An Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is an official card issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) that proves a non-US citizen is authorized to work in the United States for a specific period of time. An EAD is also known as Form I-766, or a work permit.

EADs are typically issued to individuals in certain immigration categories who are not US citizens or lawful permanent residents but have permission to work in the US.

An EAD can be used to apply for a Social Security number, allowing holders to legally accept employment from any US employer.

Yes, an EAD and a work permit are the same thing. These terms are used interchangeably. The official government name is Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), but it's commonly called a work permit. Both terms refer to the same physical card that allows certain foreign nationals to work legally in the United States.

In US immigration terms, work authorization can be granted in two main ways:

1. Incident to status: Some immigration statuses automatically grant work authorization without needing an EAD. For example, lawful permanent residents (green card holders) and refugees are allowed to work in the US without a separate EAD.
2. Through an EAD: Other immigration categories require applying for and receiving an EAD before employment can begin, for example, DACA recipients, asylum applicants, Temporary Protected Status holders, students and some spouses of visa holders.

An EAD is usually valid for one to two years, depending on the applicant’s immigration category and USCIS policies. Some categories may receive shorter validity periods, and renewal is required to continue working legally.