USCIS Updates Policy Guidelines for Employment Authorization Documents on Compelling Circumstances

June 23, 2023 | By: Kirti Kalra

United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released new policy guidelines addressing eligibility requirements for individuals applying for employment authorization (EAD) with compelling circumstances. Principal applicants and their dependents can now refer to a non-comprehensive list of situations that could qualify as a compelling circumstance.

Compelling circumstances can be a serious illness, disability, employer dispute, employer retaliation, or anything that could cause extensive harm to the applicant or employer. Examples of supporting evidence can include higher education or school enrollment, mortgage records, or long-term lease agreements to help prove a family will be forced to leave their home or school due to a job loss.

The new guidance is already in place and will apply to all applications filed on or after June 14, 2023. 

For help filing an EAD application or if you have any case specific questions, please contact the trusted Chugh, LLP immigration team.