Lost EAD Replacement: How to Replace Your Work Permit

Not having your work permit in your possession can create serious problems, such as:

• You cannot accept new employment.
• Proving your authorization to work for a current job is difficult.
• It becomes much harder to prove lawful presence if questioned by law enforcement or immigration officials.

If your EAD card is lost, stolen, or destroyed, don’t panic. You are allowed to request a replacement. However, the process is not automatic. You must submit a new application and supporting documents to request a replacement card.

Act as soon as possible. Without your EAD, proving work authorization can be difficult, even if your underlying status is still valid.

If your EAD is lost, stolen or destroyed, you usually file a replacement application. A replacement reissues the same card with the same expiration date. Typically, it does not extend your work authorization. You can replace an employment authorization document if:

• Your EAD was lost, stolen, or destroyed
• Your employment authorization is still valid
• You are requesting the same eligibility category

However, if your EAD will expire soon, a renewal may be the better option. In many categories, the filing fee is the same for a replacement and a renewal. Renewing can give you a full validity period and help you avoid filing twice.

As a general rule, file a replacement if your EAD is still valid for 180 days or more. Consider a renewal if your EAD is close to expiring or you were planning to renew anyway.

You must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, to replace a lost work permit.

When completing the form, you will select the option indicating that you are applying for a replacement EAD, not a renewal. Choosing the wrong reason can cause a delay for your application.

If you are replacing a lost EAD, this application checklist can help you prepare. You will typically need:

• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization
• Form I-765 Worksheet (if deferred action)
• I-765 filing fee
• A copy of your receipt notice or approval notice for the underlying status (Form I-797 Notice of Action)
• A photocopy of your lost EAD card (if available). If a photocopy of your lost card is not available, include a copy of another government-issued photo identity document. Acceptable examples include a copy of your:
• Passport showing your picture, name, and date of birth;
• Birth certificate with photo ID;
• Visa issued by a foreign consulate;
• Matrícula consular card (if of Mexican nationality); or
• Two identical passport-style color photographs of yourself taken within 30 days of filing the application

Depending on your answers in Form I-765, additional documents may be necessary. Review the USCIS filing instructions or use CitizenPath’s Employment Authorization Package to get a customized checklist for your situation.

Generally, USCIS does not issue temporary proof of employment authorization if your EAD is lost.

Filing Form I-765 for a replacement does not provide interim documentation, a receipt that counts as work authorization, or an automatic extension. A Form I-797 receipt notice alone is not valid proof of employment authorization.

If you need to show work authorization to an employer, this can be challenging until you receive your replacement EAD. Because there is usually no temporary proof available, acting quickly is important if your EAD is lost.