not a right.”

Under the previous Biden administration, migrant employees were permitted to continue working while their renewal applications were pending. According to DHS data, nearly 450,000 EAD extensions are filed annually, with about 49,000 processed each month.

The latest immigration tightening comes just weeks after President Donald Trump introduced a $100,000 annual application fee for H-1B visas, marking one of the most sweeping overhauls of the program for highly skilled foreign workers since 1990.

India accounts for 71% of approved H-1B visas, followed by China with 11.7%. Tech giants such as Amazon, Tata Consultancy, Microsoft, Apple, and Google lead in sponsorships, with California hosting the largest concentration of visa holders.

In a related step, DHS has also announced new border regulations mandating that all non-US citizens, including Green Card holders, be photographed upon entry and exit from the country. The rule will take effect on December 26, 2025.