A work permit lawyer Maryland families can call is most useful before you guess which form to file. In U.S. immigration law, a work permit usually means an Employment Authorization Document, or EAD. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issues that card, Form I-766, to certain people who are eligible. It is not a visa, a green card, or a promise that a job will be waiting. It is proof, for a stated period, that the person named on the card may work in the United States.
That distinction matters in Wheaton, Fairfax, and the rest of the Washington area. A person may already have a pending family case, an asylum application, or a student status that does not itself allow open employment. Another person may hold an EAD that is about to expire. A third person may be told by a friend to “just file the work permit form.” Those are different problems. A lawyer’s job is to match the facts to a real eligibility category, not to file the first form someone names.
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What a U.S. work permit actually allows
USCIS says employers must confirm that every worker is allowed to work, no matter the worker’s citizenship or national origin. If you are not a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident, you may need an EAD to prove that permission. The card shows that USCIS has authorized employment for a defined time. It does not, by itself, grant permanent residence, citizenship, or a new immigration status.
USCIS describes three kinds of EAD. An initial EAD is the first card that proves you may work. A renewal EAD extends that permission. USCIS says you generally should not file a renewal more than 180 days before the current card expires. A replacement EAD covers a card that was lost, stolen, damaged, or printed with an error such as a misspelled name. A replacement is not the same thing as a renewal, and filing the wrong one can waste time.
Some people do not need a separate EAD at all. USCIS explains that a lawful permanent resident can use permanent-resident status as evidence of work authorization. Some nonimmigrant workers, such as certain H-1B or L-1 workers, are authorized to work through the status tied to their job. If that is your situation, asking only for “a work permit” can send the conversation in the wrong direction. Bring the document you already have so counsel can see which rule applies.
An EAD is time-limited proof of work permission. It is not a green card, and filing a form does not by itself let you start a job.
Eligibility examples a work permit lawyer in Maryland should review
Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, asks for an eligibility category. USCIS says the category must be correct, and it publishes the list in the form instructions and in 8 CFR 274a.12. A lawyer should be able to explain which category, if any, fits your facts. These examples are illustrations from that public list, not a finding that you qualify.
| Situation you might describe. | USCIS category example. | What still has to be checked. |
|---|---|---|
| You were granted asylum. | (a)(5), asylee. | Check the grant, the dates, and whether the card is an initial card, a renewal, or a replacement. |
| You filed for asylum and the case is still pending. | (c)(8), a pending asylum application. | Check the filing date and whether the waiting rule for that category is met. |
| You were granted Temporary Protected Status. | (a)(12), TPS granted. | Confirm that TPS was granted, not only that you hope to apply. |
| You filed to adjust status to a green card. | (c)(9), pending adjustment under section 245. | Confirm that the adjustment application is properly pending. |
| You are an F-1 student seeking practical training. | (c)(3)(A), (c)(3)(B), or (c)(3)(C). | Check school rules, timing, and whether training is pre-completion, post-completion, or STEM. |
A short scene shows why the category matters. Imagine a parent in Montgomery County whose asylum application is still pending. A cousin says to file the work permit now. A pending asylum case can fall under category (c)(8). That is true only if the filing date and the rest of that category’s rules are met. Filing under the asylee category, (a)(5), would be wrong if asylum has not been granted. The asylum petitions page covers the underlying protection case. This article stays on the work-authorization question.
A second scene is a spouse with a pending adjustment of status. USCIS lists pending adjustment under section 245 as category (c)(9). That is not the same as already being a permanent resident, and it is not the same as a family petition that has not yet led to an adjustment filing. If the family case is the real question, start with the firm’s family-based petitions page. The work-permit conversation should wait until someone confirms that an adjustment application is actually pending.
A third scene is an F-1 student who needs practical training. USCIS separates pre-completion training, post-completion training, and the STEM extension into different (c)(3) categories. A friend who “got a work permit in college” may have used a different one. Do not copy that category onto your form.
The same public list includes refugees, certain parole categories, U nonimmigrants, withholding of removal, and many others. Seeing your life in one row of a chart is not eligibility. USCIS also warns that the category written on the form has to match the instructions. For the current list, use the USCIS employment authorization page.
When to call a work permit lawyer in Maryland
You do not need a perfect label for your case before you call. You do need a reason the generic instructions are not enough. These are common points where a conversation with counsel is worth the time.
- You are not sure which I-765 category applies, or two categories seem possible.
- You received a request for evidence, a rejection, or a denial on an employment-authorization filing.
- Your card expires soon, and you need to know whether a renewal, a replacement, or a different filing is the right next step.
- A family, asylum, student, or other case is pending, and you do not know whether that case allows you to apply.
- An employer is asking for documents, and you are not sure the card in your hand is still valid.
- Someone who is not a lawyer told you the filing is simple, guaranteed, or something you should not ask questions about.
A lawyer cannot promise that USCIS will approve a filing or mail a card by a certain date. Counsel can review the facts, explain the requirements that appear to apply, help prepare a filing when that is appropriate, and tell you what a notice means. Processing times change. An official overview on the USCIS site does not decide your case.
Be careful about work in the meantime. Do not start or continue a job only because an application is in the mail or a receipt has arrived. Confirm whether you have authorization today and whether it is still valid. If a notice states a deadline, asking a lawyer a question does not pause that deadline.
How to prepare before you speak with counsel
You do not need to know the form number before the call. You do need the papers that show what USCIS, a school, or a court has already done. Put copies in one place and keep the originals safe. Do not send passport images, receipt numbers, or a full immigration history through a channel you have not confirmed.
- Find any current or expired EAD, visa stamp, I-94, or approval notice.
- Collect USCIS receipts, requests for evidence, denials, and biometrics notices.
- Write a short timeline: entry, filings, grants, denials, and any date printed as a deadline.
- Note your questions in plain language, in English or Spanish. “Can I work now?” and “What happens when this card expires?” are enough to start.
- List who else is affected, such as a spouse or child, without assuming they share your status.
- Bring only what you are comfortable sharing at a first conversation, and ask what else would be needed later.
If a deadline is close, say so at the start of the call. Mentioning it does not extend the date, but it lets the lawyer tell you whether the date is a filing window, a card expiration, or something else. The firm can talk with you in English or Spanish. Ask for the language you want. Spanish is part of the practice, not an extra service you have to apologize for requesting.
How to choose a work permit lawyer in Maryland
Immigration law is federal, so the case is not a Maryland form. The lawyer still needs a license. You should be able to meet or speak with the office that will handle the file. The Law Offices of Campos & Associates has offices in Wheaton, Maryland, and Fairfax, Virginia. The firm serves clients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC. Jose R. Campos is the principal attorney. Ask who will read your documents and who will call you back.
Use a short checklist in the first conversation:
- Is the person a licensed lawyer, and in which jurisdictions?
- Who reviews the papers, and how will you get updates?
- Can the office speak with you in Spanish if that is the language you want?
- What work is included, and how are fees explained before you decide?
- Will anyone promise a work permit, a date, or a result? If yes, leave.
No one can honestly guarantee an EAD. Forms and evidence have to be accurate. A notario, tax preparer, or document service is not a lawyer and may not be allowed to advise you on immigration law. You can ask about a license before you hand over sensitive records.
The firm’s immigration services include work permits (Form I-765) along with related matters such as asylum, family petitions, and adjustment of status. Read that page if you want the wider list. This guide is only about choosing help for the employment-authorization question and preparing for that conversation.
Fee conversations should stay specific. Do not expect a public price for every immigration matter, and do not treat a government filing rule as a promise that attorney work is free. Ask what this firm’s work would cover, what a government fee might be, and what is not included. If you are not ready to hire anyone, you can still use the question list above when you call.
What can happen after a filing
After USCIS accepts a filing, it may issue a receipt. Later it may ask for more evidence, schedule biometrics, or make a decision. None of those steps is the same as permission to work. Keep a copy of everything you send and everything you receive. If your address changes, update it the way USCIS instructs, because a card that cannot be delivered does not help you.
Read the dates on the card you already have before you make work plans around a pending renewal. USCIS tells applicants not to file a typical renewal more than 180 days before the current EAD expires. Filing too early can be rejected. Filing late can leave a gap. The right day depends on the category and the instructions in effect when you file, so confirm it instead of using a date a relative used last year.
If a card is lost or the name is wrong, ask whether the remedy is a replacement rather than a brand-new category. If the underlying case was denied, a renewal of the old card may not be available. That is a reason to bring the denial, not only the expired card.
For the official description of who needs an EAD and how the categories are organized, rely on USCIS Form I-765, not on a screenshot from social media. Rules and filing addresses change. An article can point you to the source. It cannot file the form for you.
Questions to ask in the consultation
Bring these questions, and write down the answers in the same words the lawyer uses. A clear answer separates what is known from what still needs a document.
- Which I-765 category, if any, appears to fit, and which facts would change that?
- Do I have work authorization today, or only a pending case?
- Is the next filing an initial card, a renewal, or a replacement?
- What date should I track, and does anything pause that date?
- What evidence would you need before you could prepare a filing?
- What is included in the work, how are fees explained, and how will we communicate in English or Spanish?
If the answer is “it depends,” ask what it depends on. That is a better sign than a promise. You should leave knowing the next paper to find, the next date to watch, and whether the firm is able to help with that step.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a work permit the same as a green card?
No. An EAD is evidence that USCIS has authorized employment for a period of time. A green card is lawful permanent residence. Some people apply for an EAD while an adjustment case is pending. Others never need a separate EAD because their status already authorizes work. Ask which one describes you.
Can I work as soon as I file Form I-765?
Do not assume that. USCIS has to authorize employment. A receipt is not the same thing as an EAD, and a pending case does not by itself put you to work. Confirm the document you can show an employer before you rely on it.
When should I renew an EAD?
USCIS says you generally should not file a renewal more than 180 days before the current card expires. The exact rule can depend on the category and the instructions on the day you file. Bring the card and any receipt so the timing can be checked against your category.
Does the firm handle work permits in Spanish?
Yes. The Law Offices of Campos & Associates offers immigration help in English and Spanish, including work permits (Form I-765). You can ask to use Spanish on the call. The Wheaton and Fairfax offices serve clients in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and immigration cases follow federal law.
What if someone guarantees approval?
Treat that as a warning. No lawyer can control a USCIS decision or a processing date. You can ask about a law license, the scope of the work, and the fees before you share sensitive documents. A notario is not the same thing as a licensed attorney.