What Is Work Authorization? A Plain-Language Guide to EADs and Eligibility

Whether you can work in the United States depends on your current immigration status and the specific rules for that status, not simply on having a visa or a job offer. Some people may work based on their status and use a document such as a Green Card to show that permission. Others must first obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). An EAD is often called a work permit, but it is one form of evidence of authorization rather than the only way to be authorized. The applicable status or document can limit when permission begins, how long it lasts, or which work is allowed, so workers and employers need to confirm what applies before employment starts and while it continues.

What Work Authorization Means

Work authorization is permission under U.S. immigration rules to accept employment. It is not the same as citizenship, a job offer, a visa, or simply being physically present in the country. A visa and an immigration status may be connected, but neither automatically proves that a person can take any job in the United States.

Employers must verify employment eligibility for every employee, regardless of citizenship or national origin. USCIS identifies the Employment Authorization Document, Form I-766, as one way to show authorization for a specific period. Its EAD guidance explains the card and its use.

USCIS issues the EAD as a card that serves as identification and evidence of employment eligibility during the period shown. The phrase “work permit” is commonly used for this document. Wikipedia’s EAD overview offers general background, while USCIS is the more relevant source for current requirements and individual cases. For a fuller explanation of the document, see what a work permit is.

Is an EAD the Same as Work Authorization?

No. An EAD is one document that can prove work authorization, but it is not the only way a person may be authorized to work. The person’s immigration category determines whether an EAD is required or whether another document or status can show authorization.

Lawful permanent residents generally do not need to apply for an EAD to work. Their Green Card, Form I-551, serves as evidence of employment authorization. USCIS explains the EAD and its relationship to other evidence on its employment authorization page.

Some nonimmigrant visa holders may work only under specific conditions. Others may need an EAD before they can work. Depending on the category, an EAD may allow a qualifying person to work for an employer of their choice rather than tying permission to one job. Having a visa alone does not establish that someone may accept any job. USAGov’s work-permit guidance explains who may need an EAD and where to find application information. Eligibility rules differ by category, including for H-4 visa holders.

Some asylum seekers and people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS) may qualify to apply for an EAD based on their circumstances. Whether they can work depends on the relevant status and the rules in effect. A pending application or protected status does not by itself establish that someone currently has permission to work.

The practical question is whether a person’s current status permits employment and what evidence they need to provide. For information about the application process, read how to get a work permit.

Who May Need to Apply for an EAD?

Eligibility depends on the immigration category involved. A job offer or pending application does not necessarily permit a person to work. Likewise, a person should not assume an expired document remains valid just because a renewal application is pending. Rules for continued authorization vary by category.

USAGov’s work-permit information is a starting point for checking whether an EAD may be needed and how to apply. Before accepting a job or setting a start date, workers and employers should establish which status or authorization applies. They should confirm whether an EAD is required and check the relevant validity dates. They should also check whether a renewal rule or a current policy or court decision affects the person’s authorization. For typical processing timelines, see how long a work permit takes.

Why Rules and Court Decisions Matter

Work authorization rules can change. Immigration laws, agency policies, protected-status designations, and court rulings may affect eligibility or the period for which a document is valid. A rule for one category may not apply to another, so a general news report or an old expiration-date assumption may not resolve an individual’s situation.

The American Immigration Council reports that USCIS implemented a policy in December 2025 reducing the maximum validity period to 18 months for certain work permits. It also reports that USCIS issued a proposed rule on June 5, 2026, concerning restrictions on processing and issuing certain discretionary work permits. The American Immigration Council’s account describes the scope of those developments. They do not mean every EAD is valid for 18 months or that every applicant is affected in the same way.

Court decisions can also change how a policy applies. In July 2026, Democracy Forward reported that a federal court granted emergency relief concerning USCIS policies affecting work authorization for asylum seekers and TPS holders. That report describes the case and relief at issue. It does not establish a rule for every applicant or immigration category. See Democracy Forward’s report for details.

What Happens If Authorization Ends?

If a person’s work authorization expires or otherwise ends, they may no longer be permitted to continue working unless another authorization or applicable rule allows it. A change can interrupt employment and create verification and planning challenges for an employer. The effect depends on the person’s category and the specific documents or rules that apply.

The Associated Press reported on confusion and hardship after thousands of Haitians lost work authorization. The account shows how a change affecting a group of workers can quickly affect employees and employers. Read AP News’ report for that example.

Workers can reduce avoidable surprises by checking their documents and renewal options before an expiration date. Employers can support workforce planning by applying verification procedures consistently and tracking relevant expiration dates. They must use the same process for all employees and must not make assumptions about authorization based on a person’s name, appearance, or national origin.

What Workers and Employers Should Check

For Workers

• Identify the immigration status or application on which your work authorization is based.
• Check the validity dates on your EAD, Green Card, or other evidence of authorization.
• Confirm whether your category requires an EAD or permits work based on status.
• Use current USCIS and USAGov information to check application or renewal requirements.
• Check whether a pending renewal or a recent policy or court development affects your authorization.

For Employers

• Verify employment eligibility consistently for every employee.
• Track relevant document expiration dates, especially when authorization is temporary.
• Check current information when a policy or court development may affect a particular category.
• Build time into workforce planning for authorization that may need renewal.

*This article is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.