New US immigration rule: No auto extn of work authorisation

The US Department of Homeland Security has eliminated automatic extensions of employment authorisation documents, a move that will force foreign workers — especially Indians who make up a large portion of the expat workforce — to stop working if their renewals are not approved before their current permits expire.

- Shashank Mattoo

The interim final rule, published on Wednesday and coming into effect from Thursday, ends a practice that allowed workers to continue their jobs for up to 540 days while renewal applications were pending Starting Thursday, anyone filing to renew their work permit