EAD stands for Employment Authorization Document, which is a document issued by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that provides temporary employment authorization to noncitizens in the United States. It is also known as a work permit. The EAD card is issued to individuals who are authorized to work in the United States because of their immigration status or circumstances, such as asylees, refugees, or U nonimmigrants. The EAD card is a document that serves as both an identification and verification of employment eligibility. It is not required for individuals who are lawful permanent residents or who have a nonimmigrant visa that authorizes them to work for a specific employer. To obtain an EAD, individuals must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, and send it via mail to the USCIS Regional Service Center that serves their area. If approved, an Employment Authorization Document will be issued for a specific period of time based on the individuals immigration situation. The EAD card is valid for a temporary period of time, often around one year at a time, and must be renewed if the individual is still eligible to work in the United States.