I-765 processing time

Median months by type of I-765

USCIS reports I-765 processing in four groups. These are medians for April 1 to June 30, 2026: half of the cases decided in the quarter took less time, half took more.

“Received” and “pending” are the counts USCIS reports for the same quarter. “All other” is everything outside the first three rows, so OPT, H-4 and asylee EADs sit there. USCIS publishes no median per category.

The monthly report gives a different measure. For August 2026, the average across all I-765s was 6.8 months, with 1,921,541 pending and 1,252,419 of those waiting more than six months. An average is pulled up by long waits, so it is higher than most medians.

The asylum row needs context. An asylum applicant cannot apply for an EAD until 150 days after filing the I-589, and USCIS cannot issue it until 30 days later, 180 days in total (source: USCIS I-765 page). The 0.8 months counts only from when the I-765 arrives.

Counts by eligibility category

USCIS also publishes counts for each category code printed on your card. This table covers the most searched ones, for April to June 2026. Counts include initial, renewal and replacement requests. There is no processing time here, only how many requests came in and how many were waiting.

For C26, see the H-4 EAD processing time page. For C09, see the I-485 processing time page.

Initial, renewal and replacement

An initial I-765 is your first card in a category. A renewal is a new card in the same category, filed before the old one expires. A replacement covers a lost, stolen, damaged or wrongly issued card.

Initial and renewal queues look different:

• C09: 146,276 initial requests came in, with 603,286 initial pending. Renewals were 5,294 received and 64,064 pending.
• C03C (STEM OPT): 11,219 initial received and 12,957 initial pending. Renewals were 45,472 received and 51,839 pending.
• C26 (H-4): 6,739 initial received and 19,099 pending. Renewals were 12,476 received and 28,479 pending.

For renewals, USCIS generally recommends filing up to 180 days before your EAD expires. It generally does not backdate or postdate the new card to cover a gap. The I-765 can be filed online or by mail. When USCIS approves it, it mails the card to your address on file, and it asks you to allow 30 days from approval before you inquire about a missing card.

Automatic extensions changed in 2025

Before October 30, 2025, a timely renewal in certain categories (including C09, C08, C26 and others) could extend your work authorization for up to 540 days while the renewal was pending. That changed.

• Renewals filed on or after October 30, 2025: the majority are not eligible for an automatic extension, unless a law or a Federal Register notice says otherwise (source: DHS announcement, 29 Oct 2025).
• The receipt notice: for these renewals, Form I-797C now says it is not evidence of employment authorization (source: USCIS interim final rule notice).
• Renewals filed before that date: still follow the old rule. See M-274, section 5.1.
• STEM OPT: USCIS says F-1 students who timely file a STEM OPT extension get an automatic extension if their OPT would expire while the application is pending (source: USCIS EAD extensions page).

The practical result: if your category lost the automatic extension, a gap between cards can mean you cannot work until the new card arrives. File as early as USCIS allows.

Premium processing for some OPT EADs

Premium processing is not available for every I-765. USCIS lists only three categories: pre-completion OPT (C03A), post-completion OPT (C03B) and the 24-month STEM extension (C03C). It promises action within 30 business days, or it refunds the premium fee. The clock stops and restarts if USCIS sends a request for evidence. See the premium processing page for the fee and the Form I-907 steps.

If your EAD is taking longer than normal

1. Check your case status in Case Status Online. The YourCaseStatus app (coming soon) will alert you when your status changes.
2. Compare your filing date with the time USCIS reports for your form and office on the USCIS processing times tool.
3. Send a case inquiry through e-Request if you are outside normal processing time.
4. Update your address with USCIS at the change of address page.
5. Know that expedites are narrow. USCIS says the need for employment authorization, standing alone and without other compelling factors, does not warrant one. See the expedite requests page.

Other pages: case status messages and the N-400 processing time.