Employment authorization documents (EAD) allow non-U.S. citizens and non-Green card holders to work legally in the U.S. These documents come with a two year validity period and are renewable. In some cases, EADs valid for one year are issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Don’t delay file form I-765 to renew your EAD card today.
People who hold these work permits can extend their permits when their cards are near their expiration date. If they fail to renew these documents, they cannot work here legally. So people who hold employment authorization documents and seek to work in the U.S. after the expiration of their current work permits will need to renew their documents at the right time to continue working in the U.S.
Right Time to Start the Renewal Process
To extend an employment authorization card, an application for renewal must be filed around 180 days prior to the expiration date printed on the card. An application for renewal of a work permit must be filed and accepted by the USCIS prior to the expiration of the card that was initially granted to the applicant.
New Announcement From USCIS
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced the new design of an employment authorization document (EAD) to improve the security of the cards. This new design of card will be issued from Jan. 30, 2023. Current issued cards before Jan. 30, 2023 are also valid. Both version of the EAD cards are accepted.
The new EAD designs include:
- Cutting-edge technology to maintain national security and provide better service to customers
- Improved intricate design
- Advanced tactile printing with improved integration with the artwork
- Enhanced optical variable ink feature
- Increased security with holographic images on front and back of cards
- A layer-revealing function with a partially transparent window in the back photo box
- Data fields presented in altered locations compared to previous versions.
Form I-765 should be filed to renew an employment authorization document. Form I-765 can be filed online or the applicants can also choose to file the paper form. However, they need to read the form instructions prior to filing their forms. Forms that are filled out completely and accurately alone will be considered by the USCIS. Applicants need to keep that in mind while completing their forms and they need to provide all the required information. The easiest way to complete this form is to complete it online as the applicants are likely to make mistakes while completing the paper form.
Supporting Documents
Applicants who seek to extend their work permits need to gather the I-765 supporting documents. They need to send photocopies of the previously issued work permits and Form I-797, USCIS approval notice of the permits they hold, along with their applications for renewal. If they have applied for adjustment of status, they need to submit copies of the receipt notices of their pending applications for permanent resident status. Along with these supporting documents, they need to submit two passport-style photographs and the form filing fee of $410. Cash must not be sent. A check or a money order must be used to pay the form filing fee.
Filing the Form
This form can either be filed by mail or electronically. If the applicant is filing the paper form, the completed form along with the supporting documents and the form filing fee must be mailed together to the right USCIS office. If an application for renewal is filed online, the supporting documents must be mailed to the address printed on the receipt notice that the applicants obtain after filing the form online. People who file the form online can also pay the form filing fee online.
Applications for renewal are generally processed by the USCIS in fewer than 90 days. At times, the USCIS might take more than 90 days to process these applications. In such cases, if the renewal is taking more time, applicants can request interim cards. They need to provide the application receipt notice they received after filing applications for renewal of EAD to get interim EADs. They can get those interim cards by making appointments at local USCIS offices and by submitting the required documents.
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