What a USCIS Employment Authorization Card Shows

It arrives in a plain envelope from USCIS: a small plastic card with your photo on it and the words Employment Authorization Card across the top. People call it an EAD, or just "my work permit." It answers exactly one question for an employer. Are you allowed to work in the United States?

Everything on the card exists to answer that question quickly and to connect the card back to your immigration record.

What's on It

The front shows your photo, name, date of birth, a category code, and the dates the card is valid. The back has a machine-readable zone and USCIS contact details. The two things that matter most to an employer are the category code and the expiration date. The code says which immigration rule authorized the work. The dates say whether that authorization is still current.

Who Gets One

Lots of people, for lots of reasons. Asylum seekers with a pending case. Students on certain practical training programs. Spouses of some visa holders. People adjusting to permanent residence. Each category has its own rules and its own expiration pattern. The card is tied to that underlying status, so when the status changes or expires, the work authorization can end even if the plastic still looks fine.

What an Employer Does With It

At onboarding, the employer checks that the card looks genuine, the photo matches your face, and the dates are good. That's mostly it. The EAD is what immigration law calls a List A document, meaning it proves identity and work authorization in one shot. The employer writes down the card number and expiration date. Most employers don't run a database check. A green card does the same job permanently, and we covered it in what a green card shows.

Why the Category Code Matters

The category code is the card's fingerprint. It links the card to the specific immigration rule that granted the authorization. Employers don't need to memorize the codes, but USCIS uses them to confirm the card matches your record. The same person can hold different categories over the years, which is why the code is printed rather than assumed. Status changes, the next card carries a new code.

Expiration Is Everything

An EAD only works within its printed dates. Some categories renew automatically while a case is pending, and USCIS sends an extension notice that works together with the expired card. Without that notice, an expired card is not valid for a new job, even if your status is still fine. File for renewal months early. This is the mistake that costs people jobs.

What It Doesn't Prove

The EAD doesn't prove permanent residence, citizenship, or identity for federal travel. It doesn't let you reenter the country, and it doesn't replace a visa or a passport. It answers one question and stops. The cards foreign consulates issue to their nationals answer a different question entirely, which we looked at in how consular ID cards work.

Frequently Asked Questions