USCIS has issued guidance that, effective immediately, healthcare workers who have a pending Employment Authorization Document (EAD) renewal application (Form I-765) can request expedited processing of the application if:
- The healthcare worker’s current EAD will expire in 30 days or less; or
- The healthcare worker’s current EAD has already expired.
Qualifying healthcare workers include, but are not limited to:
- Laboratory personnel performing critical research and testing for COVID-19 or other diseases;
- Healthcare providers providing direct patient care.
- Workers required for effective clinical, command, infrastructure, support service, administrative, security, and intelligence operations.
- Workers needed to support transportation, laundry services, food services, reprocessing of medical equipment and waste management.
- Workers who cannot work remotely that manage health plans, billing, health information, and cybersecurity functions.
- Workers providing security, incident management, and emergency operations at or on behalf of healthcare entities.
- Pharmacy staff.
- Home health workers.
For a full list of qualifying healthcare workers, see this DHS advisory memorandum (“Healthcare / Public Health” section, pages 7-9).
An individual requesting expedited processing should be prepared to provide evidence of their profession or current employment as a healthcare worker. Without sufficient evidence, USCIS may not grant the expedite request.
Should you have any questions or require additional information on this process please reach out to your designed MU attorney.
