The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new streamlined work authorization process for refugees in the U.S. Refugees will now only have to wait 30 days to receive their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) after being admitted to the country. This significantly reduces the waiting time for work authorization (from several months), allowing refugees to start working in the U.S. shortly after their arrival.
According to the new system, as soon as a refugee enters the U.S., USCIS will digitally generate Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) for them. Once approved, refugees will typically receive their EAD by mail within one to two weeks. Additionally, USCIS will now electronically provide the necessary information to the Social Security Administration to assign Social Security numbers and send cards to refugees so they can begin working.
All eligible refugees admitted to the country starting December 10, 2023, will receive their EADs and Social Security cards based on this new regulation.
In the U.S., refugees have the legal right to work. Previously, they had to go through a lengthy process to obtain EADs. The new fully automated process eliminates the step where refugees themselves need to apply for their work authorization, leading to faster processing of Form I-765 and quicker delivery of EAD cards after approval.
Immigration advocates have praised the updated guidelines, as work authorization is essential for newly arrived refugees to begin their lives in the U.S. without relying on local government assistance.
However, the unanswered question remains: What about immigrants, especially those who have entered and are living in the country with some type of visa, who must wait for years for a work authorization that only comes after a lengthy immigration process?
Source: USCIS