In a major change in America’s immigration system, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that now the maximum validity period of Employment Authorization Documents (EAD) will be reduced. This decision will impact millions of Indian professionals and their families. The agency says that this change is necessary to strengthen security checks and detect potential risks.

USCIS said the new policy will allow for more frequent screening of people seeking permission to work in the US, to prevent fraud and to identify individuals with malicious intentions so that they can begin the process of removing them from the country.

People should not become a threat to public safety

Director Joseph Edlow linked the decision to public safety concerns. He said reducing the employment-permission period would ensure that people who want to work in the United States do not pose a threat to public safety and do not promote anti-national ideologies.

Foreign citizens should be checked frequently

Referring to a recent incident, he said that the person who attacked National Guard soldiers in Washington was allowed to come into the country by the previous administration. After this incident, it has become more important that foreign citizens are checked repeatedly. These changes directly impact several categories that are used by Indian citizens in large numbers, such as employment-based green card applicants and H-1B workers who are undergoing processing.

EAD valid for only 18 months instead of 5 years

Now according to the new policy, EADs given to refugees, asylum seekers, those seeking relief from removal process and those applying for Green Card (INA 245) were earlier valid for five years, but now it will be valid only for 18 months. The policy alert states that this rule applies to all applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025.

This change could create new concerns for Indian applicants who are already facing long waits for green cards for years. Many Indians rely on long-term EADs and advance parole documents to remain employed. The Indian expatriate community is the largest beneficiary of employment-based visas in the US. They will be most affected by this change.

The image of Donald Trump in India still remains strong, even though his popularity has fallen rapidly in most countries of the world. A global survey of the Pew Research Center has revealed that Trump’s global credibility has declined, but in India he is considered a strong, decision -making and honest leader.

Indians expressed confidence
52 percent of people in India expressed confidence on Trump’s ability to take “right decision” in global affairs. This figure ranks fourth after Israel, Nigeria and Kenya. Only 23 percent of Indians expressed disbelief on Trump, which is extremely low than the rest of the world.

Support remained in spite of visa cuts and Departation
This positive trend was seen when Indian students and migrants faced strict policies such as visa during the Trump administration. In early 2020, the US visa to Indian students had fallen by 30%, and around 1,000 Indians were deployed from the US.

Indians consider Trump as ‘honest’ and ‘sensible’
While more than 85% of people in countries like Canada, Spain and Sweden consider Trump as ‘arrogant’ and ‘dangerous’, these figures are quite different in India. Only 34% Indians considered Trump ‘arrogant’ and 36% considered them ‘dangerous’- which is much less than the global average. About 50% of Indians described Trump as ‘honest’, this figure is less than Nigeria and Kenya.

Trump supports in India on climate policy
Despite taking out the US from the Paris Climate Agreement, 53 percent of Indians expressed confidence in Trump’s climate policy, which ranks third in the 24 countries survey.

Falling popularity in the world, credibility made in India
Trump’s image is constantly falling in countries like Sweden, France, Mexico and Germany. In France and the Netherlands only 22% of people expressed confidence in Trump, while in India this figure is more than doubled. In such a situation, a positive attitude towards Trump in India gives a different indication in global politics.