How long USCIS is taking to decide I-765 applications for an Employment Authorization Document, from real cases we tracked from receipt to decision. Updated every day.
Based on 65 I-765 cases decided in the last 12 months, measured from the USCIS received date. USCIS national median, FY2026 for I-765: 4 months.
Median time from receipt to decision for I-765 cases decided in each of the last six full months. Months with fewer than 10 decided cases are left out.
| Decided in | Half decided within | Bar | Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | 3.3 months | 11 |
Enter the 13-character receipt number from your receipt notice to see your current status, what it means and your estimated decision date.
Use the receipt number from your I-765 receipt notice. If you filed it with an I-485, it has its own receipt number. Free, no sign-up.
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Not sure what a status means? See every USCIS case status explained. Following one case over months? The EAD tracker explains each stage.
The category code on your application drives the timeline more than anything else: (c)(9) for a pending green card, (c)(8) for asylum applicants, (c)(3)(B) and (c)(3)(C) for OPT and STEM OPT, (c)(26) for H-4 spouses, (a)(12) or (c)(19) for TPS, (c)(33) for DACA. Our figures and USCIS's combine categories, so yours may run faster or slower.
F-1 students applying for OPT or the STEM OPT extension can request premium processing with Form I-907. Other categories can't, and rely on expedite requests in genuine emergencies.
Asylum applicants ((c)(8)) can't apply until their asylum application has been pending for a set period, and delays they cause can pause that clock. Confirm the details for your case with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
You can usually file a renewal up to 180 days before your current card expires. The rules on whether an expiring EAD stays valid while a renewal is pending have changed several times recently, so check USCIS's current guidance for your category before relying on an extension.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For decisions about your own case, check USCIS's current guidance or talk to an immigration attorney.
Other forms: I-130 · I-129F · I-751 · I-730 · I-601A · N-400 · N-600 · N-600K · I-129 · I-140 · I-526E · I-829 · I-360 · I-918 · I-914 · I-817 · I-600A · I-600 · I-800A · I-800 · I-90 · N-565 · I-102 · I-824
All USCIS processing timesHalf of the 65 I-765 cases we tracked to a decision in the last 12 months were decided within 2.8 months, and the middle half took between 55 days and 4.2 months. USCIS's published national median for I-765 is 4 months.
Only if you're already authorized to work some other way, for example through your status or a still-valid EAD. A first-time applicant generally has to wait for the card. Confirm the details for your case with USCIS or an immigration attorney.
That's normal. A (c)(9) work permit filed with an I-485 is usually decided well before the green card itself, often together with advance parole as a combo card.
Your status moves to "New Card Is Being Produced" and then "Card Was Mailed To Me" with a USPS tracking number. Most cards arrive within a couple of weeks of approval.
Ours come from real I-765 cases we tracked from the day USCIS received them to the day they were approved or denied, over the last 12 months. USCIS's median covers its whole fiscal year and, for some forms, only one category. Neither predicts a single case exactly: your service center or field office, your category and any Request for Evidence matter more.
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