Form I-765 - Application for Employment Authorization

What Form I-765 is

Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form used to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), often called a work permit, or to renew or replace one. This template is the 08/21/25 edition (OMB expiration 08/31/2027), seven pages long.

As of October 3, 2026, the USCIS Form I-765 page lists 08/21/25 as the edition date and states that, following a September 14, 2026 court order, USCIS continues to accept the 08/21/25 edition and is not accepting the 09/15/26 edition. Check that page before filing, because the accepted edition may change.

Who uses it

Noncitizens in the United States who are eligible to request employment authorization under one of the eligibility categories listed in the Form I-765 instructions, for example certain students, spouses, applicants with pending adjustment or asylum cases, and others. Which category fits your case is a legal question, so rely on the instructions or a qualified immigration attorney or accredited representative.

What to have ready

• Your eligibility category code (for example, the form gives (a)(8) and (c)(17)(iii) as format examples).
• Your A-Number and USCIS Online Account Number, if you have them, and your Social Security number if known.
• Form I-94 number, passport or travel document details, and your last arrival date, place, and status.
• For a renewal, a copy of your previous EAD. For STEM OPT (c)(3)(C), your degree, employer name as listed in E-Verify, and the employer's E-Verify identification information.

How to fill it out with PDF Editify

Click "Fill Template Now", type into the fields, and download the completed PDF. USCIS does not accept electronic or pasted signatures on paper filings, so print the form and sign Part 3 by hand in ink (see the USCIS Policy Manual chapter on signatures).

Part 1. Reason for Applying

Select one box: 1.a. initial permission to accept employment, 1.b. replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged card or correction not due to USCIS error, or 1.c. renewal. The form notes that a correction due to USCIS error does not require a new Form I-765 or fee.

Part 2. Information About You

This is the longest part. It covers your full legal name and other names used, U.S. mailing address and physical address, A-Number, USCIS Online Account Number, sex, marital status, whether you have filed Form I-765 before, Social Security questions (including whether you want the Social Security Administration to issue a card and consent to disclosure), countries of citizenship, place and date of birth, last arrival information (I-94 number, passport, travel document, place and date of last arrival, status at last arrival and current status), SEVIS number if any, and Item 27, the Eligibility Category. Follow-up items apply only to certain categories, such as STEM OPT.

Part 3. Applicant's Statement, Contact Information, Certification, and Signature

Select whether you read the form yourself or had it interpreted, enter whether a preparer helped, give your phone and email, then sign and date after printing.

Parts 4, 5, and 6

Part 4 is for an interpreter and Part 5 for a preparer, each with name, organization, address, contact details, and signature. Part 6, Additional Information, gives extra space; include your name, A-Number, and the page, part, and item number you are answering.

Filing, fees, and where to send it

USCIS offers online filing of Form I-765 for some categories through a USCIS online account, and paper filing remains available. Paper filing addresses depend on your eligibility category and are listed on the Form I-765 filing addresses page.

The fee depends on your category, so check the USCIS Fee Schedule (G-1055). As of October 3, 2026, USCIS has announced inflation-adjusted increases to certain H.R. 1 immigration fees effective October 16, 2026, so confirm the amount on the day you file.

Common mistakes

• Selecting more than one box in Part 1, or entering the eligibility category in the wrong format.
• Signing with a typed or pasted signature instead of a handwritten one.
• Using an edition USCIS is not accepting, or mixing pages from different editions.
• Paying the wrong fee or mailing to the wrong address for your category.
• Leaving out the copy of the previous EAD on a renewal.

For a longer walkthrough, read our Form I-765 work permit guide.