USCIS I-765 Processing Time
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, is used to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which grants eligible non-citizens the legal right to work in the United States. It is commonly filed by adjustment-of-status applicants, asylum seekers, certain visa holders, and others with a pending immigration benefit.
Processing times for Form I-765 vary depending on the applicant's eligibility category and whether the application is filed concurrently with another petition, such as Form I-485. Many applicants in concurrent filing scenarios receive their EAD before their underlying petition is adjudicated.
To help applicants stay informed, Track My Visa provides free case tracking and backlog insights for I-765 applications. By joining our platform, you can follow your case progress, explore real-world processing patterns, and better understand where your application stands — all at no cost. Basic tracking and insights are free forever as part of our commitment to supporting I-765 applicants.
I-765 application flow
Every Form I-765 application begins in the Received status once USCIS has accepted the filing into its system. From there, the next steps can vary depending on the applicant's eligibility category, filing history, and whether the I-765 was filed with another form, such as Form I-485.
Some applicants may be scheduled for a Biometrics appointment at a local Application Support Center (ASC). In some cases, USCIS may request additional information before making a decision. This step is shown as RFE, short for Request for Evidence.
After review, an I-765 application is either Approved or Denied. When an application is approved, USCIS produces and mails the physical Employment Authorization Document (EAD). This final production and mailing step is shown as Card Issued.
To learn more about each status, visit our FAQ.
What does the current case backlog look like?
The chart below shows the current status of Form I-765 applications being tracked on Track My Visa.
The case backlog chart helps applicants understand how cases are moving through the I-765 process and where similar applications currently stand. Cases are grouped by the month each application was filed. Newer filing months typically have a higher share of cases in Received because those applications are still waiting for USCIS review. As filing months get older, more cases may move into later statuses such as Biometrics, RFE, Approved, Denied, or Card Issued.
The chart is based on I-765 cases tracked on Track My Visa. We are actively growing our I-765 community — the more applicants who join, the more accurately the chart reflects real-world processing patterns. Join now to see USCIS processing activity graphs and a zoomed in view of the backlog chart, all for free!
