Work permit: how long does it take?
Form I-765 — Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
From USCIS data captured August 31, 2026
USCIS's currently posted range
4 – 28 months
Depending on office and category (USCIS data captured August 31, 2026). 80% of cases complete within the posted time.
By office, fastest to slowest
| Office | Current time |
|---|---|
| National Benefits Center | 9.5 – 18 months |
| Service Center Operations (SCOPS) | 4 – 28 months |
Each office has its own page with the historical trend and every I-765 category.
By eligibility category
USCIS posts a different time per category — some even split the initial application from the renewal. These are the published categories in USCIS's own wording, fastest to slowest.
| Category | Current time |
|---|---|
| Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)] – Initial Application | 1 – 4 months |
| Based on an approved asylum application [(a)(5)] | 3.5 – 17 months |
| Based on a request by a qualified F-1 academic student [(c)(3)] | 4 – 6 months |
| Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)] | 6.5 – 10 months |
| All other applications for employment authorization | 9.5 – 18.5 months |
| Application for Suspension of Deportation/Sec.244/NACARA/Cancel of Removal [(c)(10)] | 9.5 – 23 months |
| Based on a pending I-485 adjustment application [(c)(9)] | 11 – 15.5 months |
| Based on parole | 13.5 – 18 months |
| Based on a pending asylum application [(c)(8)] -renewal/replacement | 15.5 – 19 months |
| Alien with Final Order of Deportation Under an OSUP [(c)(18)] | 16 – 17.5 months |
| Based on being an H-4 spouse of an H-1B nonimmigrant (Standalone; not filed with I-539 H4) [(c)(26)] | 17 – 18.5 months |
| Based on being an L-2 spouse of an L-1 nonimmigrant [(a)(18)] | 17.5 – 28 months |
| Based on TPS for El Salvador [(c)(19), (a)(12)] | 18 – 18.5 months |
| Based on being admitted as a Refugee [(a)(3)] | 19 – 22.5 months |
Waiting on your work permit?
We check USCIS's data every week — get an email when the I-765 time changes.
Is your case delayed?
Compare your receipt date against your office's normal time, and see what each status message means.
The essentials, in data
The work permit is requested with Form I-765, filed with USCIS. Timing depends on the eligibility category (pending asylum, pending I-485, student OPT, TPS, among others) and the office processing the case. USCIS posts a time per office and category; this page shows that data as published, with its capture date.
Work permit renewal
In some categories USCIS posts separate times for the initial application and the renewal — pending asylum (c)(8), for example, appears twice in the category table above. The data is shown exactly as USCIS publishes it.
For renewals, USCIS publishes automatic-extension rules for many categories while the renewal is pending — the current details live on uscis.gov and change over time; always check the current rule for your category.
USCIS filing feesTravel document (I-131)USCIS case inquiry dates
Frequently asked questions
How long does a work permit take in 2026?
Per USCIS data captured August 31, 2026, Form I-765 (the work permit application) takes 4 – 28 months depending on office and category. See the table on this page for your office.
What is a work permit (EAD)?
The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is the card USCIS issues when it approves Form I-765. It is requested by, among others, people with a pending I-485, students on OPT, TPS beneficiaries, and asylum applicants. The exact category determines eligibility and timing.
How do I check my work permit status?
With your receipt number on USCIS's official Case Status Online page. Our decoder explains what each status message means, and the delay checker compares your receipt date against your office's normal time.
What is my work permit category?
The category — for example (c)(8) pending asylum, (c)(9) pending adjustment (I-485), (c)(3) F-1 students on OPT — corresponds to the immigration benefit the application is based on. It is printed on the EAD card under "Category" and on the receipt notice. The category table on this page shows the posted time for each.
How much does a work permit cost?
The Form I-765 fee depends on the category and on paper vs. online filing, and some categories are fee-exempt. Current fees are on our USCIS fees page and at uscis.gov.
How often is this page updated?
Arrive Legal captures USCIS-published data weekly and archives every capture; the exact capture date is shown above.
Official source: USCIS Case Processing Times · Form I-765 at uscis.gov. See our methodology.