How to file Form I-765 (work permit / EAD)
Form I-765 is the application behind the work permit — the employment authorization document. Its logic is categorical: who may apply, with what evidence, at what fee, all flow from a category code in the instructions. This page walks that structure and the filing itself. Every claim is cited; general process description, not advice about any individual case.
Step 1 — the category comes first
I-765 eligibility runs through defined categories listed in the form's instructions — each with a code, its own evidence, and in some cases its own fee. Applicants with a pending I-485 and DACA recipients, the two situations this site serves, each have their own category. The instructions' category list is the authority on who fits where; a filing without the right code is a filing that stalls.
Step 2 — the fee, by situation
Under the current G-1055 schedule the general fee is $520 on paper or $470 online. One situation is cheaper: with a pending I-485 filed with fee on or after April 1, 2024, the I-765 is $260 — and the old free-with-I-485 rule survives only for pre-April-2024 filings. USCIS fees change periodically — before filing, verify current amounts on the official USCIS fee schedule (Form G-1055) at uscis.gov/g-1055.
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Step 3 — assemble and file
The filing carries the category code, the evidence that category requires, and photos where the instructions require them. After filing, the receipt arrives as Form I-797C and status is trackable online; USCIS publishes processing-time estimates, and this page claims no timeframe.
What the card is
The EAD is a card with its own expiration date printed on it — employment authorization runs on the card's own clock, tied to the category it was granted under. Renewal mechanics vary by category and belong with the instructions for the specific situation.
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How much does Form I-765 cost?
$520 on paper or $470 online in the general category; $260 with a pending I-485 filed with fee on or after April 1, 2024. Fees change — verify at uscis.gov/g-1055.
Who can file for a work permit?
Eligibility runs through the category list in the I-765 instructions — each category has a code, evidence, and rules. Pending-I-485 applicants and DACA recipients are two of the categories.
Is the work permit free with a green card application?
Not anymore for post-April-2024 I-485s — the concurrent I-765 is $260. The old bundled rule survives only for I-485s filed with fee before April 1, 2024.
How long is an EAD valid?
The card carries its own printed expiration date, tied to the category it was granted under. Renewal rules are category-specific — the instructions govern.