What Does I-765 Approval Mean? If your Form I-765 is approved, it means that you have been granted employment authorization in the United States. Your employment authorization allows you to work in the United States, even if your current visa is not a worker visa.
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.
Having an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766/EAD) is one way to prove that you are authorized to work in the United States for a specific time period. To request an EAD, you generally must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization.
An EAD issued to a DACA beneficiary will bear category code C33.
Form I-766 processing time Form I-766 categoryAverage processing time Based on a pending asylum application (renewal/replacement) – (c)(8) All service centers – 16 months Based on a pending asylum application (initial application) – (c)(8) All service centers – 1 month14 more rows •
Certain aliens who are in the United States may file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).
Individuals who demonstrate that they meet the guidelines below may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals (DACA) for a period of 2 years, subject to renewal for a period of 2 years, and may be eligible for employment authorization.
On January 17, 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the decision of the Southern District of Texas finding the program unlawful, but limited the decision to Texas and kept all DACA renewals — including for those who live in Texas — available for eligible recipients.
DACA was originally established via executive action in June 2012 to protect certain undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children from removal proceedings and to receive authorization to work for renewable two-year periods.
Employment Authorization Form I-765 CategoryDescription (c)(31) VAWA self-petitioners with an approved Form I-360 (c)(33) Consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) (c)(35) Principal beneficiary of an approved employment-based immigrant petition facing compelling circumstances54 more rows •