Route (c)(8)

Renew your work permit with a pending asylum application

If your work permit is based on an asylum application (Form I-589) that is still pending, this is your route. Here is what to gather and how to get started.

What C08 means on your work permit

C08, or (c)(8), is the code for the category under which USCIS granted your work permit: it is for people with a pending asylum application, Form I-589. It is printed on your EAD card, on the “Category” line. It is different from C09, which is for a pending adjustment of status with Form I-485.

What your card says reflects the moment it was issued: your situation may have changed since then. SettleWise does not decide your eligibility or interpret your case; if you're not sure, consult authorized legal help before filing.

C09

What to have on hand

This is a starting point for preparing your information, not the complete list of what is filed with USCIS. That list is set by the current official instructions.

  • Both sides of your previous EAD: it shows the category, the A-Number and the expiration date.
  • Evidence that your asylum application is still pending, as described in the (c)(8) section of the official instructions.
  • Your current mailing address, the one you use to reliably receive mail from USCIS.

How to get started

  1. Check that the “Category” line on your previous EAD says C08.
  2. Open your case file and enter your information using the guidance provided.
  3. Correct or confirm anything pending and download the official I-765 to review and sign. The summary is supplementary.
Start my (c)(8) case file

What the official instructions say

  • The official instructions have a section of their own for this route, “Special Filing Instructions for Those With Pending Asylum Applications--(c)(8)”: it sets out the conditions and the evidence USCIS asks for.
  • The category is entered in Item Number 27 of the form, in Part 2.
  • Item Number 30 asks, for (c)(8) only, whether you have ever been arrested for or convicted of any crime.

What not to confuse

  • Having a pending asylum application is not the same as qualifying: USCIS decides, not SettleWise.
  • The 150-day waiting period you may have heard about applies to the first work permit application, not to renewals.
  • The (c)(8) rules do not apply to (c)(9), and vice versa.

The timelines and conditions for this category do not carry over to the (c)(9) route. the (c)(9) route

Situations that need the official source or legal help

  • If you answer “Yes” to Item Number 30, the instructions point to their (c)(8) section for which court dispositions to include. This is a point where authorized legal help is advisable.
  • There is a separate situation for asylum applications under the ABC settlement, for people from El Salvador and Guatemala.

To find someone who can help you, USCIS maintains its own page of authorized legal services. authorized legal services

What SettleWise checks on this route today

The checks we run are the same for (c)(8) and (c)(9): empty required fields, impossible or future dates, the format of the A-Number, answers marked “I don't know,” information taken from a document that is still unconfirmed, consistency of the category you declared, and the form edition based on your filing date and channel. There are no (c)(8)-specific checks yet: the material above is documentary context, not a verification of your case.

Frequently asked questions for the (c)(8) route

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.

Read the (c)(8) route
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.

Official I-765 instructions (PDF)
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.

Find authorized legal help
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.

Official edition notice on USCIS
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.

Current M-274 guidance, section 5.1
See all questions