Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
Prepare your I-765 work permit application, reviewed before you pay
A wrong category code or an outdated fee can get your packet sent back. Pick your situation and we fill Form I-765, work out the fee and the mailing address, and list the documents you need.
The check is free and needs no account. Each work permit page shows its price up front.
- Plain-English questions
- Fee and address worked out
- Money-back guarantee
Last updated
- 5Work permits we prepare
- FreeEligibility check
- 4Category codes we fill
- 100%Money-back guarantee
CURRENT RULE
Most EAD renewals no longer get an automatic extension. File on or after October 30, 2025 and in most categories your current card is not extended while USCIS decides. STEM OPT extensions and TPS follow their own rules. Each work permit page shows when you can file.
Pick your work permit
Which work permit do you need?
Each page shows who qualifies, the USCIS fee, the checks we run, and our price.
- 01
H-4 spouse of an H-1B worker
Your spouse has an approved I-140, or H-1B time beyond six years under AC21. First card or renewal.
CATEGORY (C)(26)Prepare my H-4 EAD - 02
OPT or STEM OPT for F-1 students
Pre-completion or post-completion OPT, or the 24-month STEM extension.
CATEGORY (C)(3)Prepare my OPT EAD - 03
J-2 spouse or child of a J-1
Work while your J-1 family member is on an exchange program in the U.S.
CATEGORY (C)(5)Prepare my J-2 EAD - 04
Green card application pending
Your Form I-485 is with USCIS. First card, renewal, or replacement.
CATEGORY (C)(9)Prepare my C9 EAD - 05
Moving to H-4 and need the work permit too
One set of questions fills Form I-539 and Form I-765, so the two forms always match.
I-539 + I-765Prepare both forms - 06
Not sure which one fits
Answer a few questions about your status. We tell you which application is yours.
FREE CHECKTake the free check
What you get
Everything your work permit packet needs
Your answers decide the form entries, the fee, the address, and the document list.
- PRE-FILING AUDIT
See every check before you pay
We check your answers against your category's rules, required fields, and field content. You read the report, then decide.
The right fee for your category
I-765 fees depend on the category, and for (c)(9) on when you filed your I-485. We work it out from your answers.
The right mailing address
I-765 packets go to different USCIS addresses by category, and sometimes by the related form or your state. We pick yours.
A document list for your case
Photos, ID, proof of status, and the evidence your category needs.
How it works
Your work permit packet in four steps
Your answers save as you go.
Pick your work permit
Choose your category above, or take the free check.
Answer in plain English
We turn your answers into Form I-765 and fill in the category code.
Read the report
See each check, any flags, and what to fix, before you pay.
Mail it to USCIS
Print the packet and mail it to the address in your filing instructions.
Common questions
Form I-765 and EAD questions, answered
The card, the fee, where to file, and renewals.
The USCIS Application for Employment Authorization. If USCIS approves it, you get an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), the card most people call a work permit.
A photo card that proves you can work in the U.S. for a set period. It shows your category code, such as C26 or C09, and an end date.
File Form I-765 under the category that matches your status, with the fee, photos, and the evidence USCIS lists for that category. Pick yours above to see what it needs.
It depends on your category and how you file, and a (c)(9) applicant may pay less or nothing. Each work permit page lists the fee that applies to you.
USCIS sets the address by category. If you file it together with another form, such as an I-539 or I-485, it goes where that form goes. We put the right address in your filing instructions.
OPT and STEM OPT can be filed online. H-4, J-2, and a (c)(9) filed on its own have to be mailed. We prepare a print-ready packet with mailing instructions.
In most categories, not if you file on or after October 30, 2025. Your card ends on its printed date, so file as early as your category allows. STEM OPT extensions and TPS follow their own rules.
File a new Form I-765 in the same category, marked as a renewal, with a copy of your current card. Pick your work permit above and we prepare the renewal.
Guides
Read this before filing
Case status, renewal timing, and processing times.
- Five ways to check your EAD statusTrack the work permit after you file.Case status
- Why renew your EAD earlyProcessing backlogs, the end of automatic extensions, and when to file.Renewal
- H-4 EAD processing timeHow long H-4 work permits are taking this year.H-4 EAD
- OPT processing timeHow long OPT and STEM OPT applications are taking.OPT
Related applications
Other forms around a work permit
Status and green card applications that often come with Form I-765.