How To Apply For US Work Permit
To work in the US as a foreigner, you need to obtain a work permit (also known as Employment Authorization Document, EAD) from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). The steps are quite easy – fill out the form I-765 on the USCIS website, attach your photo, upload the relevant document proving that you are eligible for a work permit, pay the necessary fees, and submit your application.
Note that the US Work Permit Document is different from the US Work Visa which involves a more complicated application process.
See also the best ways to legally migrate to USA as soon as possible.
Work Permit Eligibility
Your eligibility as a foreigner for the US work permit is dependent on your immigration status. The US work permit is usually issued to people who seek to apply for a green card or are staying in the US temporarily. Examples of such people are fiancé visa holders, students with financial difficulties, asylums, spouses of various legal residents, and so on.
Form Features
To apply for a US work visa, you will need to download the form I-765 from the USCIS website. Below are some notable questions captured in the form
- Personal details
- Last visit to the US
- Mode of entry into the US
- Eligibility category – most common categories include asylum, temporary protected status, students, and so on.
You can check out the I-765 instructions also on the USCIS website to find out which category you fall under.
Proof of Eligibility
Applicants will be required to upload all supporting documents to show their eligibility for a work permit as stipulated in the eligibility category of Form I-765.
Note that if you applied for adjustment of status or any related eligibility category at the same time you applied for a work permit, you may not be required to provide proof of eligibility as USCIS will sort your eligibility from the data they already have about you.
Work Permit Fee
The work permit fee is not stable as it can go up at any time as deemed fit by USCIS. Always check their website to get the latest fee for the application. Also, applications requiring biometrics will require you to pay a fee of $85.
Note: some applicants may not have to pay the form I-765 application fee depending on the category they fall under. Most notably, applicants who applied for status adjustment at the same time they applied for a work permit may not have to pay the fee as the Form I-485 fee has covered the application fee.
All payments can be made using a money order, personal check, cashier’s check, or credit card.
Submission of Application
The submission process of the Form I-765 is dependent on your category of eligibility. Although most applicants submit their forms through mail as provided on the USCIS website. Always check the USCIS website to see which submission process is available to your category of eligibility.
