U.S. law allows asylum-seekers to apply for a work permit 150 days after claiming asylum. The person would not be allowed to work prior to 180 days from claiming asylum, however, which is six months.

As of July 31, there were fewer than 2,500 work permit requests that have been pending more than 90 days, down from nearly 18,000 such applications as of the end of June.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has granted an 18-month extension for a work permit renewal for certain applicants to help with the backlog.