Fill Form I-765 online
Application for Employment Authorization
or choose your own copy:
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Form I-765 in short
Form I-765 is the application for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), often called a work permit. Certain noncitizens in the United States use it to request permission to work, renew it, or replace a card. The eligibility category you enter decides the fee, filing address, and evidence.
| Issued by | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Edition 08/21/25 (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | Noncitizens in the United States who are eligible under one of the categories in the instructions, for example pending adjustment of status (c)(9), pending asylum (c)(8), F-1 students seeking OPT (c)(3), and others. |
| Who receives it | USCIS. |
| Where to send it | File online for certain categories, or by mail. Online filing is listed for (a)(12), (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), (c)(3)(C), (c)(8), (c)(9), (c)(11), (c)(19), and (c)(33). The mailing address depends on your category; see the Direct Filing Addresses for Form I-765 page. Addresses changed on Oct. 7, 2026, with a grace period for forms postmarked on or before Nov. 9, 2026. |
| Deadline | Depends on the category. USCIS generally recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. (c)(8) asylum applicants must wait 150 days after filing Form I-589. OPT and STEM OPT have their own windows listed on the USCIS page. |
| Fee | Varies by category. General filing: $520 paper, $470 online. $260 if you filed Form I-485 with a fee on or after April 1, 2024 and it is still pending. $0 for many humanitarian categories. Some categories, such as (c)(8) asylum, (c)(11) parole, and TPS, also owe a separate Pub. L. 119-21 fee that cannot be waived (Form G-1055 Fee Schedule, edition 10/16/26, effective Oct. 16, 2026, checked 2026-10-25). Mailed filings are paid by card (Form G-1450) or bank ACH (Form G-1650) unless you qualify for the paper payment exemption (Form G-1651). |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
New Pub. L. 119-21 (H.R. 1) fee amounts for Form I-765 took effect Oct. 16, 2026; filings postmarked on or after that date without the correct fee are rejected. USCIS also published a 09/15/26 edition, but because of a Sept. 14, 2026 court order it continues to accept the 08/21/25 edition and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition.
How to fill out Form I-765, line by line
| Part 1 | Reason for applying Select only one: 1.a initial permission, 1.b replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged card, or 1.c renewal. For a renewal, attach a copy of your previous EAD. |
| Part 2, Items 1 to 4 | Your full legal name and other names used Enter your current legal name and any other names you have used, including maiden names and nicknames. |
| Part 2, Items 5 to 7 | Mailing and physical address USCIS mails the card here, so use an address where you reliably get mail. Update USCIS and USPS if you move. |
| Part 2, Items 8 to 16 | A-Number, online account number, SSN, citizenship, birth details Give your A-Number and USCIS online account number if you have them, your SSN if known, every country of citizenship, and your place and date of birth. |
| Part 2, Items 17 to 26 | Last arrival and immigration status Your I-94 number, passport details, date and place of last arrival, status at arrival, current status, and SEVIS number if any. |
| Part 2, Item 27 | Eligibility category Enter the letter and number of your category exactly as in the instructions, for example (c)(9) or (c)(3)(B). This controls fee, address, and required evidence. |
| Part 2, Items 28 to 31 | Category specific questions Only for certain categories: STEM OPT employer E-Verify details, the H-1B spouse receipt number for (c)(26), and arrest questions for (c)(8), (c)(35), and (c)(36). |
| Part 3 | Applicant's statement and signature Choose whether you read the form yourself or had an interpreter, then sign and date. USCIS rejects unsigned applications. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Entering the wrong eligibility category in Item 27, which leads to the wrong fee, address, or evidence.
- Paying the old fee after Oct. 16, 2026, or leaving out the separate Pub. L. 119-21 fee where it applies. USCIS rejects those filings.
- Filing a (c)(8) asylum-based application before the 150-day waiting period. USCIS may reject it.
- Not signing the form. USCIS rejects unsigned applications.
- Selecting more than one box in Part 1, or forgetting the copy of the previous EAD for a renewal.
- Sending mounted or retouched photos. USCIS says photos must be unmounted and unretouched.
- Filing a fee-exempt (c)(9) application through online PDF upload. USCIS says to mail it on paper to get the exemption.
- Using the 09/15/26 edition. USCIS is currently accepting only the 08/21/25 edition.
Questions about Form I-765
Can I file Form I-765 online?
Yes, for some categories, including (c)(3) OPT, (c)(8), (c)(9), (c)(11), (a)(12), (c)(19), and (c)(33). Other categories are filed by mail.
How much does Form I-765 cost?
It depends on your category. The general fee is $520 on paper or $470 online. Some categories pay $260, some pay nothing, and some add a separate Pub. L. 119-21 fee. Check Form G-1055.
When should I file to renew my EAD?
USCIS generally recommends filing up to 180 days before your current EAD expires.
How long after approval will I get the card?
USCIS says the card is usually produced within 2 weeks of approval and mailed by USPS Priority Mail. Allow 30 days from approval before contacting USCIS.
My card has a mistake. Do I file a new I-765?
If the error was USCIS's fault, you do not need a new form or fee. If the error was not USCIS's fault, file a new I-765 with the fee.
Do I need photos?
The instructions ask for two identical color passport-style photos taken recently.
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-765
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-765.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-765instr.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-765ws.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/i-765-addresses
- https://www.uscis.gov/g-1055
- https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/g-1055.pdf
- https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/forms-available-to-file-online