On Tuesday, May 3, 2022, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced that immigrants could continue using expired work permits to stay in the country for another 18 months.
This decision to give reprieve to workers comes amid a massive backlog of work permit applications that are currently overwhelming the department.
What benefit does the extension give immigrants?
A work permit is typically good for two years. After two years, an immigrant can continue to work for another 180 days while waiting for the renewal of their permit. This extension, effective May 4, 2022, will allow immigrants to work in the United States until October 27, 2023. At that time, the extension will return to 180 days.
Immigrant work permits are valuable tools for individuals who want to better integrate and contribute to their new communities. These permits grant foreign nationals the ability to legally enter and work in a given country, allowing them to live and work there on a more permanent basis.
Work permits provide several important benefits, including access to social services and public benefits, the right to obtain a driver’s license or state ID, and protection from deportation.
Not only do these permits provide numerous benefits to immigrants themselves, but they also benefit the overall economy of the U.S. Immigrants help drive economic growth and meet employers’ need for workers.
While this work permit extension does provide relief to millions of immigrants, it is only a temporary measure. Anyone who is unsure about their current status in the United States should speak with someone who can help them explore their options.