Form I-765
Application for Employment Authorization
Apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — the work permit that lets certain non-citizens work legally in the United States.
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What is Form I-765?
Form I-765 requests permission to work, evidenced by an Employment Authorization Document (a photo card). It is used by a wide range of applicants: people with a pending adjustment of status (Green Card) application, asylum seekers and asylees, DACA recipients, certain students (F-1 OPT), spouses of some visa holders (H-4, L-2, E), TPS holders, and others. Your immigration category determines whether you are eligible and whether there is a fee.
The single most important entry is the eligibility category code in Item 27 (for example (c)(9) for a pending Green Card, (c)(8) for asylum, (c)(3)(B) for OPT). The wrong code is the most common reason these applications are rejected or delayed. Some categories require the EAD before you can start any job; others (like being in H-1B status) mean you don't need one at all.
- Who needs it
- Non-citizens in a category that allows them to request work authorization — adjustment-of-status applicants, asylum applicants and asylees, refugees, TPS and DACA recipients, certain dependent spouses, and F-1 students applying for OPT, among others.
- Deadline
- Varies by category. Adjustment-of-status applicants can file I-765 together with the I-485. Asylum applicants must wait the statutory period after filing before they're eligible. F-1 OPT has strict windows tied to your program end date. Renewals should be filed as early as the rules allow (often up to 180 days before expiration) to avoid a gap.
- How to submit
- File online with a USCIS account or by mail to the address for your eligibility category on the USCIS I-765 page. A biometrics appointment may be required. Automatic extensions of an expiring EAD apply to some categories if you file the renewal on time.
Form I-765 — line-by-line
Parts 1–2 — Reason and about you
Whether this is an initial request, a renewal, or a replacement of a lost/damaged card; your name, other names used, and address.
Part 2 — Immigration and biographic details
A-Number, USCIS online account number, country of birth and citizenship, Form I-94 number, passport and visa details, and your current immigration status.
Item 27 — Eligibility category
The code that matches the basis for your work authorization, exactly as listed in the form instructions for your situation. This is the critical field.
Items 28–31 — Category-specific questions
Extra questions that appear only for certain codes — for example the degree and STEM details for (c)(3)(C) STEM OPT.
Parts 3–6 — Signature, interpreter, preparer
Your signature and contact information, and details for anyone who interpreted or prepared the form.
Form I-765 — frequently asked questions
What's the difference between an EAD and a visa?+
A visa (or status) is your permission to be in the U.S.; an EAD is separate permission to work. Some statuses include the right to work without an EAD (H-1B, L-1); others require you to get one.
How do I know my eligibility category code?+
The I-765 instructions list every code with the category it belongs to. It follows from your immigration situation — pending Green Card, asylum, OPT, TPS, dependent spouse, and so on. Using the wrong code causes rejections.
Can I work while the I-765 is pending?+
Only if you already have valid work authorization from another source, or a timely-filed renewal in a category that gets an automatic extension. An initial applicant generally must wait for the EAD to be approved.
How long is an EAD valid?+
Usually one or two years depending on the category, after which you file a renewal I-765. File the renewal early — processing can take months.
Related forms
The blank Form I-765 offered here is the version published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Official page and instructions .
PDFCure is not a government agency and does not provide tax, legal, or immigration advice. This page is general information — for your specific situation, follow the official instructions or consult a qualified professional. Always download the current edition from the agency before filing. Revision referenced: see the edition date on the USCIS page before filing.