Does the EB-1C grant immediate EAD?

No. Getting your EB-1C petition approved means your immigrant petition has been recognized and puts you on the path to permanent residence, but it does not, by itself, grant immediate work authorization.

The EAD (Employment Authorization Document) is the document that allows you to work legally while your green card process is still pending. With the EB-1C, this benefit is not built into the petition approval: it requires a separate work authorization application, typically filed together with the adjustment of status application, and must be reviewed and approved by the immigration authority.

• EB-1C approval opens the path to a green card, but is not itself a work permit.
• The EAD is obtained through a specific application filed during the adjustment of status process.
• Authorization is not automatic: it depends on review and approval by USCIS.

Since requirements and filing procedures can change, it is worth checking the latest USCIS guidance and reviewing your situation with a specialist before counting on the EAD to begin working.

About the author

Victoria Harper

Editor-in-Chief

Meet the author

As a journalist and lead editor at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps ensure that immigration topics are covered in a clear, trustworthy, and easy-to-understand way. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.