On April 3, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a Federal Register notice establishing procedures for certain Hong Kong residents covered by Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) to apply for Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) that will be valid through February 5, 2027.
The notice automatically extends through February 5, 2027, the validity of current Hong Kong DED-related EADs with an expiration date of February 5, 2023, or February 5, 2025, and a Category Code of A11. Employees may present this EAD as evidence of identity and employment authorization for purposes of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
USCIS explained that since DED “is a directive to defer removal of an individual, rather than a specific immigration status like Temporary Protected Status, there is no DED application form required for an individual to be covered by DED. If an individual covered by DED wants to apply for an EAD, they must file Form I-765. Similarly, if an individual covered by DED wants to apply for advance travel authorization, they must file Form I-131.”