India, Dec. 7 -- The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has updated its policy manual, reducing the validity of work permits issued to several Green Card applicants and other protected immigrants from five years to 18 months.

The revised policy will also impact refugees, asylum seekers, and applicants awaiting adjustment of status.

In a statement, USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the change was part of efforts to tighten immigration procedures.

The new rule applies to employment authorization applications that are pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025, and that fall under the affected categories.

Reacting to the development, Emily Neumann, an immigration attorney and managing partner at Reddy Neumann Brown PC, wro...