EAD work permit in the US: Form I-765, 2026 fees and timelines

An EAD work permit (Employment Authorization Document, card I-766) is what USCIS issues to people whose right to work is not automatic: pending asylum applicants, green card applicants, parolees including U4U, and TPS holders. You apply on Form I-765. The cost depends on your category: from $0 to $520, plus a separate fee of up to $570 under H.R. 1.

Who needs an EAD work permit and who does not

A green card already proves you can work, so permanent residents do not need an EAD. Neither do people working for a specific employer on their visa, such as H-1B, L-1, O or P. Their status itself allows that work.

Two groups do need one. First, people who are allowed to work but need a document to show it, such as refugees and asylees. Second, people who must ask for permission, such as applicants with a pending Form I-485 (adjustment of status) or Form I-589 (asylum application).

EAD categories our readers usually have

Every EAD has a category code. You enter it on Form I-765, and it is printed on the card.

Validity periods are from the USCIS Policy Manual, checked October 28, 2026 on uscis.gov. For applications pending or filed on or after December 5, 2025, USCIS cut the maximum validity from 5 years to 18 months for (a)(3), (a)(5), (a)(10), (c)(8), (c)(9) and (c)(10); cards already issued for 5 years are not affected. Under H.R. 1, parole and TPS cards are capped at 1 year for applications pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025.

If you were granted asylum and then filed for a green card, file I-765 under (a)(5), not (c)(9). The form instructions say so directly.

Form I-765: what to include

Download the form and instructions only from uscis.gov/i-765. Under a September 14, 2026 court order, USCIS accepts the 08/21/25 edition and does not accept the 09/15/26 edition. The edition date is printed at the bottom of each page.

A typical package:

• the filing fee, if any, and a separate payment for the H.R. 1 fee, if it applies;
• the signed Form I-765;
• a copy of your I-94, passport or other travel document (not required for (c)(9));
• a copy of your last EAD, front and back, or if you never had one, a photo ID such as your passport;
• two identical color passport-style photos, 2 by 2 inches, on a white or off-white background;
• proof of your category: your I-589, I-485 or I-821 receipt, your parole document, and so on.

Paper filing addresses changed on October 7, 2026. Forms sent to the old address and postmarked on or before November 9, 2026 are accepted during a grace period. The exact address for your category is on the I-765 page.

EAD fees in 2026

The base I-765 fee is $470 online and $520 on paper. Since 2025, asylum applicants, parolees and TPS applicants also owe a separate fee under H.R. 1 (Pub. L. 119-21). It is paid as a separate payment and cannot be waived. The amounts are adjusted yearly; the current ones took effect October 16, 2026.

Fees checked October 28, 2026 on uscis.gov against fee schedule G-1055, edition 10/26/26.

USCIS rejects filings postmarked October 16, 2026 or later without the correct fee. That mistake costs weeks. Before mailing, open the G-1055 fee schedule and find your category.

On the asylum application itself: the principal applicant pays $100 when filing I-589, then an annual fee of $105 online when USCIS sends a notice. Since February 5, 2026, under a court order, these asylum fees and the H.R. 1 fee for (c)(11) parolee EADs do not apply to Ms. L. Settlement Class members and their qualifying family members. For the asylum process, see our guide to asylum in the US.

Asylum EAD: the 150 and 180 day rule

An asylum applicant cannot file I-765 right away. First, 150 days must pass after filing I-589, and USCIS then has another 30 days before it can issue the card. That is 180 days in total, the "180-day asylum EAD clock". If you file before day 150, USCIS may reject the application.

The clock stops for delays you cause or request. The I-765 instructions give examples:

• missing your interview or fingerprint appointment;
• asking to move your interview to a later date;
• asking to transfer your case to another office, including after a move;
• asking for time to submit more evidence after the interview;
• not bringing a competent interpreter when you are required to.

Missing an asylum interview or an immigration court hearing can make you ineligible for an EAD. If the asylum office sends you a Recommended Approval notice, you do not have to wait 150 days: file I-765 right away with a copy of the notice.

EAD renewal and automatic extensions

USCIS recommends filing your renewal as soon as possible once your card is within 180 days of its expiration date.

Timely renewals used to keep the old card valid for up to 540 more days. A DHS rule effective October 30, 2025 changed that: if you file a renewal on or after October 30, 2025, you generally get no automatic extension. The exceptions are extensions provided by law or by a Federal Register notice for TPS documents. For TPS renewals pending or filed on or after July 22, 2025, such an extension runs up to 1 year or to the end of TPS, whichever is shorter.

If you filed your renewal before October 30, 2025, an automatic extension may still apply. The proof is your old card (even if expired) together with the I-797C receipt, where the received date is before the card's expiration date and the category matches.

The practical effect: filing today, you may have a gap between the old card expiring and the new one arriving, when you cannot work. Use the full 180-day window. Check current I-765 processing times for your category on the USCIS processing times page. Nobody can promise a date.

Getting an SSN once you have the EAD

With an EAD you can apply for a Social Security number. It is free. You start the application online at ssa.gov, then bring your documents to a local Social Security office. After approval the card arrives by mail in 5 to 10 business days.

The full steps and document list are in our guide to getting an SSN.

If the card is late or has a mistake

After approval, USCIS usually produces the card within 2 weeks and mails it by USPS Priority Mail. Wait 30 days from approval before asking about it.

• Card never arrived. Submit a non-delivery inquiry. If USCIS or USPS caused it, you generally do not pay a new fee.
• USCIS made the error. No new form or fee. For a clear typo, submit an online service request and mail the card to the USCIS facility in Lee's Summit, Missouri. The fix takes about 30 days after USCIS receives the card.
• The error was not USCIS's (for example, you entered wrong data). File a new I-765 with the fee and the card with the error.
• Card lost or stolen. File a new I-765 with the fee, if your category has one.

If your history includes a status violation, past denials, detention, or your asylum case is in immigration court, talk to an immigration attorney first. You can find Russian-speaking attorneys in our lawyer directory.

Questions people ask

Can I keep working while my EAD renewal is pending?

If you filed the renewal on or after October 30, 2025, your old card generally gets no automatic extension, so there may be a gap between its expiration and the new card when you cannot work. The exception is TPS-related extensions set by law or a Federal Register notice. That is why USCIS recommends filing Form I-765 as soon as the card is within 180 days of expiration.

How much does a first EAD cost for an asylum applicant?

The Form I-765 fee for an initial (c)(8) asylum EAD is $0, but a separate $570 fee under H.R. 1 must be paid and cannot be waived. A (c)(8) renewal costs $470 online or $520 on paper, plus $275. These amounts come from USCIS fee schedule G-1055, edition 10/26/26.

How much do Ukrainians on U4U pay for a work permit?

Ukrainians paroled between February 24, 2022 and September 30, 2024 pay no Form I-765 fee for an initial (c)(11) EAD, but they pay a separate $570 fee under H.R. 1. A renewal for most parolees costs $470 online or $520 on paper, plus $280.

When can an asylum applicant apply for an EAD?

No earlier than 150 days after filing Form I-589, and USCIS cannot issue the EAD before day 180. Delays the applicant causes, such as rescheduling the interview or missing a biometrics appointment, do not count toward that time. With a Recommended Approval notice, the applicant can file I-765 right away.