An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is a document that authorizes an alien to work in the U.S. for a period of time, usually one year. It is also sometimes known as a work permit. The EAD, or work permit, is in the form of a laminated card with the alien's name and photo and an expiration date. With an EAD, an alien may legally work in the United States for any employer until the expiration date is reached.

An alien may be authorized to work for a specific employer even if he/she does not have an EAD.  For example, an alien with a valid employment status such as H-1B, L-1, L-2, or O-1, is able to work for a specific employer. There is no EAD card for such work authorization.

For information about the Employment Authorization Document (EAD), please click on one of the following topics below:
Description
Who is eligible for an EAD?
Who does not need the EAD to be employed?
How to apply
Appeal after an application is denied
What is an Interim EAD?
What is the difference between an EAD and Labor Certification?
What are the necessary supporting documents to apply for an EAD?
EAD and a Pending I-485
How much are the attorney fee and the filing fee?
EAD Issues in the Latest Z&A Memo
Frequently asked questions and answers about EAD