Fill Out USCIS Form I-765 Online
Application for Employment Authorization
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Applies for an Employment Authorization Document (work permit).
Reviewed July 2026
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Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is how eligible noncitizens ask USCIS for an Employment Authorization Document, the photo card commonly called a work permit or EAD. Applicants ranging from adjustment of status applicants to students, asylum seekers, and parolees use it, each under a specific eligibility category code.
You can complete Form I-765 in the Universal PDF editor and download the finished PDF to print, sign, and mail. Preparing the form carefully matters because the eligibility category you enter drives the filing address, the fee, and the evidence USCIS expects.
What is Form I-765 used for
Form I-765 requests an Employment Authorization Document. For some applicants the EAD grants permission to work; for others whose status already authorizes employment, the card serves as proof of that authorization.
The same form covers initial requests, renewals, and replacement of a lost, stolen, or incorrect card. After approval, USCIS produces the card and mails it by Priority Mail to the address on file.
Who files Form I-765
Eligibility comes from the category codes listed in the form instructions. Common examples include:
- Adjustment of status applicants with a pending Form I-485, category (c)(9).
- F-1 students seeking optional practical training, including the STEM extension, categories (c)(3)(A) through (c)(3)(C).
- Asylum applicants with a pending Form I-589, category (c)(8), who must observe a statutory waiting period after filing the asylum application.
- Refugees, asylees, TPS beneficiaries, parolees, and spouses of certain visa holders, each under their own code.
How to fill out Form I-765
The form itself is short. The work is in choosing the correct eligibility category and attaching the right evidence for it.
If you are unsure which category applies to you, or your immigration history is complicated, an immigration attorney or accredited representative can help you avoid a rejected or denied application.
- State whether you are applying for initial permission, a replacement card, or a renewal at the start of the form.
- Complete the biographic sections with your names, mailing address, birth information, and immigration details such as your I-94 number and last entry.
- Enter your eligibility category code exactly as the instructions list it. The filing address depends on the category you put in this item.
- Some categories require extra items, such as the answers tied to a pending asylum application or receipt numbers for the underlying case.
- Sign the form, and include two identical passport-style photos if your category requires card production evidence per the instructions.
Filing tips
Many applicants can file Form I-765 online through a USCIS account, and the rest file on paper at the lockbox listed for their category. The current paper edition is dated 08/21/25.
- Photos must be unmounted and unretouched. Digitally enhanced photos can delay processing or trigger an identity verification appointment.
- File a renewal up to 180 days before your current EAD expires so a gap in authorization is less likely. USCIS does not backdate renewal cards.
- Check the current fee for your category with the USCIS fee calculator, since some categories pay different amounts and some may qualify for exemptions.
- Keep your mailing address current with both USCIS and USPS; a returned card can force you to reapply.
Frequently asked questions
Processing times vary by category and workload, so check the USCIS processing times tool. Once an application is approved, USCIS typically produces the card within about two weeks and mails it by Priority Mail.
Yes. Adjustment applicants commonly file the I-765 in the same package as the I-485 so the work permit can arrive while the green card application is pending.
USCIS recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before the current card expires. Certain categories also receive automatic extensions when a timely renewal is filed, so check the current rules for your code.
It is the code, such as (c)(9) or (c)(8), that identifies the legal basis for your work authorization request. The code determines your evidence requirements, fee, and filing address, so it must be accurate.
Many categories can file online through a USCIS account. Others must file on paper, so check the USCIS site for the current list before choosing how to submit.
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