What is Employment Authorization?

In most cases, the employment authorization process involves a situation wherein a foreign national is changing or adjusting his or her immigration status. For example, if a foreign national entered the U.S. on a visitor visa (which does not allow you to work) and then marries a U.S. Citizen, he or she will apply to adjust his or her status to that of a lawful permanent resident. While the adjustment of status petition is being processed, the foreign national is entitle to apply for a Employment Authorization Document (EAD.) The EAD will allow the foreign national to work in the U.S. while the adjustment of status petition is pending.

This is the most common scenario that the EAD process is encountered with family-based visa petitions but the EAD process is used in other situations as well.