Your Free Guide to Work Permit Requirements

Understanding Work Permit Basics

A work permit, also called an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) or work visa, is an official document that allows a person to work legally in a specific country. In the United States, work permits are issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The document proves to employers that you have permission to work and are not breaking immigration laws by accepting employment.

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Different types of work permits exist for different situations. Some people receive work permits while their immigration cases are being reviewed. Others obtain permits through sponsorship by employers who want to hire them. Still others get work permits based on family relationships, refugee status, or special circumstances. Each path has different rules about how long the permit lasts, what jobs you can do, and what paperwork you need.

Work permits typically include your name, photograph, fingerprints, and an expiration date. When you start a job, your employer will ask to see your work permit along with other identification documents. This is called the I-9 verification process. Your employer is legally required to check that your documents are real and match your identity before you can begin working.

Without a valid work permit, working is illegal even if an employer offers you a job. Both you and the employer can face serious legal consequences, including fines and possible deportation if you are not a U.S. citizen. Understanding whether you need a work permit and what type applies to your situation is the first step toward legal employment.

Practical takeaway: Before accepting any job, determine whether you need a work permit and confirm your current permit status. Check the expiration date on any existing permit at least three months before it expires.

Who Needs a Work Permit

Not everyone living in the United States needs a work permit to work. U.S. citizens do not need one—their citizenship is their authorization to work. However, nearly all non-citizens must have a valid work permit to work legally. This includes people with green cards, temporary visa holders, people whose immigration cases are pending, and undocumented immigrants who receive certain protections.

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Specific groups that may be able to obtain work permits include: asylum seekers (people fleeing danger in their home country) who can work while their cases are being decided; people with Temporary Protected Status (TPS), a program that protects people from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other emergencies; Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients, young people brought to the U.S. as children; family members of people in the immigration system whose cases are pending; refugees and people granted withholding of removal; and people in certain visa categories such as H-1B (specialty workers), L-1 (company transfers), or O-1 (individuals with extraordinary ability).

The rules are complex because each immigration status comes with different work authorization rules. For example, someone on an H-1B visa can only work for the employer who sponsored them. Someone with TPS can work for any employer. Someone whose asylum case is pending can work in any job once they file their asylum application and meet waiting period requirements, which typically occurs 150 to 180 days after filing.

Your specific situation depends on your immigration status, which is documented by papers like a visa, green card, notice from immigration court, or other official documents. If you are unsure whether you can work legally, reviewing your immigration documents or speaking with an immigration attorney can clarify your situation.

Practical takeaway: Gather all your immigration documents and review them to understand your current status. Look for documents like visas, green cards, work permits, receipts showing pending cases, or letters from USCIS. These documents show whether work authorization is included in your status.

Types of Work Permits and How They Differ

The U.S. issues several types of work permits, each designed for different situations. Understanding the differences helps you know what rules apply to you and when you need to renew or apply for a different permit.

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The Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is the most common work permit. It is a plastic card similar to a credit card with your photograph and fingerprint. USCIS issues EADs to people in many situations: asylum seekers, family members of people in immigration proceedings, people with Temporary Protected Status, DACA recipients, and others. The EAD typically lasts one to three years. Some EADs are restricted, meaning you can only work for a specific employer or in a specific job. Others are unrestricted, meaning you can work for any employer in any job.

Work visas allow non-citizens to work in the U.S. while in a specific status. An H-1B visa is for specialty workers in fields like technology, engineering, and finance. An L-1 visa is for company transfers—employees moving to a U.S. branch of their international company. An O-1 visa is for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, business, or athletics. A J-1 visa is for exchange visitors and scholars. These visas are tied to specific employers or programs, and your work authorization ends if you leave that employer or program.

Green card holders (lawful permanent residents) have unlimited work authorization. Their green card serves as their proof of work authorization. They can work for any employer in any job and do not need to renew their work authorization, though they do need to renew their green card every 10 years (or every 2 years if they received it conditionally).

Temporary Protected Status (TPS) comes with work authorization that allows holders to work for any employer. TPS is renewed periodically based on conditions in the home country. DACA recipients receive work authorization that is renewed every two years through a separate request process.

Practical takeaway: Find out which type of work permit or visa you have by reviewing your documents. Check the expiration date and any restrictions listed. Write down when you need to renew it so you have time to prepare before it expires.

The Work Permit Obtaining Process and Timeline

The process for obtaining a work permit varies greatly depending on your situation and the type of permit you need. Understanding the general steps and typical timelines helps you plan and know what to expect.

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For asylum seekers, the basic process is: file an asylum application (Form I-589) with USCIS, wait for a decision, and once you file the application, you may be able to work after 150 to 180 days. You do not need separate permission—filing the asylum application itself may grant you work rights. You can then request an EAD card, though some asylum seekers work based on just the approval notice. The entire asylum case may take anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the complexity and current case backlogs.

For people with Temporary Protected Status, the process involves: confirming that your country is designated for TPS, meeting the eligibility requirements based on your arrival date and background, submitting an application during the designated filing period (TPS is available only during specific windows when the government opens the program), paying a filing fee unless you request a fee waiver, undergoing a background check, and receiving approval if you meet the requirements. TPS processing typically takes two to four months, though times vary.

For DACA, individuals must: have arrived in the U.S. before June 15, 2007, be under age 31 as of June 15, 2012, have lived in the U.S. continuously since June 15, 2007, be in school or have graduated high school, have no serious criminal record, and submit an application during an open filing period. DACA is approved or denied within two to four months typically. Once approved, work authorization lasts two years and must be renewed before expiration.

For work visas sponsored by employers, the timeline is longer. For an H-1B visa, the employer must: submit a labor condition application to the Department of Labor, file the visa petition with USCIS, and await approval. This process typically takes several months. You cannot start working until the visa is approved.

Processing times change based on government workload. Current processing times for USCIS applications are published on the USCIS website and are updated regularly. It is wise to assume processing may take longer than posted times and to file applications well before your current work authorization expires.

Practical takeaway: Look up the current processing time for your specific application type on the USCIS website. Count backward from the expiration date of your current