Glossary · USCIS forms
I-765 (Application for Employment Authorization)
Files for an EAD card. Used for H-4 spouses, Compelling Circumstances EAD, and AOS-pending workers.
Different category codes apply to different situations: C(26) for H-4 EAD, C(35) for Compelling Circumstances EAD (1-year work authorization for I-140 holders facing compelling circumstances), C(09) for AOS-pending. $470 online / $520 paper. CRITICAL: USCIS ended automatic 540-day EAD extensions on October 30, 2025 — file BEFORE your current EAD expires, not after.
Sources & official references
- 8 CFR 204.5(p)— Compelling Circumstances EAD — 1-year work authorization for principal beneficiaries of approved I-140 petitions experiencing compelling circumstances.
Related terms
Compelling Circumstances EAD
1-year work authorization for principal beneficiaries of approved I-140s facing compelling circumstances. Heavily under-used.
H-4 EAD
Work authorization for H-4 spouses whose H-1B principal has an approved I-140 pending or older.
I-485 (Adjustment of Status)
Files inside the US to convert from nonimmigrant to lawful permanent resident, when your priority date becomes current.
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