Application for Employment Authorization

Request permission to work in the United States.

CivicNest guided preparation is available in early access for this form. Always review the completed USCIS PDF carefully before filing.

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About this form

Used for: Work
Who can file: Eligible applicants who need employment authorization
Filing fee: $520
Average time: 3-6 months
Current supported edition: 08/21/25

USCIS fees change. Confirm the current amount on the official form page before you file.

What CivicNest helps with

• Guided questions
• Information reuse
• Consistency checks
• Official PDF generation
• A filing checklist so supporting evidence is not forgotten after the form is filled

What you'll need to file

This is a short USCIS summary, not a decision about your case. Confirm the official instructions for your situation.

Who typically files

You must fit a listed eligibility category
Work authorization is not general. Your (a) or (c) category controls both eligibility and evidence.
You can prove identity
USCIS wants photographs and a prior EAD or other government ID.
You can prove the status or pending case behind that category
Examples include an I-94, I-20, I-797, I-589 receipt, or I-821 filing.

Submit with the form

Two identical passport-style photographsUSCIS lists this as required initial evidence for Form I-765.I-94, passport, or travel documentA copy of the front and back of Form I-94, an electronic I-94 printout, or your passport.Last EAD or other photo IDIf you never had an EAD, submit a government ID with your photo, name, and date of birth.Filing fee for your categoryMany paper filings are $520; some pending I-485 and humanitarian categories are lower or $0. Confirm G-1055.Certified English translationsAny foreign-language document needs a complete English translation and a translator certification.

Official USCIS form page USCIS evidence checklist