The work permit, the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), is one of the most common USCIS filings. It is requested with Form I-765 and its path is short compared with other filings, but it has its own statuses, its own renewal windows and, in recent years, its revocations. This guide walks it from start to finish.
Who needs one
A citizen or permanent resident does not need a work permit. It is for people whose status or pending application allows them to work only with the document in hand. Each situation has a category, the code written on the I-765:
| Category | Situation |
|---|---|
| (c)(8) | Pending asylum application (after 150 days on the clock) |
| (c)(9) | Pending adjustment of status (I-485) |
| (a)(12) and (c)(19) | Temporary Protected Status (TPS) granted or pending |
| (c)(11) | Parole (humanitarian parole) |
| (c)(33) | DACA |
| (a)(5) | Asylum granted |
| (a)(3) | Admitted refugee |
| (c)(3) | F-1 students on practical training (OPT) |
| (c)(26) | H-4 spouses of certain H-1B workers |
| (c)(31) | VAWA self-petitioners |
| (c)(14) | Deferred action granted |
The category decides which documents you attach, whether you pay a fee and how long it can take. Pending asylum, pending adjustment and TPS are the most common bases.
How it is filed
Online, with a USCIS account, for most categories, or by mail. The packet holds two passport-style photos, a photo ID, the entry record (I-94) or your status document, proof of the category (the I-589 or I-485 receipt, the TPS approval, the parole document) and the fee or a fee waiver request when the category allows one. Since 2025 several categories that used to be free (pending asylum, parole, TPS) pay a fee for the initial permit; check the current amount on the I-765 page.
On the same form you can request your Social Security number, which arrives by mail after the card.
How long it takes
USCIS publishes a processing time per category, and reality varies a lot: some permits are approved within weeks, many take months, and some cases run past a year, especially when the underlying application is paused or the category is backlogged. Check the official time for your category, plan for the slow scenario and, if your case is already past that time, use the tools in the guide on how long USCIS takes.
The statuses you will see
- Case Was Received: the receipt notice. Guide: Case Was Received.
- Biometrics Appointment Was Scheduled: only in some categories.
- USCIS Is currently Processing the Case: the wait. The next change is usually the approval, but this status can last weeks or many months.
- Request for Initial Evidence Was Sent: if something is missing. When it comes, it usually comes right after the receipt. Guide: Request for Evidence (RFE).
- Approval Case Decision Rendered: approved. The approval notice is not the card and does not work for Form I-9.
- Card Was Produced, Card Was Mailed To Me, Card Was Delivered To Me By The Post Office: the card on its way, each step usually takes days. Guide: Card Was Produced, Mailed, Delivered.
And the ones nobody wants to see:
- Case Was Denied: the letter explains the reason and the options. A denied permit does not authorize you to work.
- Intent to Revoke Notice Was Issued and Revocation Notice Was Issued: USCIS intends to revoke, or has revoked, an approved permit. Guide: Intent to Revoke and Revocation Notice.
- I-765 Automatically Revoked: the permit depended on another form that has been decided.
Every status, in What every USCIS case status means.
When to renew
- File the renewal up to 180 days before the card's expiration date. Earlier is not accepted; later, you risk a gap without a permit.
- Check that your basis is still in place: a pending-asylum permit renews while the asylum stays pending; a TPS one, while your country's designation stays active.
- The rules on the automatic extension of a permit while the renewal is pending changed in 2025. Do not assume your old card stays valid past its date: check the I-765 page or ask a representative before it expires.
If the card is lost, stolen or has an error
You request a replacement with a new Form I-765. If the error was USCIS's (misspelled name, wrong date), it is free and goes with the original card; if you lost it or the error comes from your application, the fee applies. If USPS says it was delivered and it never came, read the card guide first: there is a window to ask for it to be resent at no cost.
Common questions
Can I work with the approval notice while the card arrives?
No. Form I-9 requires the card. Some employers accept a renewal receipt in certain automatic-extension cases; confirm with your employer and the current rules.
Can I ask for my permit to be expedited?
Yes, if you meet an expedite criterion, such as severe financial loss (a job offer that would be lost, for example). How to ask, in How long USCIS takes and what to do when your case runs late.
What happens to the permit if my adjustment of status is approved?
You no longer need it: permanent residence authorizes you to work. The permit's status may switch to "I-765 Automatically Revoked", which in that case is good news.
How do I hear about the approval or a request for evidence?
The online status changes before the letter arrives. MigraConnect+ notifies your phone with every change, including the tracking number when the card goes out in the mail.
This guide is informational and does not replace advice from a lawyer or an accredited representative. Need additional help? Contact USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.