Answers for your work permit renewal
Find your route, prepare your information and understand what happens next.
Getting started
Who it's for, which route fits you and what you can do without creating an account.
Who is SettleWise for today?
For adults renewing their work permit in the same category, (c)(8) or (c)(9). We don't cover first-time applications, replacements of lost cards or other categories. That is the scope of the product, not an opinion on whether you qualify: USCIS decides that, and authorized legal help assesses it.
What is the difference between (c)(8) and (c)(9)?
(c)(8) is for people with a pending asylum application, Form I-589. (c)(9) is for people with a pending adjustment of status application, Form I-485. The category printed on your previous card is a useful reference, not confirmation of your situation today.
Where do I find my category on the card?
On your previous EAD—the card, or Employment Authorization Document—look for the “Category” line. It shows something like C08 or C09. If your situation has changed since it was issued, or if you're not sure, don't guess: read the context for each route and consult authorized legal help.
What is the difference between preparing and reviewing?
The free review reads the I-765 you already filled out inside your browser and gives you the findings, the coverage and a report; it does not fill out the form. Preparation costs $39, a one-time payment per person and renewal, the same for (c)(8) and (c)(9): guided questions, corrections, saved progress and the completed official I-765 for you to review and sign. USCIS fees are separate.
Can I use SettleWise without creating an account?
Yes, quite a lot of it: the information pages, these questions, the free review of a completed I-765, the when-to-renew calculator and the sample case don't require an account. You need an account to save your preparation and your documents, because nothing personal is kept in the browser. The sample uses made-up information and does not save what you change.
Are the I-765 and the EAD the same thing?
No. The I-765 is the application you file with USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services—and the EAD is the physical card that may be issued afterward. SettleWise is not USCIS or a government service: it only helps you organize and partially review your information before filing.
Information and documents
What to have on hand, what SettleWise does with what you upload and what you receive at the end.
What should I have on hand before I start?
Your previous EAD, front and back; the category and expiration date shown on it; your current mailing address; and the notices for the case your renewal is based on. It is a starting point for preparing your information, not the complete list of what is filed with USCIS.
Which documents usually accompany a (c)(8) renewal?
A copy of your previous EAD and the evidence related to your pending asylum application described in the (c)(8) section of the official instructions. If your case has changed or there is a court history, that requires authorized legal help. The 150-day wait applies to first-time applications, not to renewals.
Which documents usually accompany a (c)(9) renewal?
A copy of your previous EAD and, if you file separately from the I-485, the receipt notice or other evidence that the adjustment is still pending. If the I-485 was filed with an immigration court, the official requirements are different. The USCIS list for (c)(9) is optional and does not replace the current instructions.
Can SettleWise read an I-765 I already filled out?
Yes, with the free review: you choose a PDF, JPEG or PNG of up to 10 MB and 10 pages, and it is read inside your browser. We don't send the file, its name or what it says, and no copy remains when you close it. Saving documents to your case file works differently: there the file is uploaded to your account, up to 20 MB, its format is checked and it is kept, but its data is not extracted.
What happens if I don't know the answer to a field?
Mark “I don't know.” It is recorded as uncertainty, which is not the same as answering “No” or leaving the field blank, and it appears in your review as information to confirm. You can come back when you have the document in front of you and correct it. Don't make up an answer just to move forward.
What do I receive when I finish?
You receive your official Form I-765 as a PDF, with your answers already written in its boxes and the signatures left blank for you to sign by hand. It comes with the review of your answers and, if you want it, a supplementary text summary. No one files for you: reviewing it, gathering the evidence, paying the fee and sending it is still up to you.
If I upload a form and it can't be read, what happens?
We tell you clearly. An unreadable, incomplete, password-protected or other-edition file is never shown as a clean result: you'll see which pages were read, which weren't and what still needs to be confirmed against your original. The review happens inside your browser, so the file is not sent to or stored on any server.
Source read on 2026-09-15.
If the review finds nothing, does that mean everything is correct?
No. It means we found no inconsistencies in the fields we reviewed, with the answers you gave us. We do not check your evidence, we do not verify your documents, SettleWise does not decide whether you qualify and we do not know what USCIS will decide. That is why you will always see what was reviewed and what was left out.
Source read on 2026-09-15.
The USCIS process
Form edition, timing, fees and where to file. Always with the official source alongside.
Which edition of the form should I use?
The official I-765 page, read on September 16, 2026, stated that USCIS accepts the 08/21/25 edition. USCIS does not accept the 09/15/26 edition: its effective date, announced for September 15, 2026, was postponed following the court order of September 14. The date in the footer is not the OMB expiration date.
How far in advance should I renew?
USCIS states in general terms that a renewal can be filed up to 180 days before your current work permit expires. It is not a guarantee of approval or a personalized deadline, and it does not create a new wait because of your previous card. Check the current instructions for your category before deciding.
How much does USCIS charge for the I-765?
It depends on your category, the type of application, your circumstances and the channel you file through. We don't publish a figure here because it could change without you noticing: use the official USCIS fee calculator. That fee belongs to the government and is separate from what it costs to use SettleWise.
Does my renewal receipt automatically extend my work permit?
A receipt by itself does not establish employment authorization. Current USCIS guidance states that most applications filed on or after October 30, 2025 do not receive an automatic extension unless another rule authorizes it, and that earlier filings may qualify for up to 540 days under certain conditions. We do not calculate your case.
Can I file Form I-765 online?
It depends on your category and circumstances; the official page even describes a specific fee-exempt (c)(9) situation that is filed on paper. Check the official list of forms available online and the current mailing addresses. SettleWise does not file anything for you, through any channel.
How long does USCIS take to decide?
Processing times are controlled by USCIS, vary by category and office, and change often. We don't give an estimate and cannot guarantee a date. Check the official processing times tool; it sometimes asks for a verification before showing results.
Where do I send the form?
The official address depends on your category and how you file, and USCIS updates it. We don't set any address here: check the official Form I-765 filing addresses page before sending anything, and confirm the correct fee and edition at that same moment.
What is the difference between the USCIS fee and the cost of preparing the form?
They are two different things and they are not paid in the same place. The USCIS fee belongs to the government: it is set by its fee schedule and paid to USCIS when you file. Preparing the form is the work of organizing and reviewing your answers: that costs $39, a one-time payment per person and renewal, paid to SettleWise. We never collect or receive USCIS fees.
Source read on 2026-09-15.
How much does it cost to renew a work permit in category (c)(8)?
According to fee schedule G-1055, 10/16/26 edition, the form fee is $520 on paper or $470 online, and there is also an additional $275 fee (Pub. L. 119-21) that is paid separately and cannot be waived. With the general fee, added together for reference only, that is $795 on paper or $745 online, in two separate payments. Confirm your row in the source before paying.
Source read on 2026-09-15.
How much does it cost to renew a work permit in category (c)(9)?
According to the G-1055, it depends on your Form I-485. Filed with a fee on or after April 1, 2024, and pending: $260. Filed between July 30, 2007, and March 31, 2024, with its fee paid, and pending: $0; to receive that exemption USCIS says to file on paper. If neither applies: $520 on paper or $470 online.
Source read on 2026-09-15.
Account and support
Saving your progress, what SettleWise costs today and where to find authorized legal help.
Is my progress saved if I close the page?
In a real case file with an account, yes: every change is saved to your account. Before leaving, confirm that the status says “Saved”; if something shows as pending or failed, use Retry. You come back from “My case files” with the same account. In the sample nothing is saved, and there is no offline saving.
Go to my case files
How much does it cost to use SettleWise?
Preparing your renewal with SettleWise costs $39, a one-time payment for one person and one renewal, the same price for (c)(8) and (c)(9). It is a single charge: the questionnaire and the full review are free, and there is no subscription or automatic charge. USCIS fees for filing the application are separate and are paid to USCIS, not to us.
Can SettleWise tell me whether I qualify?
No. It is a tool for organizing and explaining: it does not decide eligibility, does not interpret your situation and does not replace a licensed attorney or a representative accredited by the Department of Justice. If your case has changed or you have substantive questions, seek authorized legal help before filing.
Can I see the status of my USCIS case here?
No. Your case file shows the progress of your preparation within SettleWise and nothing else. We are not connected to USCIS systems, we don't receive approval notices and we cannot confirm where your case stands. For that, use the official USCIS channels.
I finished preparing my information. What now?
Correct whatever was marked as pending. When the review is ready, download your official Form I-765 with the answers already written, review it and sign it by hand. Then gather the evidence, confirm the current fee and filing channel in the official sources and send it yourself. The supplementary summary serves as a guide, but it does not file anything or replace authorized legal help.
Each topic has its own read date: the form edition was checked on 2026-09-20, USCIS fees on 2026-10-21 and the rest of the sources cited here on 2026-09-14, except for answers that show their own date. USCIS may update timing, fees, addresses and editions without notice: always confirm at the official link before filing.
Ready to organize your information?
Start by confirming your route. You can first look at a sample case, with made-up information.