List A — AcceptableReverification Required

Last Updated: April 2026

Researched by the I9AuditReady Research Team

Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Numbers for Form I-9

How to locate the card number on a Form I-766, what goes in each Section 2 field, and the reverification requirements that trip up most employers.

Critical: Unlike a green card, EAD cards expire and REQUIRE Section 3 reverification before the expiration date. Missing an EAD expiration deadline is a substantive I-9 violation. Set reminders at 90, 60, and 30 days.

EAD as an I-9 Document

Form Number

Form I-766

I-9 List

List A

Issued By

USCIS

Reverify?

YES — before expiry

An Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) is a USCIS-issued List A document that establishes both identity and employment authorization for Form I-9 purposes. EAD cards have expiration dates and require reverification before they expire — unlike green cards and US passports, which do not require reverification.

Where to Find Each Number on an EAD Card

United States of America

Employment Authorization

Form I-766

Front of Card

Card Number (USCIS #)

Lower right — 13 chars (e.g., MSC2409012345)

→ This goes in Section 2 Document Number

Category Code

Front — e.g., (c)(9), (a)(5), (c)(33)

Card Expires

Front — MM/DD/YYYY format

→ Must reverify before this date

Back of Card

Document Number (back)

Also 13 chars — same as card number

The MRZ (Machine Readable Zone) on the back also contains the card number and expiration date in machine-scannable format.

What to Enter in Form I-9 Section 2

Section 2 Field	What to Enter	Where to Find It
Document Title	Employment Authorization Document	The card itself — or write 'Form I-766'
Issuing Authority	USCIS	Standard — also acceptable: 'DHS'
Document Number	13-char card number (e.g., MSC2409012345)	Front of card, lower right area
Expiration DateMust reverify before this date	Date printed on card (MM/DD/YYYY)	Front of card, labeled 'Card Expires'

EAD Expiration and Reverification Requirements

EAD holders must be reverified before the card expires. Unlike a green card (where reverification is prohibited), an EAD expiration represents a lapse in the employee's temporary work authorization. The employer must complete Section 3 of Form I-9 — or use a new I-9 — before the EAD expiration date.

Set 90-day advance alerts. USCIS recommends beginning the reverification process at least 90 days before EAD expiration. The employee needs time to file a renewal application (Form I-765), which can take several months to process. Waiting until 30 days before expiration creates serious compliance risk.

Allowing an employee to work with an expired EAD is a substantive violation. Continuing to employ someone after their EAD expires without reverification is equivalent to knowingly employing an unauthorized worker for I-9 penalty purposes.

EAD Auto-Extension: Which Categories Qualify?

USCIS automatically extends the validity of certain EAD categories for up to 540 days when a timely renewal application (Form I-765) has been filed before the current EAD expires. This means an employee with a qualifying category may continue working beyond their card's printed expiration date while their renewal is pending.

Auto-extension rule (8 C.F.R. § 274a.13(d)): For qualifying EAD categories, if the employee filed a timely renewal before expiration, their employment authorization automatically extends for up to 540 days (updated under the 2022 DHS regulatory change). The employer documents this by noting the auto-extension in Section 2 or Section 3 and recording the extended expiration date.

✓Auto-Extension Eligible Categories

(a)(7)N-8 or N-9 status

(a)(17)VAWA self-petitioner

(a)(18)T nonimmigrant status

(c)(8)Pending asylum application

(c)(9)Pending adjustment of status (I-485)

(c)(10)Suspension of deportation / cancellation of removal

(c)(16)Deferred action (non-DACA)

(c)(20)U nonimmigrant (U visa)

(c)(22)Deferred Enforced Departure (DED)

(c)(24)Temporary Protected Status (TPS)

✕No Auto-Extension

(a)(3)Refugee

(a)(5)Asylee

(a)(10)Withholding of removal granted

(c)(26)H-4 EAD (H-1B spouse)

(c)(33)DACA

Note: DACA (c)(33) and H-4 (c)(26) do not qualify for auto-extension under current regulations. EADs for these categories must be renewed before expiration or employment must cease.

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Frequently Asked Questions About EAD Cards and Form I-9

Where is the card number on an EAD for Form I-9?

The EAD card number (also called the USCIS number) is located on the front of the Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), typically in the lower right area below the cardholder's photo. It is a 13-character alphanumeric code beginning with three letters (e.g., MSC, LIN, SRC, WAC, IOE) followed by 10 digits. This is the number you enter in the Document Number field of Form I-9 Section 2.

Do I need to reverify an EAD before it expires?

Yes. EAD cards have expiration dates and MUST be reverified before the expiration date. When an EAD is used as the I-9 document, the employer must complete Form I-9 Section 3 before the card expires. USCIS recommends setting reminders at 90 days before EAD expiration. Unlike permanent resident cards, EAD expiration does require reverification.

What is an EAD auto-extension?

USCIS automatically extends the validity of certain EAD categories for up to 540 days (as of 2022 regulatory update) beyond the card's expiration date when a timely renewal application has been filed. Qualifying categories include (c)(8), (c)(9), (c)(10), (a)(7), (c)(16), (c)(20), (c)(22), (c)(24), (a)(17), and (a)(18). For employees whose EAD qualifies for auto-extension, the employer should record the extended expiration date in Section 2 or Section 3 and document the auto-extension basis.

What is the issuing authority for an EAD on Form I-9?

For an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), the issuing authority to enter on Form I-9 Section 2 is 'USCIS'. The abbreviation 'DHS' is also acceptable.

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I9AuditReady provides compliance tracking tools, not legal advice. Information is based on USCIS Form I-9 instructions (Rev. 08/01/23), 8 C.F.R. § 274a.13(d), and 2022 DHS regulatory updates. EAD auto-extension rules can change. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice on your specific situation.