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Form guide

Form I-765, Employment Authorization

Form I-765 is the work permit application — the employment authorization document that lets you work legally while a case is pending. Eligibility always rides on an underlying case, and the eligibility category code on the form must match it exactly.

Filing fee$520 · $470 onlineUSCIS schedule, edition 09/09/2026
Who files itThe person seeking work authorization
Filled by our softwareFrom your answers, checked before filing

Part by part

What the form asks

  1. Who you are

    Identity, addresses, and immigration history — consistent with the underlying case.

  2. The category

    The eligibility code — a pending green card, asylum, TPS, DACA, and others each have their own. The code decides everything.

  3. The basis evidence

    The receipt or approval notice of the case your eligibility rides on.

Watch for

Where cases go wrong

The wrong eligibility category code — the single most common error

Missing the underlying receipt notice

Photos that do not meet the 2×2 standard

Renewing too late and losing authorization in the gap

Every one of these is a completeness problem — the kind the software checks for before your packet is marked ready.

Where it appears

Petitions that use I-765

Marriage green cardSpouse of a U.S. citizenMarriage green card, inside the U.S.Adjustment of status for a spouse already hereEB-2 national interest waiverSelf-petition, no employer neededWork permit (EAD)Employment authorization documentTemporary Protected StatusFor nationals of a designated countryDACA renewalDeferred action for childhood arrivals

Form I-765

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More about I-765

InstructionsHow is it filled out?FeeWhat does it cost to file?Processing timeHow long does it take?ChecklistWhat goes with it?Common mistakesWhat goes wrong?
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