Building Bridges, Empowering Communities
Join us in providing resources, mentorship, and advocacy to empower immigrants and their families with unwavering dedication and impactful initiatives.
Urgent Immigration Alert: Major Changes to Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Automatic Extensions
Effective October 30, 2025, the rules for renewing your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) are changing. These updates will significantly impact many immigrants who rely on work permits to maintain legal employment.
Understanding the Change: From 540 Days to NO Automatic Extension
For many years, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provided a crucial safety net: a long automatic extension (up to 540 days) for certain EAD categories. This allowed individuals to continue working legally while USCIS processed their renewal application.
The Major Update (Effective October 30, 2025):
The 540-day automatic extension will end for most EAD categories.
Once your current EAD card expires, your ability to work legally may immediately cease if USCIS has not yet approved your renewal application.
This means applicants must now be more proactive than ever to avoid a devastating gap in employment authorization.
Who is Affected by This Rule Change?
This change impacts many common immigrant categories. You are likely affected if your EAD is based on or connected to the following statuses (among others):
Applicants for Adjustment of Status (Green Card Applicants)
Applicants for Asylum
Spouses of certain non-immigrant visa holders, including H-4, L-2, and E-2 visa spouses
(Note: Only a very small number of groups, such as certain Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries, may still qualify for temporary extensions, depending on specific federal notices.)
Critical Action Steps You Must Take
Due to potentially long EAD processing times, filing your renewal application early is now absolutely critical.
File Early: File your EAD renewal (Form I-765) as early as USCIS rules allow. Do not wait for your current card to be near expiration.
Review Documents: Carefully check the expiration date on your current EAD card.
Monitor Status: Scrutinize the details on your renewal receipt notice (Form I-797C) for any category-specific guidance.
Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date with official USCIS announcements regarding your specific EAD category to avoid an unexpected gap in your work authorization.
Staying informed about these critical updates can help you safeguard your ability to work legally in the United States.
Sueño Monarca Contact: Reach out via email at info@monarcadream.org for direct connection to local, friendly resources.
Sueño Monarca’s Word of the Week
Work Permit Extensions
/wurk per-mit ek-STEN-shuns/ • NOUN
Work Permit Extensions
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Work Permit Extensions •
Personalized Programs
Providing accessible information, connections to affordable legal assistance, and financial aid options for immigration-related fees like DACA renewals.
Offering mentorship programs, workshops, and resources to support higher education goals and professional growth for immigrants.
Building strong local and statewide networks by collaborating with schools, organizations, and community leaders to advocate for immigrant rights and well-being.
UPCOMING EVENTS
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monthly Sueño Monarca Board Meeting [December 2025]
Who Should Attend: Monarca Board Members, Committee Leads, and those invited by the Board
9:00PM - 10:00 PM Location Varies Virtual
December 04, 2025
Join us for our December Monthly Monarca Volunteer Uplift!
Who Should Attend: Everyone!
8:00PM - 09:00 PM Location Varies Virtual
December 09, 2025
Sueño Monarca is proud to host Beyond Barriers: Funding Your College Education, your free, essential workshop for mastering the college financial process. Join us to learn about scholarship strategies, FAFSA navigation, and sustainable funding from our dynamic program team, ISAC and Marquez Financial Services. Light refreshments will be provided, and you'll connect with valuable community resources at our tabling session.
6:30PM - 8:00 PM Plainfield Area Public Library, Plainfield IL
December 15, 2025
Join us for a free Spanish-language community workshop, "Rompiendo Barreras: Más Que Dinero, La Verdadera Riqueza Comienza Aquí," designed to give immigrant families a crucial toolkit for stability in the U.S. This session, featuring guest speaker Luz Aranda and experts from Edward Jones, U of Chicago Health, and Illinois Workers in Action (IWA), will cover the three pillars of true family security: financial planning, preventative health, and workplace dignity.
7:00 PM 8:30 PM Romeoville White Oaks Public Library, Romeoville, IL
January 22, 2026
Make an impact today
Support our mission by contributing a donation.
Sueño Monarca 2026-2027 Donor Levels
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$500+
Basic logo display on our website's Community Partner page and recognition as a Donor.
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$1,000+
All previous benefits, plus: Priority Logo Placement (featured prominently at the top of the Community Partner page) and a personalized annual impact summary report.
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$2,500+
All previous benefits, plus: A dedicated donor video spotlight or feature interview across our social media channels.
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$5,000+
All previous benefits, plus: An exclusive invitation to a private annual strategy briefing with organizational leadership and a dedicated program naming opportunity (e.g., "The [Donor Name] Scholarship Fund").
Sarai Falcon [Community Member]
“Sueño Monarca, ha sido un gran apoyo para mi familia en momentos difíciles. Cuando enfrentamos problemas con nuestros estatus migratorio, nos guiaron con información clara y recursos confiables que realmente necesitábamos. Gracias a su ayuda, no nos sentimos solos, además, su trabajo en la comunidad a través de los programas de mentoria, talleres y acceso a recursos, demuestra su compromiso con el bienestar y el crecimiento de los inmigrantes latinos. Estoy muy agradecida por todo lo que han hecho por mí y mi familia, ya que Sueño Monarca marca una verdadera diferencia.”
Haydee Martinez-Rosales, LPC [Monarca Mentor]
“Sueño Monarca has been such a blessing to the community, especially during these difficult times for immigrant families. They have provided so much valuable information, guidance, and support when it’s been needed most. Through Sueño Monarca, I’ve learned about my rights, the importance of having the right documents, and even about cultural topics and key words that help me feel more connected and informed. Sueño Monarca has truly been a light for the community — helping families feel seen, supported, and empowered to keep moving forward.”
Contact us
Contact us
info@monarcadream.org
