What Can You Do With a Work Permit (EAD)?
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) lets you work for any US employer during its validity period and serves as photo ID for many purposes, including getting a Social Security number. It does not give lawful permanent status or permission to travel. Since late 2025, automatic extensions for most renewals have ended and many EADs are valid for shorter periods, so file renewals as early as allowed.
An EAD, often called a work permit, is a card issued by USCIS on Form I-765. It is evidence that you are authorized to work in the US for a specific period.
Who can get one
Eligibility depends on your category, for example:
- Pending green card applicants (adjustment of status)
- Asylum applicants after the required waiting period, and asylees
- TPS holders
- DACA recipients
- Certain spouses of H-1B, L-1 and E visa holders
- F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT
- Parolees in some categories
- U visa and VAWA petitioners in certain situations
Your EAD shows a category code that identifies the basis for work authorization.
What it allows
- Work for any employer (unless restricted, as with some student categories)
- Use as identification for Form I-9 and many other purposes
- Apply for a Social Security number
- In many states, apply for a driver's license
It does not grant a green card, protect against removal on its own, or authorize travel abroad; travel requires separate permission (advance parole) in many categories.
Fees
The standard I-765 fee is $520 on paper or $470 online, with reduced or waived fees for some categories. The 2025 budget law added separate fees for initial EADs for asylum applicants, parolees and TPS holders; USCIS announced increases from $560 to $570 for initial EADs in those categories for fiscal year 2027 (USCIS; Eig Law). Check current fees before filing.
2025–2026 changes
- Automatic extensions ended: for most renewal applications filed on or after October 30, 2025, USCIS no longer automatically extends an expiring EAD while the renewal is pending (USCIS). If your card expires before approval, you must stop working.
- Shorter validity: from December 5, 2025, maximum validity for many categories was cut, including to 18 months for pending adjustment applicants, and parole- and TPS-based EADs are limited to one year or the parole or TPS period (CLINIC; Eig Law).
Renew early
You can generally file a renewal up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. Because there is no automatic extension in most categories, filing at the start of that window reduces the risk of a gap.
Lost or stolen card
File a new I-765 for a replacement and report theft to police if needed.
If your EAD is delayed or denied, an immigration lawyer can review options, including requesting expedited processing.
Sources
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This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws differ by state and change over time; talk to a licensed attorney in your state about your situation.