USCIS Increases Screening, Vetting of Aliens Working in U.S.
4 December 2025
Release Date
12/04/2025
Maximum validity periods of some Employment Authorization Documents will be reduced
WASHINGTON – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services updated its Policy Manual to reduce the maximum validity period for Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) for certain categories of aliens. This update also incorporates changes to EAD validity periods made by recent legislation to ensure proper vetting and screening of aliens.
The reduced maximum validity periods for certain categories will result in more frequent vetting of aliens who apply for authorization to work in the United States. Vetting an alien more often will enable USCIS to deter fraud and detect aliens with potentially harmful intent so they can be processed for removal from the United States.
“Reducing the maximum validity period for employment authorization will ensure that those seeking to work in the United States do not threaten public safety or promote harmful anti-American ideologies. After the attack on National Guard service members in our nation’s capital by an alien who was admitted into this country by the previous administration, it’s even more clear that USCIS must conduct frequent vetting of aliens.” said Director Joseph Edlow.
The maximum validity period for initial and renewal EADs will be changed from 5 years back to 18 months for several categories of aliens:
- Aliens admitted as refugees;
- Aliens granted asylum;
- Aliens granted withholding of deportation or removal;
- Aliens with pending applications for asylum or withholding of removal;
- Aliens with pending applications for adjustment of status under INA 245; and
- Aliens with pending applications for suspension of deportation, cancellation of removal, or relief under the Nicaraguan Adjustment and Central American Relief Act.
This change affects aliens with applications for employment authorization that are pending or filed on or after Dec. 5, 2025, and based on any of the above categories.
As required by H.R. 1 - One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Public Law 119-21, 139 Stat. 72, (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4, 2025, the validity period for initial and renewal employment authorization documents will be one year or the end date of the authorized parole period or duration of Temporary Protected Status (TPS), whichever is shorter for the following categories:
- Aliens paroled as refugees;
- Aliens granted TPS;
- Aliens granted parole;
- Aliens with a pending TPS application; and
- Alien spouse of entrepreneur parole.
On July 22, 2025, USCIS published a Federal Register notice and issued an announced implementation of H.R. 1. These validity period requirements apply to any Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025.
For more information on applications for employment authorization, visit our Employment Authorization Document page.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Last Reviewed/Updated:
12/04/2025
Release Date 11/27/2025 USCIS will consider relevant country-specific factors when using its broad discretionary authorities regarding aliens from 19 high-risk countries after halting refugee resettlement from Afghanistan and the entry of Afghan nationals in the first year of the Trump administration. WASHINGTON — In the wake of the shooting of two National Guard service members in Washington, D.C., Wednesday by an Afghan national, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services issued new guidance allowing for negative, country-specific factors to be considered when vetting aliens from 19 high-risk countries . This guidance comes after the Trump administration halted refugee resettlement from Afghanistan and the entry of Afghan nationals in its first year of office. “My primary responsibility is to ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “This includes an assessment of where they are coming from and why. Yesterday’s horrific events make it abundantly clear the Biden administration spent the last four years dismantling basic vetting and screening standards, prioritizing the rapid resettlement of aliens from high-risk countries over the safety of American citizens. The Trump administration takes the opposite approach. Effective immediately, I am issuing new policy guidance that authorizes USCIS officers to consider country-specific factors as significant negative factors when reviewing immigration requests. American lives come first.” The updated guidance, including consideration of country-specific factors such as a country’s ability to issue secure identity documents, will further strengthen USCIS’ implementation of President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation (PP) 10949, Restricting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats . It will allow USCIS officers to more meaningfully assess whether an alien is a threat to public safety and national security. This policy guidance is effective immediately and applies to requests pending or filed on or after Nov. 27, 2025. For more information, see the USCIS Policy Alert . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/uscis-implements-additional-national-security-measures-in-the-wake-of-national-guard-shooting-by Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/27/2025
Release Date 11/26/2025 The Department of Homeland Security today posted a Federal Register notice on the termination of Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. After consulting with interagency partners, Secretary Noem concluded that Haiti no longer meets the statutory requirements for TPS. This decision was based on a review conducted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, input from relevant U.S. government agencies, and an analysis indicating that allowing Haitian nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is inconsistent with U.S. national interests. The termination of the Haiti Temporary Protected Status designation is effective February 3, 2026. If you are an alien who is currently a beneficiary of TPS for Haiti, you should prepare to depart if you have no other lawful basis for remaining in the United States. You can use the CBP Home mobile application to report your departure from the United States. This secure and convenient self-deportation process includes a complimentary plane ticket, a $1,000 exit bonus, and potential future opportunities for legal immigration to the United States. Find more information about TPS at uscis.gov/tps . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/26/2025 https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/dhs-terminates-temporary-protected-status-for-haiti
https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/resources-for-educational-programs/prepare-for-the-naturalization-interview-and-test
USCIS offers free training seminars designed to enhance the skills needed to teach U.S. history, civics, and the naturalization process to immigrant students. These skills will help educators, volunteers, and organizations offer a comprehensive adult citizenship program. USCIS does not certify teachers or adult citizenship programs. What Will I Learn? Learn more about what USCIS offers at training events. Frequently Asked Questions Find answers to commonly-asked questions about the training seminars. How Do I Register for a Webinar Training? Use our online registration portal . If you do not receive a confirmation email from us within 5-7 business days of registering, or are unable to submit your registration, please email the Office of Citizenship . To request special accommodations, email the Office of Citizenship 45 days before the training event. Be sure to also check out our past training events . Sign up to receive Citizenship Resource Center email updates. https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship/resources-for-educational-programs/register-for-training
Release Date 11/20/2025 We have issued a Federal Register notice that will increase certain H.R. 1 immigration-related fees for fiscal year (FY) 2026. These fee adjustments reflect the amount of inflation from July 2024 through July 2025. On July 22, we published a Federal Register notice announcing the implementation of these H.R. 1 immigration-related fees. Beginning in FY 2026, and continuing for each subsequent fiscal year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will adjust some of these fees for inflation, as specified in H.R. 1. The new inflationary-adjusted fees are effective on Jan. 1, 2026. If you submit a benefit request postmarked on or after Jan. 1, 2026, that requires one of these HR-1 fees, you must include the new fee for the specific benefit you are requesting. The fees that are increasing due to this Federal Register notice are listed in the table below.
Release Date 11/24/2025 Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Burma (Myanmar). The termination will be effective on Jan 26, 2026. At least 60 days before a TPS designation expires, the secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. government agencies, is required to review the conditions in a country designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions supporting the designation continue to be met, and, if so, how long to extend the designation. If the Secretary determines that the conditions in the foreign state continue to meet the specific statutory criteria for Temporary Protected Status designation, Temporary Protected Status will be extended for an additional period of 6 months or, in the Secretary’s discretion, 12 or 18 months. If the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the conditions for Temporary Protected Status designation, the Secretary must terminate the designation. “This decision restores TPS to its original status as temporary,” said Secretary Kristi Noem. “The situation in Burma has improved enough that it is safe for Burmese citizens to return home, so we are terminating the Temporary Protected Status. Burma has made notable progress in governance and stability, including the end of its state of emergency, plans for free and fair elections, successful ceasefire agreements, and improved local governance contributing to enhanced public service delivery and national reconciliation.” After conferring with interagency partners, Secretary Noem determined that conditions in Burma no longer meet the TPS statutory requirements. The Secretary’s decision was based on a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services review of the conditions in Burma and in consultation with the Department of State. The Secretary determined that, overall, country conditions have improved to the point where Burmese citizens can return home in safety. She further determined that permitting Burmese nationals to remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national interest of the United States. Burmese nationals returning home are encouraged to use the U.S. Customs and Border Protection CBP Home app to report their departure from the United States. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-terminating-temporary-protected-status-for-burma Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/24/2025
Release Date 11/07/2025 On Oct. 30, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland issued an order in Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., SAG-25-03299 (D. Md.), temporarily staying the Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) implementation provisions by USCIS as provided in the notice titled “USCIS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 Reconciliation Bill” and published in the Federal Register ( 90 FR 34511 (FRN )) on July 22, 2025. USCIS strongly disagrees with the Court’s order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review. The FRN provided information about how DHS would effectuate the mandatory AAF for fiscal year 2025 and subsequent years. It specified that any alien who had a Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal , pending during the entire fiscal year 2025 would be subject to the fiscal year 2025 fee. Additionally, aliens with asylum applications filed after Oct. 1, 2024 that remain pending with USCIS for 365 days must pay the AAF as of the one-year anniversary of his or her filing date and each calendar year thereafter that the application remains pending. The FRN also provided that USCIS will directly notify aliens that an AAF is due, when it is due, and how it is paid. The fiscal year 2025 fee is not due until a notice has been sent. It further stated that USCIS will provide guidance for future years’ AAF payments in subsequent issuances. As provided in the FRN, on or around Oct. 1, 2025, USCIS began issuing personal notices to aliens that their AAF was due. In accordance with the Oct. 30, 2025 order, USCIS has paused the issuance of AAF notices. Any applicant who has received a notice from USCIS instructing him or her to pay the AAF may disregard that notice while the temporary stay is in place. USCIS will not refund previously paid annual asylum fees, and applicants who paid the fee should retain their receipts. USCIS will issue updated instructions on payment of the AAF pending further litigation developments. https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/c ourt-order-on-annual-asylum-fee-notices Last Reviewed/Updated: 11/07/2025
Release Date 10/28/2025 WASHINGTON — As previously announced , on Oct. 28, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will only accept electronic payments for paper-filed forms. Payments may be made either via credit card or debit card using Form G-1450, Authorization for Credit Card Transactions , or ACH debit transactions from a U.S. bank account using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH transactions . By requiring electronic payment, USCIS eliminates the need for benefit requestors and third-party payors to bring funds into field offices. This practice also complies with the transition to government-wide electronic payments required by Executive Order 14247, Modernizing Payments To and From America’s Bank Account. “Modernizing financial transactions to and from the federal government is a priority for the Trump administration,” said USCIS Spokesman Matthew Tragesser. “Over 90% of our payments come from checks and money orders, causing processing delays and increasing the risk of fraud and lost payments. This is a no-brainer move.” USCIS continues to accept online payments for forms filed online. USCIS encourages benefit requestors and their accredited representatives to use their USCIS account to file online through the guided process or the electronic PDF intake process, if either of these filing options is available for their form type. Benefit requestors and accredited representatives filing online have access to helpful instructions and tips on completing their forms. They can also pay their fees online using the secure pay.gov platform. In limited instances, benefit requestors and third-party payors may be exempt from submitting electronic payments with their application, petition, or request. See Form G-1651, Exemption for Paper Fee Payment , for a list of exemptions. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook , and LinkedIn . Last Reviewed/Updated: 10/28/2025
Release Date 10/15/2025 The Department of Homeland Security is publishing a Federal Register notice to implement a new immigration parole fee required by the H.R. 1 Reconciliation Bill. The fee is $1,000 for FY 2025 and is subject to annual adjustments for inflation. You must pay this fee when you are paroled into the United States, unless you qualify for an exception. Our critical work does not stop during the Democrats’ government shutdown. We remain steadfast in protecting our homeland by upholding lawful immigration. The Federal Register notice explains when the immigration parole fee takes effect, exceptions to the fee, and consequences if you do not pay. USCIS will collect the immigration parole fee if you are physically present in the United States and we are granting you parole or a new period of parole (also known as re-parole). Beginning on Oct. 16, 2025, if we determine that we can approve your request for parole or re-parole and that it requires payment of the immigration parole fee, we will notify you that you must pay this fee before we can approve your request. The notice will have payment instructions and a deadline. We will not grant parole unless you pay the immigration parole fee as instructed and within the specified time period. Do not pay the immigration parole fee when you submit Form I-131, Application for Travel Documents, Parole Documents, and Arrival/Departure Records . The immigration parole fee will be collected when you are paroled into the United States. For more information about when Customs and Border Protection or Immigration and Customs Enforcement will collect the immigration parole fee, see the Federal Register notice . For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) , Instagram , YouTube , Facebook and LinkedIn . https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-implements-new-immigration-parole-fee-required-by-hr-1 Last Reviewed/Updated: 10/15/2025
Alert Type info ALERT: On Oct. 1, 2025, we began sending notices to all aliens with a pending Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal, who are required to pay the new Annual Asylum Fee (AAF) as provided in the July 22, 2025 Federal Register notice titled “ USCIS Immigration Fees Required by HR-1 Reconciliation Bill .” We also sent notices to any representatives of these aliens listed on Form G-28. On Oct. 30, 2025, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project v. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, et al., SAG-25-03299 (D. Md.), temporarily stayed the AAF implementation provisions by USCIS. USCIS strongly disagrees with the Court’s order but will follow its terms pending possible further judicial review. In accordance with the Oct. 30 order, USCIS has paused the issuance of AAF notices pending further litigation developments. Any applicant who has received a notice from USCIS instructing him or her to pay the AAF may disregard that notice while the temporary stay is in place. USCIS will not refund previously paid annual asylum fees, and applicants who paid the fee should retain their receipts. USCIS will issue updated instructions on payment of the AAF pending further litigation developments. Alert Type info ALERT: On Nov. 14, 2025, we published a new edition of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule. The new edition changed the filing fees for EB-5 related petitions and applications to the pre April 1, 2024, Fee Rule filing fees for: Form I-526, Immigrant Petition by Standalone Investor; Form I-526E, Immigrant Petition by Regional Center Investor; Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status; Form I-956, Application for Regional Center Designation; Form I-956F, Application for Approval of an Investment in a Commercial Enterprise; and Form I-956G, Regional Center Annual Statement Read more here: Court Order on Partial Stay of DHS 2024 USCIS Fee Rule. Use this form to verify fee information for immigration forms. Each application, petition, or request must be accompanied by the correct fee(s) unless you are exempt from paying the fee(s) or are eligible for a fee waiver. If the fee is incorrect, your application, petition, or request will be rejected. Fees for applications, petitions, or requests can be paid by ACH debit, or credit card. Filing at a USCIS Office If you are filing your application or petition at a USCIS office, you must pay for the filing fee through pay.gov via a credit card or debit card, or electronic funds transfer (EFT) from a U.S. banking institution using Form G-1650, Authorization for ACH Transactions . Cash can never be used to pay a filing and/or biometric services fee, even when filing at a USCIS Office. Fees required under Public Law 119-21 (Pub. L. 119-21) Certain forms require additional fees along with any filing fee. Additional fees are not eligible for fee waivers and must be paid by separate payment concurrent with any filing fee. If your form does not have a filing fee or you have applied for a fee waiver for the form’s filing fee, you must still pay the new fee mandated by Pub. L. 119-21. NOTE: Pub. L. 119-21 fees adjust each year as required by law. For specific information regarding the form you are filing, please see the Additional Fee for the form you are filing. Fee Waivers Certain filers may qualify for a fee waiver for certain forms. To determine your eligibility for a fee waiver, please review Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver . If you are not eligible for a fee waiver, you must submit the correct fee(s). For most forms, you cannot request a fee waiver when filing online. You must file a paper version of Form I-912, or a written request for a fee waiver, and the form for which you are requesting a fee waiver. You may not request a fee waiver of the additional fees required by Pub. L. 119-21. However, you may request a waiver of the filing fee set by USCIS, if otherwise eligible, while submitting the additional fee required by Pub. L. 119-21. Fee Exemptions Fee-exempt forms and filing categories list $0 as the Filing Fee. You do not need to file Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver , or make a formal request to qualify for a fee exemption. However, the fee exemptions in this schedule only indicate that the form is free to file. They do not indicate eligibility to file those benefit requests in all circumstances. Eligibility to file a particular benefit request is set forth in the applicable regulations and form instructions. Edition Date 10/02/25. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page of Form G-1055, Fee Schedule. Downloads USCIS Fee Schedule If you need help downloading and printing forms, read our instructions . https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
