An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly called a work permit, is a card issued by USCIS that proves a non-citizen's legal right to work in the United States. It is requested on Form I-765 by people whose immigration status does not by itself authorize employment — such as pending green-card (adjustment-of-status) applicants, asylum seekers, TPS and DACA holders, students, and certain dependent spouses. People whose status already includes work authorization, such as H-1B, L-1, O-1, and TN, do not need a separate EAD.
Status as of July 11, 2026. Effective October 30, 2025, DHS ended the automatic extension of EADs for renewal applications filed on or after that date (interim final rule). Renewal applications timely filed before October 30, 2025, may still keep an automatic extension of up to 540 days. Separately, in February 2026 DHS published a proposed rule that would raise the asylum-based EAD waiting period from 150 to 365 days — a proposal, not a final rule. USCIS recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before the card expires.
Who needs an EAD — and who doesn't
A work permit is needed by people whose immigration status does not authorize employment on its own. Typical categories (the letter code appears on the form) include pending adjustment-of-status green-card applicants — (c)(9); asylum applicants — (c)(8); TPS holders — (a)(12) and (c)(19); DACA recipients — (c)(33); F-1 students on OPT and STEM OPT — (c)(3); certain H-4 and L-2 dependent spouses; and parolees. People whose status already carries work authorization — H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN — do not need a separate EAD and work for the employer named in the petition. The category drives both the fee and the rules; for the statuses that create EAD eligibility, see asylum, TPS, and green card.
An EAD is requested on Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization), filed online through a USCIS account or on paper. The standard 2026 fee is $520 by paper and $470 online (USCIS Fee Schedule, G-1055). Some categories differ: green-card applicants who filed Form I-485 with a fee on or after April 1, 2024, and are still pending pay $260, and some pay nothing; asylum, TPS, and parole categories carry additional statutory fees under HR-1. The exact amount for a given category is on the G-1055 fee schedule at uscis.gov. After approval, the card is generally produced within about two weeks; the overall timeline depends on the category and office workload, and the current estimate is shown by the processing-times tool at uscis.gov.
Asylum has its own counting rule: an EAD application on Form I-765 in category (c)(8) can generally be filed 150 days after a complete asylum application is filed, and the card cannot be issued until the asylum application has been pending 180 days — the "180-Day Asylum EAD Clock." See asylum for more.
Renewing an EAD and the end of automatic extension
An EAD is usually issued for one to two years; while the underlying basis continues — for example, a green-card case still pending — the card is renewed with a new Form I-765. The major recent change: effective October 30, 2025, DHS ended the automatic extension of EADs for renewal applications filed on or after that date. Previously, filing a renewal on time automatically extended the existing card for up to 540 days while USCIS processed the application; as a general rule, that bridge no longer exists. Limited exceptions remain — for instance, certain TPS categories through a Federal Register notice (see TPS). Renewal applications timely filed before October 30, 2025, may still use the up-to-540-day automatic extension. USCIS recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before the card expires.
EAD, SSN, and ITIN
A work permit opens access to a Social Security number (SSN). Form I-765 includes a box to request an SSN card, so that once the EAD is approved the Social Security Administration issues the number without a separate visit. No separate green card is required for an SSN — the work permit itself is the basis. People who are not authorized to work but have tax obligations can obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) from the IRS; it is used only for taxes and does not grant the right to work. In short: an SSN is for those who work lawfully; an ITIN is for tax reporting without work authorization.
Driver's license and REAL ID
Rules for driver's licenses and the REAL ID credential for immigrants are set by each state and vary. In general terms, many states accept a valid EAD as proof of lawful presence for a license or REAL ID, and the credential's expiration is often tied to the EAD's validity. The specific list of accepted documents and the process are found at the state's DMV.
The combo card: EAD and Advance Parole
Adjustment-of-status green-card applicants who file Form I-765 (EAD) and Form I-131 (Advance Parole) together may receive a single card (Form I-766) marked "Serves as I-512 Advance Parole" — the so-called combo card. It provides both the right to work for any employer and permission to travel abroad and return while the green-card case is pending. Issuance practice has varied over time, so the current approach is confirmed at uscis.gov. For the green-card process itself, see green card.
How do I get a work permit in the United States?
A work permit (EAD) is requested on Form I-765, filed online or on paper, by people whose status does not itself authorize employment. The standard 2026 fee is $520 by paper or $470 online, with different amounts for some categories. The correct eligibility category and fee for a given situation are listed in the Form I-765 instructions and the G-1055 fee schedule at uscis.gov.
How long does an EAD take to process?
Processing time depends on the eligibility category and USCIS workload and generally runs several months; after approval, the card is produced in about two weeks. The current estimate for a given category is shown by the processing-times tool at uscis.gov. USCIS recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before the card expires.
Can I work while my EAD application is pending?
As a general rule, work is authorized only after the EAD is approved and the card is in hand; a filed application by itself does not authorize employment. One exception is the automatic extension of an existing card on a timely-filed renewal — but as of October 30, 2025, that generally no longer applies to new renewal applications.
Is my EAD automatically extended when I file to renew?
Previously, a timely renewal automatically extended the existing card for up to 540 days. Effective October 30, 2025, DHS ended the automatic extension for applications filed on or after that date; limited exceptions remain, such as certain TPS categories. Applications timely filed before that date may still keep the extension.
Can I get a Social Security number with a work permit?
Yes — an SSN is available on the basis of a work permit, with no separate green card required. Form I-765 has a box to request an SSN card, and once the EAD is approved the Social Security Administration issues the number. An SSN is needed for lawful work and for paying taxes.
Sources we track: USCIS, DHS, EOIR, the Federal Register, and federal courts.