The longevity of your work permit, otherwise known as your Employment Authorization Document, may depend on your current immigration status or what type of visa you currently hold. But generally speaking, it may last for up to one year. And ultimately, it cannot last longer than the time you are allowed to stay in the United States. This is all to say that you must stay on top of the work permit renewal process if you wish to remain lawfully in the country. So please continue reading to learn how to renew your work permit and how an experienced work authorization permit lawyer in Milwaukee, WI, at Sesini Law Group, S.C., can help you do so legally.
What should I do to renew my work permit?
Simply put, to renew your work permit, you must file a new Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. With this, you must pay a $470 renewal fee if you apply online or a $520 renewal fee if you apply by mail. This is unless you have successfully applied for a fee waiver beforehand. Either way, you may be expected to supplement your application with the same forms of evidence, such as the following:
- A copy of your existing Employment Authorization Document card.
- A copy of any Employment Authorization Document cards the USCIS has previously approved.
- A copy of your Form I-94, Arrival and Departure Record.
- A copy of your government-issued photo ID document(s).
- Two of your most recent passport-sized photos, alongside your passport.
- Any other relevant evidence of your current and valid immigration status.
What should I do if my work permit has already expired?
It is in your best interest to begin the application process for renewing your work permit six months before it is set to expire. This is because it may take the USCIS, on average, three months to process your petition. And this does not account for the possibility of unexpected delays.
Overall, when your work permit expires, you must stop work immediately. You may even be in a situation where your work permit expiring means your lawful presence in the United States is ending. So you may have to leave the country immediately, as well.
All to say, please renew your work permit at your first possible opportunity, to reduce the risk of a gap in your employment authorization or legal standing in the United States. An unlawful presence in the country may cause you to be barred from reentering for three to 10 years.
So whenever you are ready, please get a hold of a skilled family immigration lawyer in Milwaukee, WI. Someone at Sesini Law Group, S.C. will be patiently awaiting your phone call.