In a recent speech during the State of Immigration Address, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that the federal organization will be extending the validity period of employment authorization documents given to people waiting to adjust their status to lawful permanent residents. Currently, individuals seeking adjustment of status are given employment authorization documents with a one-year maximum validity period. In late June, these documents will be issued with a two-year validity period for individuals waiting for an adjustment of status if their applications are expected to be pending for more than one year.

“This … is eliminating a persistent source of frustration for workers who are here, who have a pending adjustment application but have to go and renew their employment documents every single year,” said Chertoff. “It’s going to cut the paperwork there.”