Refugees to secure work permit swiftly as US fast-tracks Employment Authorization Documents

WASHINGTON – The authorities in the United States have announced to fast-track the process for obtaining Employment Authorization Documents for refugees in a major relief for distressed individuals.

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has started implementing a streamlined process for Form I-765 to provide Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) swiftly to eligible refugees after they are admitted into the United States.

Under the fresh measures, this streamlined process shortens the wait time for an EAD to approximately 30 days instead of several months. As far as the eligibility is concerned, individuals admitted into the United States as refugees on or after Dec. 10, 2023, will receive EADs according to this new process.

Under U.S. law, a refugee is legally authorized to work as soon as they arrive in the country but the challenge lies in obtaining proof of this work authorization in the form of an EAD which was previously a cumbersome paper-based process that caused delays.

The new process announced by USCIS is fully automated and no longer requires refugees to apply for an EAD, allowing for more efficient processing and adjudication of Form I-765 and quicker delivery of EADs after approval.

Under the new system, USCIS will digitally create a Form I-765 for arriving refugees and begin adjudicating it as soon as they are admitted into the United States. After USCIS approves a refugee’s Form I-765, refugees will generally receive their EAD within one to two weeks.

The delivery mechanism is that the USCIS will mail EAD via U.S. Postal Service Priority Mail but it has been clarified that the time frame for a refugee to receive their EAD card may vary, depending on delivery times.

Besides, USCIS has announced that it will also electronically provide the Social Security Administration with the information required to assign a Social Security number and mail a Social Security card to the refugee.

It is to be highlighted that both the EAD and Social Security card are critical to a newly arrived refugee’s ability to integrate into the United States and the coordinated efforts to support the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and refugee integration would help a large section of the society.

The department has clarified that this efficient and swift process does not apply to following-to-join refugees admitted into the United States based on an approved Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition. Additionally, refugees seeking a replacement or renewal EAD will still need to complete and submit Form I-765.