To file for an employment authorization document (EAD), applicants must send a completed Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, along with the EAD filing fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The current Form I-765 filing fee for employment authorization is $410 USD.
| Form | Fees (USD) |
|---|---|
| Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization | $410 |
Additional Filing Fees for EAD
EAD applicants who are requesting consideration of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) must submit biometrics with their application. The biometrics services fee is $85. The total fees for these applicants will amount to $495.
Note: A fee waiver is not available for the biometrics services fee or the filing fee for this form.
Fees NOT Required
EAD fees are not required for the following Initial EAD categories:
- Refugee
- Paroled as Refugee
- Asylee
- N-8 or N-9 nonimmigrant
- Citizen of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, or Palau
- Granted Withholding of Deportation
- Victim of Severe Form of Trafficking (T-1)
- U-1 nonimmigrant
- Dependent of certain foreign government, international organization, or NATO personnel
- Applicant for asylum (excluding applicants filing under the special ABC procedures)
- VAWA Self-Petitioner
EAD filing fees are also not required for applicants submitting Form I-765 for the following reasons:
- Renewal EAD
- Replacement EAD (filing as a dependent of certain foreign government, international organization, or NATO personnel)
Fee Waiver
Some applicants may qualify for an EAD fee waiver, under 8 CFR 103.7(c), Fee Waiver Guidelines as Established by the Final Rule of the USCIS Fee Schedule.
How to Submit I-765 Fees
When assembling your documents to submit to USCIS, the order in which you arrange your documents is important. The documents should begin with your EAD application and the filing fee, followed by the subsequent documents including a copy of Form I-94, two identical color photographs, and other documents depending on the category for which you are applying. For more information, read about Required Documents for EAD.
You can pay the Form I-765 fee by check or money order. Checks and money orders must:
- Be drawn on a U.S. bank or financial institution;
- Be payable in U.S. currency; and
- Be payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; the initials USDHS or DHS should NOT be used.
Remember that your application must include the appropriate filing fee. If you submit Form I-765 without the correct fee, it will be rejected with a notice that Form I-765 is deficient. You will have to correct and resubmit Form I-765.
Sending I-765 Fees by Check
If you send your payment by check, it will be converted into an electronic funds transfer (EFT), meaning that the account information on your check will be used to electronically debit your bank account for the amount specified. This usually takes around 24 hours and will appear on your account statement. The original check will be destroyed, but a copy will remain with USCIS.
If the EFT cannot be processed for technical reasons, the copy of the check will be processed in place of the original check. If the EFT cannot be processed due to insufficient funds, USCIS will try to make the transfer no more than two times.
Verifying If Fees Are Correct
To verify if the fee amount listed on Form I-765 is correct, visit the Filing Fees page on the USCIS website or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-385-5283.
