Reviewed by William Vasquez, North Carolina State Bar #43410, 2026-06-02
Enter your current work permit (EAD) expiration date to see the earliest date you can file your renewal. Free and bilingual.
This tool is being reviewed by our attorneys and is not final. Verify all dates with an attorney.
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly called a work permit, is a card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) showing that you are allowed to work in the United States for a set period. You apply for it — and later renew it — using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. The card shows an expiration date on its face, which is the date this tool uses to figure out your renewal window.
As a long-standing rule, an EAD renewal (Form I-765) can generally be filed up to 180 days before your current card expires. So if you enter your expiration date above, this tool shows you the earliest date you can file — 180 days before that expiration — and reminds you to file before the card itself expires. Filing within that window is the part that has stayed stable over time.
In some situations, filing your renewal on time can automatically extend your work authorization for a period after your card expires. [ATTORNEY-VERIFY] The length of that automatic extension changed recently and is being verified by our attorneys — confirm your coverage with an attorney. For that reason, this tool intentionally does not calculate or display any automatic-extension end date. It only shows your stable filing window.
Let us help: not sure when to file or whether your work authorization is still valid? Call Vasquez Law Firm at 1-844-967-3536. Se habla español.
Common questions about the work permit (EAD), Form I-765, and when you can file your renewal.
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), often called a work permit, is a card issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that shows you are allowed to work in the United States for a specific period. You request it by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. The card lists an expiration date on its face.
You renew an EAD by filing Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization — the same form used to request it the first time. When renewing, you indicate that you are applying for a renewal of your existing work authorization.
Timing matters with an EAD. When you are ready to file your I-765 renewal or have questions about your work authorization, our immigration attorneys can help.