Form I-765 is the physical document. Form I-766 is an EAD card, which you can keep in your wallet. Both Form I-766 and I-765 are valid EADs. You actually use Form I-765 to apply for your Form 1-766 card.
If you are submitting a paper form, make sure you use the most recent versions of Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization and the Form I-765 Worksheet. A new edition of Form I-765 went into effect on April 1, 2024.
Also, you must be inside the USA when applying for the EAD, to prevent your I-765 from being considered 'abandoned' by the USCIS, we advise you to remain in the USA until the EAD is issued. You will need the following documents: Completed (paper version) of the Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization.
A request for DACA may be granted only if USCIS determines in its sole discretion that you meet each of the following threshold criteria and merit a favorable exercise of discretion: Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012 (that is, you were born on or after June 16, 1981);
An EAD issued to a DACA beneficiary will bear category code C33.
In order to apply for DACA, applicants must submit the following forms or their application will be returned to them: Form I-821D Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals; Form I-765 Application for Employment Authorization Document; Form I-765 WS –EAD economic need supplement form.
An individual may file Form I-821D, Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, to request that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) exercise prosecutorial discretion in his or her favor under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) process, including consideration for Renewal of ...
Regrettably, C33 does not include an auto-extension, so you must wait to get the renewed EAD.
Eligible EAD Categories Not all EAD categories are eligible for an automatic extension. DACA recipients c(33) do not benefit from this rule, and STEM c(3)(C) applicants are still only eligible for a 180-day extension.