Question
My work permit is expiring: when do I renew it?
Short answer
USCIS recommends filing Form I-765 to renew up to 180 days before your permit expires. Since October 30, 2025, a renewal no longer automatically extends the permit while you wait, except in cases USCIS publishes.
Paso Libre editorial team
Reviewed September 29, 2026 · Educational information, not legal advice
When to file it
The I-765 page says: “we generally recommend you file a Form I-765 to request a renewal EAD up to 180 days before your current EAD expires”. USCIS does not backdate or postdate the new permit.
The later you file, the more likely a gap without a valid permit, the official release says.
The automatic extension ended
Per the USCIS release, anyone filing a renewal on or after October 30, 2025 no longer receives the automatic extension. There are limited exceptions, such as some TPS cases, that USCIS publishes in the Federal Register.
Whether your category has an exception, or whether you may work while you wait, is a legal question. We do not guess.
What it costs
General USCIS fee for the I-765: $520 on paper ($470 online), plus an additional fee in some categories. Some categories pay a different amount; the official schedule governs.
Paso Libre charges $99 to prepare the I-765 with you. You fill it in free and pay only when you finish your answers. USCIS fees are paid separately.
If your question needs legal advice
This question needs legal advice. To protect you, we do not want to guess. Here is how to find a licensed attorney or a DOJ-accredited representative.
Official sources
- Form I-765 — USCIS ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026
- News release: DHS ends automatic extension of employment authorization — USCIS ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026
- Form G-1055, fee schedule — USCIS ↗ · Read on October 10, 2026
- Find legal services — USCIS ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026
- Accredited representatives — Department of Justice ↗ · Read on September 29, 2026