Employment Authorization Document
Encyclopedia
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), EAD card, known popularly as a "work permit", is a document issued by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) that provides its holder a legal right to work in the United States of America. It should not be confused with the green card.
Certain 'aliens'
(non-residents) who are temporarily in the United States may file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request an EAD. The Employment Authorization Document is issued for a specific period of time based on alien's immigration situation. If an alien possesses a valid EAD, he or she is authorized to freely work in the United States without their employer having to file a non-immigrant worker petition. Currently the EAD is issued in the form of a standard credit card-size plastic card enhanced with multiple security features. The EAD card contains some basic information about alien: name, birth date, sex, immigrant category, country of birth, photo, alien registration number (also called "A-number"), card number, restrictive terms and conditions, and dates of validity.
Foreign nationals with an EAD can lawfully work in the United States for any employer.
USCIS issues EADs in the following categories:
An interim EAD is no longer issued by local service centers. One can however take an INFOPASS appointment and place a service request at local centers, explicitly asking for it if the application exceeds 90 days without an adjudication.
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is a component of the United States Department of Homeland Security . It performs many administrative functions formerly carried out by the legacy United States Immigration and Naturalization Service , which was part of the Department of Justice...
(USCIS) that provides its holder a legal right to work in the United States of America. It should not be confused with the green card.
Certain 'aliens'
Alien (law)
In law, an alien is a person in a country who is not a citizen of that country.-Categorization:Types of "alien" persons are:*An alien who is legally permitted to remain in a country which is foreign to him or her. On specified terms, this kind of alien may be called a legal alien of that country...
(non-residents) who are temporarily in the United States may file a Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request an EAD. The Employment Authorization Document is issued for a specific period of time based on alien's immigration situation. If an alien possesses a valid EAD, he or she is authorized to freely work in the United States without their employer having to file a non-immigrant worker petition. Currently the EAD is issued in the form of a standard credit card-size plastic card enhanced with multiple security features. The EAD card contains some basic information about alien: name, birth date, sex, immigrant category, country of birth, photo, alien registration number (also called "A-number"), card number, restrictive terms and conditions, and dates of validity.
Foreign nationals with an EAD can lawfully work in the United States for any employer.
Restrictions
The Eligibility for Employment Authorization is detailed in the Federal Regulations at 8 C.F.R. §274a.12. Only immigrants who fall under the enumerated categories are eligible for an Employment Authorization Document.USCIS issues EADs in the following categories:
- Renewal EAD: Renewal cannot be filed more than 120 days before the current employment authorization expires.
- Replacement EAD: Replaces a lost, stolen, or mutilated EAD. A replacement EAD also replaces an EAD that was issued with incorrect information, such as a misspelled name.
Obtaining an EAD
Applicants would file Form I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization) by mail with the USCIS Regional Service Center that serves the area where they live. They may also be eligible to file Form I-765 electronically (see USCIS Electronic Filing).Interim EAD
An Interim EAD is an EAD issued to an eligible applicant when USCIS has failed to adjudicate an application within 90 days of receipt of a properly filed EAD application or within 30 days of a properly filed initial EAD application based on an asylum application filed on or after January 4, 1995. The interim EAD will be granted for a period not to exceed 240 days and is subject to the conditions noted on the document.An interim EAD is no longer issued by local service centers. One can however take an INFOPASS appointment and place a service request at local centers, explicitly asking for it if the application exceeds 90 days without an adjudication.
