Impact of the Asylum Processing Halt on Afghan Nationals’ Work Authorization

(UNITED STATES) The recent Asylum Processing Halt in the United States 🇺🇸 has had a direct and painful effect on Employment Authorization for many Afghan nationals. As of November 29, 2025, new rules and policy shifts mean that people who once had a fairly clear path to a work permit now face long waits, sudden gaps in work permission, and hard choices about how to support their families.

This guide walks through the full process, step by step, from the point of entering the U.S. or filing asylum, through getting or renewing a work permit, and what happens if your status is blocked or taken away. The goal is to help Afghan nationals and their supporters see the full picture and prepare for each stage, even in a very uncertain system.

How the Asylum Processing Halt affects work permission

The U.S. government has paused or sharply limited asylum processing for certain groups, and many Afghan nationals fall inside those groups. When asylum cases are blocked at the start or stopped mid-way, the effect flows straight into work rights.

Under normal rules, an Afghan national with a pending asylum application can apply for a work permit, called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), usually by filing Form I-765 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You can read general work permit rules on the official USCIS page for Employment Authorization.

Because of the Asylum Processing Halt:

• Some Afghan nationals cannot file asylum at all.
• Others see their cases stalled or denied because of new enforcement actions.
• Without a pending or valid asylum case, many lose the primary basis for an asylum-based EAD.

If an asylum case is pending or is denied under these new limits, the person may lose eligibility for work authorization, unless they qualify under another category, such as:

• Humanitarian parole (including some admitted under Operation Allies Welcome),
• Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) status or a pending SIV case,
• Other humanitarian programs.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this “chain reaction” between an asylum block and job loss is one of the most worrying effects for Afghan families who had started to rebuild their lives in the United States.

Key takeaway: When asylum processing is blocked, the disruption often leads directly to loss of work permission — a vulnerable point for families relying on steady income.

Step-by-step: asylum-based work permits and new timeframes

Step 1: Filing (or trying to file) asylum

In a normal system, an Afghan national inside the United States can file for asylum using Form I-589, Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal. After a waiting period, they can then apply for an asylum-based EAD.

Under the Asylum Processing Halt:

• Some people cannot file I-589 at all because USCIS or the immigration courts refuse or delay new filings for their group.
• Others file, but their cases are not moved forward.

If you cannot file asylum, you also cannot start the normal clock that leads to an asylum-based Employment Authorization Document.

Step 2: Applying for the first asylum-based EAD

For Afghan nationals who already have a pending asylum application, the rules still state that the government is supposed to decide a first-time EAD request within 30 days. This first EAD is requested by filing Form I-765 in the asylum category.

However:

• Processing delays are widespread in practice, so many people wait longer than 30 days.
• If no decision is made within 25 days, applicants may take steps such as contacting USCIS or using customer service tools — but there is no guarantee this speeds approval.

For Afghan nationals dependent on work to pay rent and buy food, these delays create high uncertainty and risk.

Step 3: Renewing an asylum-based EAD

The rules for renewal changed sharply on October 30, 2025, and this is one of the most important shifts for Afghan workers.

Before October 30, 2025:

• Timely EAD renewal filings (filed before the current card expired) could receive an automatic 540-day extension.
• This automatic extension allowed continued legal work while USCIS processed the renewal, even with processing delays.

As of October 30, 2025:

• The automatic 540-day extension is gone for asylum seekers renewing on or after that date.
• An Afghan national renewing their EAD on or after October 30, 2025 will not receive an automatic extension.
• Their work permit now ends on the exact expiration date printed on the card, unless USCIS approves a new EAD before that date.

Important exception:

• Afghan nationals who filed to renew their EAD before October 30, 2025, and filed before the current EAD expired are still covered by the 540-day automatic extension.

Practical consequence: anyone renewing after October 30, 2025 faces a real risk of a gap in work authorization if USCIS is slow.

What this means in daily life

In practice, these changes result in:

• Employers being forced to remove Afghan workers from the schedule the moment the card expires, even if a renewal is pending.
• Families seeing income drop to zero for weeks or months while waiting.
• Pressure on individuals to work without authorization, which can create legal jeopardy later.

Recommendations for asylum-based EAD holders:

• Renew as early as allowed by Form I-765 instructions.
• Keep copies of every filing and receipt notice.
• Check case status regularly through the official tool: USCIS Case Status Online.

Parole, SIV, and other paths to work authorization

Humanitarian parole and Operation Allies Welcome

Many Afghan nationals entered the United States under humanitarian parole, including through Operation Allies Welcome. Parole is a temporary status that allows a person to stay in the U.S. for a set time, typically with the option to apply for a parole-based EAD.

Key points:

• Afghan nationals with humanitarian parole may be eligible for work authorization based on that parole.
• When parole expires, and if the person does not secure another status (such as asylum or SIV), work authorization ends.

Typical sequence for parole-based workers:

1. Enter the U.S. with humanitarian parole.
2. File Form I-765 based on parole to get an EAD.
3. Work while parole and the EAD are valid.
4. Before parole ends, pursue another status (asylum, SIV, or other) and file for new work authorization based on that status.

Because the Asylum Processing Halt makes it harder to move from parole to asylum, many Afghans risk falling off a “cliff” where both parole and work permission end simultaneously.

Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and other humanitarian programs

Some Afghan nationals have pending SIV applications or are part of other humanitarian programs.

• These individuals may retain eligibility for work authorization, but it depends on the specific program and current processing status.
• It is important to track the status of SIV cases or other humanitarian cases, the expiration date of current EADs, and any USCIS notices affecting those programs.

Refugee status termination and the risk to work rights

A smaller but very vulnerable group are Afghan nationals admitted to the United States as refugees. Recent USCIS memos indicate that some people’s refugee status may be terminated as part of a broader review, with only limited ways to appeal.

For these individuals:

• Work authorization is tied to refugee status.
• If refugee status is terminated, they may lose eligibility for work authorization connected to that status.

If you receive a notice about possible termination:

• Seek individual legal advice immediately, because options are often narrow and timeframes can be short.

Practical planning for Afghan nationals facing work authorization gaps

Given these changes, treat Employment Authorization as a core part of immigration planning. The guidance highlights several practical steps to reduce the risk of losing work rights.

Track every application and status

Action items:

• Check the status of all immigration applications regularly.
• Keep a simple folder or digital file for:
  • Asylum (I-589) filings and receipts,
  • EAD (I-765) receipts and approval notices,
  • Parole or SIV documents,
  • Any refugee records or notices.

File renewals as early as possible

Because automatic EAD extensions no longer apply to asylum seekers filing after October 30, 2025:

• Mark EAD expiration dates on a calendar.
• Prepare renewals well in advance of the filing window.
• File as early as the instructions allow, to give USCIS more time to decide before the current card expires.

Seek legal help to explore backup options

The source material strongly recommends consulting an immigration attorney or accredited representative if:

• Asylum or refugee status is blocked, delayed, or terminated,
• Parole is close to expiring,
• You’re unsure whether you qualify under another work authorization category.

A lawyer or accredited representative can:

• Review whether humanitarian parole, SIV, family petitions, or other programs might apply,
• Help plan timelines so that one status ends only when another is ready,
• Spot problems early, such as missed deadlines or wrong categories on I-765.

USCIS recommends relying on its official website, USCIS.gov, for the most current rules and forms. But rules can be difficult to read without legal training, and each Afghan family’s situation is unique. That is why personal legal advice, together with close tracking of official updates, is critical for anyone affected by the Asylum Processing Halt.

Final reminder: Employment Authorization is central to daily survival and long-term stability. Act early, keep detailed records, and seek qualified legal help when status changes or notices arrive.