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Book outline for Handbook for Employers M-274
  • Handbook for Employers M-274
    • 1.0 Why Employers Must Verify Employment Authorization and Identity of New Employees
    • 2.0 Who Must Complete Form I-9
    • 3.0 Completing Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation
    • 4.0 Completing Section 2: Employer Review and Verification
    • 5.0 Automatic Extensions of Employment Authorization and/or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) in Certain Circumstances
      • 5.1 Automatic Extensions Based on a Timely Filed Application to Renew Employment Authorization and/or Employment Authorization Document
      • 5.2 Archived Guidance: Temporary Increase of Automatic Extension of EADs from 180 Days to 540 Days
      • 5.3 Automatic EAD Extensions for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Beneficiaries
    • 6.0 Completing Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire of Form I-9
    • 7.0 Evidence of Employment Authorization for Certain Categories
    • 8.0 Rules for Continuing Employment and Other Special Rules
    • 9.0 Correcting Errors or Missing Information on Form I-9
    • 10.0 Retaining Form I-9
    • 11.0 Unlawful Discrimination and Penalties for Prohibited Practices
    • 12.0 Instructions for Agricultural Recruiters and Referrers for a Fee
    • 13.0 Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity
    • 14.0 Some Questions You May Have About Form I-9
    • Appendix A: Common Abbreviations for Document Entry in Section 2
    • Summary of Changes
    • Table of Contents
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  2. Handbook for Employers M-274

5.0 Automatic Extensions of Employment Authorization and/or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) in Certain Circumstances

Some aliens with a pending Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, EAD renewal application filed under certain employment eligibility codes may be eligible to receive an up to 540-day automatic extension of their employment authorization and/or EAD if they meet the requirements stated in Sections 5.1 or 5.3 and their renewal EAD applications were timely filed on or after May 4, 2022.

Eligible employees with EADs that contain certain category codes are generally eligible for an automatic extension of their employment authorization and/or EADs for up to 540 days from the “Card Expires” date on the face of the EAD. See Figure 8 for an example that shows how to locate the category code and expiration date on an employee’s EAD.

Figure 8: Finding the Category Code and Expiration Date on an EAD (Form I-766)

The eligibility category appears on the EAD under “Category.” The expiration date appears to the right of “Card Expires,” see Figure 8 below:

Screen capture of Sample Front View of Employment Authorization Card
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  • 5.1 Automatic Extensions Based on a Timely Filed Application to Renew Employment Authorization and/or Employment Authorization Document
  • 5.2 Archived Guidance: Temporary Increase of Automatic Extension of EADs from 180 Days to 540 Days
  • 5.3 Automatic EAD Extensions for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) Beneficiaries
Last Reviewed/Updated: 04/24/2025
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