US Reduces Work-Permit Validity for Foreign Workers to 18 Months

The United States has reduced the maximum validity period for work-permit visas from five years to 18 months, a decision that is already generating unease among African diaspora professionals who rely on long-term employment authorisation to maintain stability in the country. The change, announced by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), forms part of a broader intelligence-driven overhaul of immigration monitoring system.

USCIS officials say the shortened validity period will allow authorities to conduct more frequent background reviews, making it easier to capture new security information and identify potential fraud patterns. For thousands of Africans legally employed in the U.S., this means more regular document renewals, additional fees, and prolonged administrative pressure.

The agency’s leadership framed the decision as a national-security safeguard, insisting that shorter review cycles help the government stay ahead of emerging threats. However, African diaspora workers especially those on Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylum-related permits, and student-to-work pathways, fear that increased scrutiny could translate into more delays, denials, or sudden disruptions in their employment timelines.

The timing of the announcement deepens existing worries within diaspora communities, coming days after the U.S. government suspended the processing of all immigration applications from 19 countries, many of them in Africa. That pause has left thousands of families uncertain about pending petitions, reunification plans, or professional transitions that depend on timely immigration decisions.

Immigration analysts note that countries with a strong African workforce in the U.S. including Somalia, Libya, Eritrea, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are among those facing tougher reviews under the ongoing policy revisions. Many African workers in the tech, healthcare, logistics, and academic sectors now fear longer queues and more paperwork in a system already plagued by extensive backlogs.

The decision also arrives amid rising political rhetoric around immigration, with the U.S. administration amplifying its calls for a stricter vetting regime. While officials argue the changes protect national interests, critics say they risk alienating hardworking foreign professionals whose labour has been critical in filling workforce gaps across the country.

Advocacy groups supporting African immigrants have begun calling for clearer guidelines, warning that the new policy could destabilise communities that already face structural barriers in the U.S. labour market. They urge diaspora workers to stay updated on renewal timelines, consult qualified immigration attorneys, and prepare for tighter procedural requirements in the months ahead.