New USCIS Process Guarantees Work Permits for Refugees in 30 Days

HI INDIA NEWS DESK
WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has introduced a streamlined work authorization process for refugees in the U.S. This initiative aims to reduce the wait time for refugees to receive their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) from several months to just 30 days after their admission to the country, enabling them to start working sooner.

Under this new system, upon their arrival in the U.S., USCIS will automatically generate Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) for refugees digitally. Following approval, refugees can expect to receive their EADs within one to two weeks by mail. Moreover, USCIS will electronically furnish the Social Security Administration with the necessary details to assign Social Security numbers and issue Social Security cards to refugees, facilitating their entry into the workforce.

All eligible refugees admitted into the country on or after December 10, 2023, will benefit from this expedited process to obtain their EADs and Social Security cards.

Previously, refugees had to navigate a cumbersome paper-based application process to obtain their EADs, delaying their ability to work in the U.S. The new automated process eliminates this hurdle, accelerating the processing of Form I-765 and expediting the delivery of approved EADs.

Immigration advocates have lauded these updated guidelines, recognizing that timely access to work authorization and Social Security information is crucial for refugees to establish themselves in the U.S. USCIS underscores that this update reflects the agency’s commitment to enhancing efficiency and improving the customer experience by modernizing and digitizing the immigration process.