On September 3, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the termination of the 2021 Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation for Venezuela. The 2021 designation officially expires on September 10, 2025, with TPS protections ending on November 7, 2025.
To ease the transition, DHS has automatically extended the validity of certain Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) previously issued under the 2021 TPS designation. The Federal Register notice, published on September 8, 2025, confirms that Venezuelan TPS beneficiaries may continue to use their EADs to work legally in the U.S. through November 7, 2025, provided their cards meet the following criteria:
- Category Codes A12 or C19 listed on the EAD.
- A “Card Expires” date of September 9, 2022, March 10, 2024, or September 10, 2025.
What Employers Need to Know
Employers should update their I-9 compliance files accordingly. Employees who present qualifying EADs remain authorized to work until November 7, 2025. DHS guidance confirms that employers should not re-verify until after that date.
Clarifying Validity Dates
The Federal Register notice distinguishes between EADs issued under the 2021 designation and those tied to the 2023 redesignation of Venezuela:
- 2021 TPS Designation: EADs valid until September 10, 2025, or automatically extended through November 7, 2025, depending on the listed expiration date.
- 2023 TPS Designation: EADs may carry later expiration dates, including April 2, 2025, or October 2, 2026, with validity extended under DHS’s 540-day automatic extension rule when applicable.
What This Means for TPS Beneficiaries
If you currently hold a TPS EAD under Venezuela’s 2021 designation, you may rely on your card through November 7, 2025, without filing a new application—if your card meets DHS criteria. After that date, your employment authorization will expire unless another legal pathway is secured.
