OtterFillHow to fill in Form I-765
Form I-765, “Application for Employment Authorization”, is the form you file with USCIS to ask for permission to work in the United States or for a work permit card (EAD). You fill it in yourself, while you are in the United States, under the one eligibility category that fits your situation.
Last checked against the official form:
- Form
- I-765
- Edition
- Edition 08/21/25
- Issued by
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
- Form language
- English
- Who receives it
- USCIS, online through a USCIS account or on paper by mail; the mailing address depends on your reason for applying and your category
- Who fills it in
- You, the applicant, while you are in the United States; a parent or legal guardian may sign for a child under 14
- What you get
- An Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), mailed to your U.S. mailing address if USCIS approves
- Key answer
- Item 27, your eligibility category: one code such as (c)(8), (c)(9) or (c)(3)(B), from the instructions
- Cost
- Depends on your category and changes over time: check the fee schedule linked from the official page. This guide follows the edition dated 08/21/25
What this form is
Form I-765 asks USCIS for employment authorization and an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), the card that proves you may work. For some people, permission to work comes with their status, for example refugees and asylees, and the EAD is only proof of it. Others, such as parolees and people with deferred action, may not work until USCIS approves the form.
The form has 7 pages in 6 parts: Part 1, your reason for applying; Part 2, information about you, your last arrival and your eligibility category; Part 3, your statement, contact details and signature; Parts 4 and 5, for an interpreter or a preparer; Part 6, extra space. The separate instructions (25 pages) list every category and the evidence each one needs. If you file on paper, send all pages, even unanswered ones, all from the same edition.
The most important answer is Item 27. Open the “Who May File Form I-765?” section of the instructions, find the heading that describes your situation (for example “Foreign Students” or “Adjustment of Status”), and copy the code at the end of that entry, such as “Refugee--(a)(3)”. A pending application usually has a different code from a granted one: a pending asylum application is (c)(8), granted asylum is (a)(5).
Who has to fill it in
You file Form I-765 if you are in the United States and:
- You fit one of the eligibility categories in the instructions, for example as an asylum applicant, an adjustment of status applicant with a pending Form I-485, an F-1 student asking for Optional Practical Training (OPT), a parolee or a TPS applicant.
- Your status already lets you work, as for refugees and asylees, and you want an EAD as proof.
- You need to renew your EAD, or replace one that was lost, stolen or damaged, or that has a mistake that was not USCIS’s fault.
Do not use Form I-765 if:
- You are a lawful permanent resident or a conditional permanent resident: your green card already proves you may work.
- Your status lets you work only for a specific employer, as with H-1B, L-1B, O or P status: the instructions say not to use Form I-765.
- Your EAD has a mistake caused by USCIS: you do not file a new form or pay a fee; follow “Replacement for Card Error” on the official page.
- You are outside the United States: you must file the form while you are in the country.
Field-by-field instructions
Part 1: Reason for applying (select only one box)
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1, 1.a.Initial permission to accept employment. | You are asking for permission to work for the first time under the eligibility category you write in Item 27. | Tick 1.a. The instructions call an EAD “initial” when it is the first one under a specific category, so a new category can be initial even if you had an EAD before. |
| Part 1, 1.b.Replacement of lost, stolen, or damaged employment authorization document, or correction of my employment authorization document NOT DUE to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) error. | You need a new card because yours was lost, stolen or damaged, or because it has a mistake that USCIS did not cause. | Tick 1.b. If the mistake on your card was USCIS’s error, do not file Form I-765: the official page explains how to ask for a corrected card without a fee. |
| Part 1, 1.c.Renewal of my permission to accept employment. (Attach a copy of your previous employment authorization document.) | You want a new EAD under the same category after your current one ends. | Tick 1.c and attach a copy of your previous EAD. USCIS generally recommends filing up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. |
Part 2: Information about you
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 1.a.–1.c.Your Full Legal Name: Family Name (Last Name) / Given Name (First Name) / Middle Name | Your full legal name: family name, given name and middle name. | Write it as it is on your birth certificate or legal change-of-name document. If you have no middle name, write “N/A”. |
| Part 2, 2.a.–4.c.Other Names Used | Every other name you have ever used, including aliases, a maiden name and nicknames. | There is room for 3 names; continue in Part 6 if you need more. Include evidence of these names, such as a marriage certificate, divorce documents or a passport identity page. |
| Part 2, 5.a.–5.f.Your U.S. Mailing Address: In Care Of Name (if any) / Street Number and Name / City or Town / State / ZIP Code | The U.S. address where USCIS sends your notices and your EAD. | It must be in the United States: a residence, a PO Box or a commercial address. If your mail goes to someone else, write their name as “In Care Of Name”. Use your attorney’s address only if you want the card sent there. |
| Part 2, 6.–7.e.Is your current mailing address the same as your physical address? / U.S. Physical Address | Where you actually live, if it is not the same as your mailing address. | Answer Item 6. If you answer “No”, write your U.S. physical address in 7.a–7.e. People with a VAWA, T or U case may give a safe mailing address in Item 5 and their home address here. |
| Part 2, 8.Alien Registration Number (A-Number) (if any) | Your Alien Registration Number, which begins with “A” and is printed on letters from DHS or USCIS and on an earlier EAD. | Write the digits after the “A-” printed on the form. If you do not have an A-Number, write “N/A”. |
| Part 2, 9.USCIS Online Account Number (if any) | The USCIS Online Account Number (OAN), which you only have if you filed a form whose receipt number begins with IOE. | Find it in your online account profile, or at the top of the Account Access Notice if you filed by mail. It is not your A-Number. If you have none, write “N/A”. |
| Part 2, 10.Sex: Male / Female | Male or female. | Choose the sex shown on your birth certificate issued at or closest to the time of birth, or in secondary evidence you gave USCIS. |
| Part 2, 11.Marital Status: Single / Married / Divorced / Widowed | Single, married, divorced or widowed. | Choose the status you have on the day you file the form. |
| Part 2, 12.Have you previously filed Form I-765? | Whether you have applied for employment authorization before. | Answer “Yes” if you have ever applied, and attach copies of your previous EADs if you have them. |
| Part 2, 13.Provide your Social Security number (SSN) (if known). | Your 9-digit Social Security number, if you have one. | Write it if you know it. This edition no longer lets you ask for a Social Security card through Form I-765: if you need a number, apply to the Social Security Administration after you receive your EAD. |
| Part 2, 14.a.–14.b.Your Country or Countries of Citizenship or Nationality | Every country where you are a citizen or national today. | This is not necessarily the country where you were born. If you are not a citizen of any country, write “stateless” and explain in Part 6. |
| Part 2, 15.a.–15.c.Place of Birth: City/Town/Village of Birth / State/Province of Birth / Country of Birth | The city, town or village, the state or province, and the country where you were born. | Write the country’s name as it was when you were born, even if it has changed or no longer exists. |
| Part 2, 16.Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy) | The day you were born. | Write month, day and year as mm/dd/yyyy. For example, October 5, 1967 becomes 10/05/1967. |
Part 2: Your last arrival in the United States
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 17.Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number (if any) | The 11-digit number of your Form I-94 arrival and departure record, if you have one. | Use the record of your most recent entry. Most travelers have an electronic I-94, which you can look up on the official I-94 website of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. |
| Part 2, 18.–21.Passport Number of Your Most Recently Issued Passport / Travel Document Number (if any) / Country That Issued Your Passport or Travel Document / Expiration Date for Passport or Travel Document (mm/dd/yyyy) | Your most recently issued passport or travel document: its number, issuing country and expiration date. | Fill these in if you used a passport or travel document to come to the United States, even if it has expired. Write “N/A” in the travel document number if you used a passport. |
| Part 2, 22.–23.Date of Your Last Arrival Into the United States, On or About (mm/dd/yyyy) / Place of Your Last Arrival Into the United States | The date and place you last entered the United States. | Write the date as mm/dd/yyyy; “on or about” means an approximate date is accepted. For the place, use the port of entry on your most recent I-94, such as the airport where you passed U.S. immigration. |
| Part 2, 24.Immigration Status at Your Last Arrival (for example, B-2 visitor, F-1 student, or no status) | The immigration status you had when you last entered. | Write the letter and number with a short word, as in the printed examples: “B-2 visitor”, “F-1 student”, or “no status”. |
| Part 2, 25.Your Current Immigration Status or Category (for example, B-2 visitor, F-1 student, parolee, deferred action, or no status or category) | Your immigration status or category today. | Write it the same way, for example “F-1 student”, “parolee” or “deferred action”. It differs from Item 24 only if your status changed after you arrived. |
| Part 2, 26.Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Number (if any) | Your SEVIS number, if you are or were a student or exchange visitor. | The form already prints “N-”: copy the rest of the number from your Form I-20. If you never had one, write “N/A”. |
Part 2: Information about your eligibility category
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 2, 27.Eligibility Category | The code of the rule under which you ask for permission to work. It decides which evidence you send, and on paper where you mail the form. | Find your situation under “Who May File Form I-765?” in the instructions and copy its code into the 3 boxes, letter and numbers in brackets: for example (a)(8), (c)(9), (c)(3)(B) or (c)(17)(iii). Enter only one category. |
| Part 2, 28.a.–28.c.(c)(3)(C) STEM OPT Eligibility Category: Degree / Employer's Name as Listed in E-Verify / Employer's E-Verify Company Identification Number or a Valid E-Verify Client Company Identification Number | Extra details for the 24-month STEM OPT extension, category (c)(3)(C). | Write your degree level and major (for example “Bachelor’s degree in English”), your employer’s name exactly as listed in E-Verify, and the E-Verify Company ID your employer gives you, not its tax number. Only (c)(3)(C) applicants fill these in. |
| Part 2, 29.(c)(26) Eligibility Category: receipt number of your H-1B spouse's most recent Form I-797 Notice for Form I-129 | For category (c)(26), the H-4 spouse of an H-1B worker. | Write the receipt number from your H-1B spouse’s most recent Form I-797 notice for Form I-129. |
| Part 2, 30.(c)(8) Eligibility Category: have you EVER been arrested for and/or convicted of any crime? | For category (c)(8), pending asylum: whether you have ever been arrested for or convicted of any crime. | Answer truthfully. If you answer “Yes”, include certified copies of arrest reports, court dispositions and sentencing documents, as the instructions describe. |
| Part 2, 31.a.–31.b.(c)(35) and (c)(36) Eligibility Category: receipt number of Form I-797 Notice for Form I-140 / have you EVER been arrested for and/or convicted of any crime? | For categories (c)(35) and (c)(36): the Form I-140 receipt number and a question about arrests and convictions. | Write the receipt number of your own I-140 notice, or for (c)(36) your spouse’s or parent’s. Minor traffic violations alone do not count, but alcohol- or drug-related ones and any arrest do. Report convictions even if the record was sealed or expunged. |
Part 3: Applicant’s statement, contact information and signature
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 3, 1.a.–2.Applicant's Statement | Whether you read and understood the form in English yourself, or an interpreter read it to you, and whether someone prepared it for you. | Tick 1.a or 1.b; for 1.b, write the language. Tick 2 as well if a preparer filled in the form for you. |
| Part 3, 3.–5.Applicant's Daytime Telephone Number / Mobile Telephone Number (if any) / Email Address (if any) | How USCIS can reach you. | The daytime phone number is required; a mobile number and email address are optional. |
| Part 3, 6.Select this box if you are a Salvadoran or Guatemalan national eligible for benefits under the ABC settlement agreement. | A box for Salvadoran and Guatemalan nationals covered by the ABC settlement who apply under category (c)(8). | Tick it only if this applies to you. With a complete pending asylum application, the instructions say your Form I-765 will then be decided within 60 days. |
| Part 3, 7.a.–7.b.Applicant's Signature / Date of Signature (mm/dd/yyyy) | Your signature, certifying under penalty of perjury that your answers are complete, true and correct. | Sign by hand: a stamped or typed name is not accepted, and USCIS rejects an unsigned form. Write the date you sign as mm/dd/yyyy. |
Parts 4 to 6: Interpreter, preparer and additional information
| On the form | What it means | How to fill it in |
|---|---|---|
| Part 4Interpreter's Contact Information, Certification, and Signature | The details of anyone who read the form to you in a language you speak fluently. | The interpreter writes their name, organization, address and contact details, names the language, and signs. If you had no interpreter, Part 4 stays unanswered, but you still send the page. |
| Part 5Contact Information, Declaration, and Signature of the Person Preparing this Application, If Other Than the Applicant | The details of anyone other than you who filled in the form for you, paid or not. | The preparer completes and signs Part 5. If the same person interpreted and prepared, they complete Parts 4 and 5. An attorney may also need to send Form G-28. |
| Part 6Additional Information | Extra space for any answer that does not fit. | Write your name and A-Number at the top, and the page, part and item number of each answer; sign and date each extra sheet. F-1 students applying for OPT list previous SEVIS numbers and earlier CPT or OPT here. |
Key terms
| Term on the form | What it means |
|---|---|
| Employment Authorization Document (EAD) | The work permit card (Form I-766) that proves you may work in the United States for a set period. |
| Eligibility Category | The code, such as (c)(8) or (a)(5), that names the rule under which you ask for permission to work. You write one in Item 27. |
| Incident to status | Permission to work that comes automatically with a status, for example for refugees and asylees; the EAD is then only proof. |
| Initial EAD / Renewal EAD / Replacement EAD | Initial: the first EAD under a category. Renewal: a new EAD after one under the same category expires. Replacement: a new card for a lost, stolen, damaged or wrong one. |
| Alien Registration Number (A-Number) | A number DHS gives many noncitizens to identify their immigration records; it begins with “A”. |
| USCIS Online Account Number | A number you have only if you filed a form whose receipt number begins with IOE. It is not the A-Number. |
| Form I-94, Arrival-Departure Record | The record of your arrival and departure, with an 11-digit number, usually electronic and available from the CBP website. |
| SEVIS Number | The number of your record in the U.S. student and exchange visitor system, printed on your Form I-20 and beginning with “N”. |
| Optional Practical Training (OPT) | Temporary work related to the field of study of an F-1 student, before or after finishing the program. |
| Designated School Official (DSO) | The person at your school who recommends OPT in your SEVIS record. For OPT, you file after this recommendation. |
| E-Verify Company Identification Number | The number that identifies your employer in E-Verify, the government system that confirms new hires may work. Needed for STEM OPT. |
| Form I-797 Notice / receipt number | The notice USCIS sends after you file a form. Its receipt number identifies your case, for example a spouse’s I-129 or I-140. |
| Biometric Services Appointment | An appointment where USCIS takes your fingerprints, photograph and signature. If you do not attend, USCIS may deny the form. |
| Form I-765WS, Form I-765 Worksheet | A separate form some categories, such as (c)(14) deferred action and (c)(33) DACA, use to show your income, expenses and assets. |
Common mistakes
- 1
Writing the wrong eligibility category
Copy the code from the instructions for your exact situation. A pending benefit often has a different code from a granted one: pending asylum is (c)(8), granted asylum is (a)(5).
- 2
Entering more than one category
Write only one code in Item 27: the instructions say to enter only one category number.
- 3
Using the wrong edition or leaving out pages
On paper, USCIS may reject a form with missing pages or pages from different editions. Download the form from the official page and send all 7 pages, even blank ones.
- 4
Signing with a typed or stamped name, or not at all
Sign Part 3 by hand. USCIS rejects an unsigned form; a photocopy or scan of a hand-signed form is accepted.
- 5
Leaving items blank
Write “N/A” when a question does not apply and “None” when the answer to a number question is zero, unless the form says otherwise.
- 6
Using an old I-94 number
Enter the I-94 of your most recent entry. Look it up again on the CBP website if you have traveled since.
- 7
Filing OPT outside the window
For post-completion OPT, file up to 90 days before and no later than 60 days after your program end date, and within 30 days of your DSO’s recommendation. USCIS denies late requests.
- 8
Filing a (c)(8) application too early
You must wait 150 days after filing your asylum application, not counting delays you caused. USCIS may reject a form filed before then.
- 9
Giving the company’s tax number for STEM OPT
Item 28.c asks for the E-Verify Company ID, not the employer’s EIN. Ask your employer for it.
- 10
Photos that do not meet the rules
On paper, send 2 identical recent color passport-style photos, unretouched, with your name and A-Number lightly written on the back. Retouched photos delay the case.
Questions and answers
What eligibility category do I put on Form I-765?
Find your situation in the “Who May File Form I-765?” section of the instructions and copy the code at the end of its entry into Item 27. For example: (c)(8) for a pending asylum application, (c)(9) for a pending Form I-485, (c)(3)(B) for post-completion OPT, (c)(26) for an H-4 spouse, (c)(11) for parole, (c)(33) for DACA.
How do I write the category code?
Letter and numbers, each in brackets, one per box: (c)(3)(B), (a)(5). Schools point out that the first letter is lower case. The online form asks you to choose the category instead.
How much does Form I-765 cost?
It depends on your category; some are free. Fees change, so check the USCIS fee schedule linked from the Form I-765 page on the day you file.
Can I file Form I-765 online?
Yes, USCIS lets you file through a USCIS online account, and you can also file on paper. If you mail it, the address depends on your reason for applying and your category: see the filing addresses page linked from the official page.
When can I renew my work permit?
USCIS generally recommends filing a renewal up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. It generally does not backdate or postdate a renewed card.
Can I work while my I-765 is pending?
It depends on your category. If your status itself lets you work, as for refugees and asylees, you may already work. In categories such as parole or deferred action, you may only work after USCIS approves the form.
How long until I receive my EAD card?
Processing times vary by category: check the USCIS processing times page. After approval, USCIS says the card is usually produced within 2 weeks and mailed by USPS Priority Mail; allow 30 days from approval before asking about it.
Does Form I-765 get me a Social Security number?
Not this edition: it no longer has the question asking the Social Security Administration to issue a card. Apply for a number with SSA yourself once you have your EAD.
Is a STEM OPT extension an initial application or a renewal?
Schools give different advice on which box to tick in Part 1 for a (c)(3)(C) extension. Follow your school’s DSO, who also has to recommend the extension in SEVIS before you file.
What if I move after filing?
Tell USCIS within 10 days of moving and update your address with USPS too. Otherwise your card may be sent to the old address and you may have to apply and pay again.
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