# How to apply for a work permit (EAD)

> The U.S. work permit path: how the I-765 category system decides who applies, the real fees ($520/$470, $260 with a pending I-485), and the card itself.

Canonical: https://www.popimmigration.com/guides/apply-work-permit  
Publisher: Pop Immigration (https://www.popimmigration.com)  
Last reviewed: 2026-07-20

The U.S. work permit is a card — the employment authorization document — and one form stands behind it: the I-765. Who may apply is categorical, the fee depends on the situation, and the card runs on its own clock. This page maps the path at the goal level; the form guide in the related pages walks the filing itself. Every claim is cited; general process description, not advice about any individual case.

## Who applies — the category system

Work-permit eligibility isn't one rule — it's a list of categories in the I-765 instructions, each with a code, its own evidence, and its own rules. Whether a given situation fits a category is exactly the kind of question the instructions (and for complicated situations, an attorney) answer; among the categories this site serves are applicants with a pending green card application and DACA recipients.

## What it costs

Under the current G-1055 schedule: $520 on paper or $470 online in the general category — or $260 for applicants with a pending I-485 filed with fee on or after April 1, 2024. USCIS fees change periodically — before filing, verify current amounts on the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov/g-1055.

## The card and its clock

The EAD arrives as a card with its own printed expiration date, tied to the category it was granted under. Renewals are category-specific — the DACA renewal guide in the related pages covers that path's timing, and the form guide covers the I-765 mechanics for the rest.

## Frequently asked questions

### What form is the work permit?

Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization — the EAD card is what it produces.

### Who can apply for a work permit?

Applicants in the categories the I-765 instructions list — each category has its own code, evidence, and rules. Pending-I-485 applicants and DACA recipients are two of them.

### How much does a work permit cost?

$520 paper / $470 online generally, or $260 with a post-April-2024 pending I-485. Fees change — verify at uscis.gov/g-1055.

### How long does the card last?

The EAD carries its own printed expiration date, tied to its category; renewal rules are category-specific.

## Sources

- USCIS — I-765: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
- USCIS — I-765 instructions (categories): https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
- USCIS — I-765 (card validity): https://www.uscis.gov/i-765

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Pop Immigration is an educational and organizational tool, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. HTML version: https://www.popimmigration.com/guides/apply-work-permit