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Policy Manual
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Book outline for Policy Manual
  • Policy Manual
    • Search
    • Updates
    • Table of Contents
    • Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures
    • Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants
    • Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole
    • Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees
    • Volume 5 - Adoptions
    • Volume 6 - Immigrants
    • Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status
    • Volume 8 - Admissibility
    • Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief
    • Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
      • Part A - Employment Authorization Policies and Procedures
        • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
        • Chapter 2 - Eligibility Requirements
        • Chapter 3 - Documentation and Evidence [Reserved]
        • Chapter 4 - Adjudication
        • Chapter 5 - Reserved
        • Chapter 6 - Card Production and Card Correction [Reserved]
        • Chapter 7 - Post-Decision Actions [Reserved]
      • Part B - Specific Categories
    • Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents
    • Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization
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  3. Volume 10 - Employment Authorization
  4. Part A - Employment Authorization Policies and Procedures

Part A - Employment Authorization Policies and Procedures

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  • Guidance
  • Resources (9)
  • Appendices (0)
  • Updates (7)
  • History (0)

Resources

Legal Authorities

8 CFR 274a Subpart B - Employment authorization

8 CFR 274a.12 - Classes of aliens authorized to accept employment

8 CFR 274a.13 - Application for employment authorization

INA 103, 8 CFR 103 - Powers and duties of the Secretary, the Under Secretary, and the Attorney General

INA 274A - Unlawful employment of aliens

Forms

AR-11, Change of Address

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-765, Application for Employment Authorization

I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

Appendices

No appendices available at this time.

Updates

POLICY ALERT - Documentation of Employment Authorization for Certain E and L Nonimmigrant Dependent Spouses

March 18, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to address the documentation that certain E and L spouses may use as evidence of employment authorization incident to their status.

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Affected Sections

10 USCIS-PM A.2 - Chapter 2 - Eligibility Requirements

10 USCIS-PM B.2 - Chapter 2 - Employment-Based Nonimmigrants

POLICY ALERT - Updating General Guidelines on Maximum Validity Periods for Employment Authorization Documents based on Certain Filing Categories

February 07, 2022

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidelines in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding validity periods for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) for asylees and refugees, noncitizens with withholding of deportation or removal, noncitizens with deferred action, parolees, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioners.

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Affected Sections

10 USCIS-PM A.4 - Chapter 4 - Adjudication

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Alien”

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

POLICY ALERT - Applications for Discretionary Employment Authorization Involving Certain Adjustment Applications or Deferred Action

January 14, 2021

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is providing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding applications for discretionary employment authorization based on 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(9) (pending application for adjustment of status under INA 245) or 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(14) (grant of deferred action). USCIS is also providing guidance outlining the categories of aliens eligible for discretionary employment authorization.

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Affected Sections

10 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Employment Authorization Policies and Procedures

10 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Specific Categories

Technical Update - Removing Exemption from Discretion for Asylum Applicants Seeking Employment Authorization under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(8)

August 27, 2020

This technical update removes the exemption from discretion for asylum applicants seeking employment authorization under 8 CFR 274a.12(c)(8). The Asylum Application, Interview, and Employment Authorization for Applicants Final Rule (Final Rule) (effective August 25, 2020) amended 8 CFR 274a.13(a)(1) to eliminate the exemption. Accordingly, asylum applicants who file applications for employment authorization on or after August 25, 2020 are subject to discretion like other applicants seeking employment authorization under 8 CFR 274a.12(c). Note: On September 11, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in Casa de Maryland et al v. Chad Wolf provided limited injunctive relief to members of two organizations, CASA de Maryland (CASA) and the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP), in the application of the Final Rule to Form I-589s and Form I-765s filed by asylum applicants who are also members of CASA or ASAP. Therefore, while the rule is preliminarily enjoined, we will continue to apply the prior regulatory language and exempt from discretion CASA and ASAP members who file a Form I-765 based on an asylum application.

Affected Sections

10 USCIS-PM A.5 - Chapter 5 - Reserved

POLICY ALERT - Applying Discretion in USCIS Adjudications

July 15, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is consolidating existing policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding the discretionary analysis required in the adjudication of certain benefit requests, including certain applications for employment authorization.

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Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM E.8 - Chapter 8 - Discretionary Analysis

10 USCIS-PM A.5 - Chapter 5 - Reserved

Technical Update - Replacing the Term “Foreign National”

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

Affected Sections

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

Version History

No historical versions available.

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  • Chapter 1 - Purpose and Background
  • Chapter 2 - Eligibility Requirements
  • Chapter 3 - Documentation and Evidence [Reserved]
  • Chapter 4 - Adjudication
  • Chapter 5 - Reserved
  • Chapter 6 - Card Production and Card Correction [Reserved]
  • Chapter 7 - Post-Decision Actions [Reserved]
Current as of July 01, 2022
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