The I-765 form at a glance
The facts below come from the official Form I-765 page on uscis.gov, checked in August 2026. USCIS updates fees, editions, and addresses, so confirm against the current page before you file.
| Official name | I-765, Application for Employment Authorization |
|---|---|
| Issued by | US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) |
| What approval gives you | An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) — the work-permit card, also called Form I-766 |
| Current edition | 08/21/25, printed at the bottom of each page |
| Length | 7 pages, with roughly 180 fillable fields across Parts 1–6 |
| Filing fee | Varies by eligibility category — USCIS lists the current amount on its Fee Schedule page |
| Where to file | Online through a USCIS account for many categories, or by mail — the paper address depends on the category in Part 2, Item 27 |
| After approval | USCIS states the EAD card should be produced within 2 weeks and is mailed by USPS Priority Mail |
What this form does
Form I-765 asks USCIS for permission to work in the United States. It is filed by noncitizens whose immigration category allows them to request employment authorization. Typical filers include people with a pending asylum application (Form I-589), applicants with a pending green-card application (Form I-485), F-1 students seeking Optional Practical Training, DACA recipients, and certain parolees. Some people whose status already lets them work also file it, to get a card that proves it.
AnyPDFfiller covers the preparation step. You upload the official PDF, type your answers instead of writing them by hand, add a signature, and download the finished file. Submitting the form to USCIS — online or by mail, with the right fee and evidence — is the part you do yourself.
A part-by-part guide to the fields
The 08/21/25 edition is organized into six parts. Here is what each one asks for, so you know what to have ready before you start typing.
Part 1 — Reason for Applying
Your full legal name, then one checkbox — and only one. Box 1.a is your first (initial) work permit. Box 1.b replaces a lost, stolen, or damaged card, or corrects a card error that USCIS did not cause. Box 1.c renews an existing permit; USCIS asks you to attach a copy of your previous card with a renewal.
Part 2 — Information About You
The longest part. It starts with other names you have used, your US mailing address, and your physical address if the two differ. Next come your A-Number and Social Security number if you have them, sex, marital status, whether you filed an I-765 before, and every country of citizenship. It then turns to your travel history: I-94 number, passport details, and your last arrival — its date, place, and status. Students add a SEVIS number.
Item 27 matters most: your eligibility category, a letter-and-number code such as (c)(8) or (c)(9). The instructions list every code, and the one you enter sets your fee and filing address. Items 28–31 apply only to a few categories — for example, STEM OPT filers add E-Verify employer details, and (c)(8) filers answer a question about arrests.
Part 3 — Statement, contact details, signature
You confirm how the form was completed, give your phone and email, and sign. USCIS is blunt about this one: unsigned forms are rejected.
Parts 4 and 5 — Interpreter and preparer
Only used when someone translated the form for you or filled it out on your behalf. That person adds their contact details, certification, and signature. If you completed it alone, these stay blank.
Part 6 — Additional Information
Overflow space. If an answer did not fit — extra names, extra countries of citizenship — continue it here and note the part and item number it belongs to.
Getting the I-765 form PDF
The blank form is a free download on the official uscis.gov Form I-765 page. The same page offers separate instructions and a worksheet; the worksheet is part of a DACA request. Before filling anything, check the edition date at the bottom of the pages. USCIS warns that it may reject a form with missing pages or mixed editions — so keep all 7 pages from the same 08/21/25 edition.
Then upload that PDF here. Typed answers stay legible where handwriting often is not, and you can add your signature directly on the signature line. When every field is done, download the finished PDF, print it, and mail it with your fee and evidence. If you file through a USCIS online account instead, the filled PDF works as a clean draft of your answers.
Timing rules USCIS publishes
- Renewals: USCIS recommends filing up to 180 days before your current EAD expires. It generally does not backdate or postdate a renewal card.
- Pending asylum, category (c)(8): you must wait 150 days after filing Form I-589 before applying, and USCIS cannot issue the EAD until 180 days have passed — the "180-day Asylum EAD Clock."
- F-1 OPT, category (c)(3)(B): the window runs from 90 days before to 60 days after your program end date. The form must also arrive within 30 days of your DSO's SEVIS recommendation.
- After approval: the card should be produced within 2 weeks; USCIS asks applicants to allow 30 days from approval before opening an inquiry.
These are USCIS's own figures as of August 2026. Other categories have their own windows — the instructions carry the full list.
Quick answers on the I-765 form
Is the I-765 form the same as a work permit?
No. Form I-765 is the application. The work permit is the card you receive if USCIS approves it: the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also known as Form I-766. USCIS states the card should be produced within about two weeks of approval and is mailed by USPS Priority Mail.
Where do I download the I-765 form PDF?
From the official Form I-765 page on uscis.gov. The download is free and comes with separate instructions and a worksheet. As listed there in August 2026, the current edition is dated 08/21/25 — the date is printed at the bottom of every page. Upload that PDF here to fill it on screen.
How much does the I-765 cost to file?
There is no single fee. The amount depends on your eligibility category, and USCIS points filers to its Fee Schedule page for the current figure. Check it shortly before you file. Some cases differ — USCIS states a card correction caused by its own error needs no new form or fee.
Can I file the I-765 online instead of by mail?
Many applicants can file through a USCIS online account. Paper filing remains available. For mail, the address depends on the eligibility category you enter in Part 2, Item 27 — USCIS keeps a filing-locations list for this. AnyPDFfiller prepares the PDF; the filing step is always yours.
What is the eligibility category in Item 27?
A short code written as a letter and a number — for example (c)(8) for a pending asylum application, or (c)(9) for a pending green-card application. The code tells USCIS which rule lets you request work permission. It also determines your fee and filing address. The official instructions list every code.
Is filling the I-765 here free?
Filling, signing, and downloading your form here is free; the watermark-free copy is the paid download. Any USCIS filing fee is separate and is paid to USCIS, not to us.
Forms often filed alongside the I-765
- Form I-485 — green-card applicants in category (c)(9) can file the I-765 together with the I-485, or later with proof the I-485 is pending.
- Form I-589 — the asylum application that starts the 180-day clock leading to a (c)(8) work permit.
- Form I-9 — once your EAD card arrives, it serves as a List A document for employment verification at a new job.
AnyPDFfiller is a PDF filling tool. It is not connected to USCIS or any government body, and nothing on this page is legal advice. Fees, editions, and rules change. Confirm details on uscis.gov, and take eligibility questions to a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative.
