The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and E-Verify have announced that certain expired Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) issued under Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ukraine are automatically extended through October 19, 2026. The announcement was released on August 14, 2026.
According to the E-Verify alert, the TPS designation for Ukraine is currently scheduled to terminate on October 19, 2026. USCIS is issuing notices to eligible Ukraine TPS beneficiaries whose EAD renewal applications remain pending and who have not yet received renewed EADs. These notices confirm that qualifying expired TPS-based EADs remain valid through October 19, 2026.
Who Qualifies?
The automatic extension applies to Ukrainian nationals who:
- Remain eligible for Ukraine TPS;
- Have a pending Form I-765 application to renew a TPS-based EAD;
- Hold an expired EAD with category code A-12 or C-19; and
- Possess an EAD with an original expiration date of either April 19, 2025, or October 19, 2023
Form I-9 and E-Verify Compliance
Employees who qualify for the extension should receive a USCIS notice confirming the continued validity of their work authorization. For Form I-9 purposes, eligible employees may present:
- An expired EAD with an expiration date of April 19, 2025, or October 19, 2023; and
- The USCIS notice extending the validity of the document.
When completing Form I-9, employers should enter October 19, 2026, in the applicable expiration date fields and include any required notation in the Additional Information section. Employers may also retain supporting documentation related to the extension with the employee’s Form I-9 records. For E-Verify cases, employers should use the October 19, 2026 expiration date reflected by the extension.
Looking Ahead
Although this automatic extension provides temporary certainty for affected employers and employees, Ukraine TPS is currently scheduled to end on October 19, 2026. Employers should continue monitoring future DHS announcements and Federal Register notices for any additional developments affecting TPS beneficiaries and their work authorization status.
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