What Is the EAD Document Number and Where Is It Found?
An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), also called a work permit, is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) card that proves its holder is authorized to work in the United States for a specific period. The EAD document number is an identifying number printed on the card, but it is easy to confuse with the USCIS number, A-Number, or an application receipt number. Knowing which number a form is asking for can help prevent data-entry errors and processing delays.
What Is the EAD Document Number?
The EAD document number generally means the card number printed on the Employment Authorization Document, Form I-766. It identifies that particular work permit card. The number is commonly shown on the front of the card beside a label such as “Card#.” On many EADs, it consists of three letters followed by a series of digits, though card layouts and number formats can vary by card version.
The card number is different from the person’s immigration identification number and from the receipt number associated with an application. These identifiers serve different purposes, even though each may appear on USCIS documents or be requested in an online form.
When a form asks for an EAD’s “document number,” check its instructions and the document type selected. If the form specifically identifies the document as an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766), it usually means the card number. If the field instead says “USCIS number,” “A-Number,” or “receipt number,” it is asking for something else.
Where Is the EAD Document Number Located?
Look at the front of the EAD card and find the field labeled “Card#” or a similar card-number label. Do not mistake it for the “USCIS#” field, which is generally the holder’s A-Number. The card number is associated with the physical card, while the A-Number identifies the person in immigration records.
Card designs have changed over time, so the exact placement, label, and appearance may differ. If the card is older, the number may be positioned differently or use a different format. Review all printed fields on the card and compare their labels rather than relying only on a number’s length or location.
A clear, unaltered copy of the card can help when checking the number. If a form rejects the entry, first verify that each character was read correctly, including letters that can look like numbers. Avoid sharing a full card image or its identifiers except when required for a legitimate application or employment-verification process.
EAD Document Number vs. Other USCIS Numbers
Several numbers can appear on an EAD or related immigration paperwork. Their names are sometimes used loosely in everyday conversation, but they are not interchangeable. The table below summarizes the distinctions.
| Identifier | What It Identifies | Where It Is Commonly Found |
|---|---|---|
| EAD document number or card number | The specific Employment Authorization Document card | On the front of Form I-766, commonly labeled “Card#” |
| USCIS number or A-Number | The individual’s immigration record | On the EAD, commonly labeled “USCIS#”; it may also appear on other immigration documents |
| Receipt number | A particular application, petition, or case filed with USCIS | On a USCIS receipt notice, often Form I-797C |
| Social Security number | A person’s Social Security record and related reporting | On a Social Security card, if one has been issued |
EAD Card Number and A-Number
The A-Number, also called an Alien Registration Number or USCIS number, identifies a person’s immigration record. It may begin with the letter “A” on some documents, while the EAD may display the digits after “USCIS#.” The exact presentation can vary. It is not the same as the EAD card number, which identifies the card itself.
An individual may keep the same A-Number across multiple immigration documents, while a replacement or renewed EAD is a different physical card and may have a different card number. For that reason, a form asking for the card’s document number should not automatically be given the A-Number.
EAD Document Number and USCIS Receipt Number
A USCIS receipt number tracks a filed case, such as an application for employment authorization. It appears on a receipt notice and typically combines three letters with a sequence of numbers. Because a receipt number may also include letters and digits, it can look similar to other identifiers. Its label and location are the best clues: a receipt notice number is not the EAD card number.
A receipt number may be useful for checking a case’s status through USCIS, but it does not replace the document number printed on an approved EAD. Likewise, the EAD card number does not serve as a receipt number for a pending application.
When Is the EAD Document Number Needed?
The EAD card number may be requested when a person completes a form that asks for details about an employment authorization document. The most familiar example is employment eligibility verification. Employers complete Form I-9 to verify identity and work authorization for employees in the United States. An unexpired EAD, Form I-766, is listed as a List A document because it establishes both identity and employment authorization for Form I-9 purposes.
Other situations may include an immigration-related application, an employer or school record, or an online system that asks for information from an existing work permit. Requirements depend on the specific form and the reason for collecting the information. A field labeled “document number” should be interpreted in the context of the selected document type and the form’s official instructions.
For Form I-9, employers and employees should follow the current USCIS instructions and the form’s fields. Employees generally choose which acceptable documents to present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents; employers should not demand a particular document or request extra documents because of citizenship, immigration status, or national origin. The EAD document number is not a substitute for completing the verification process correctly.
How to Enter the Number Correctly
- Confirm the document type. Make sure the form is asking about an Employment Authorization Document, Form I-766, rather than another immigration document.
- Read the field label. “Card number” or “document number” may refer to the number on the card. “A-Number,” “USCIS number,” and “receipt number” refer to different identifiers.
- Copy the number from the card. Use the value printed next to “Card#” when the form requests the EAD card number.
- Check each character. Distinguish letters from digits carefully. Do not add spaces or punctuation unless the form specifically requires them.
- Review the form’s instructions. If the field does not match the EAD’s labels, consult the agency or organization that issued the form before guessing.
Some websites validate entries using a particular format. A validation error does not necessarily mean the card is invalid; it may indicate a transcription mistake, an incorrect identifier, or a system that expects a different format. Check the instructions and contact the relevant organization if the issue remains unresolved.
Common EAD Document Number Mistakes
- Entering the A-Number instead of the card number: The USCIS# and Card# identify different things. Use the field label to choose the right one.
- Using a receipt number: A case receipt number belongs to a USCIS filing, not to the EAD card.
- Confusing the Social Security number with the EAD number: These are separate identifiers issued for different purposes.
- Relying on a remembered number: A new, renewed, or replacement card may have a different card number. Check the current card being reported.
- Guessing when a label is unclear: Number formats vary, so the printed label and form instructions are more reliable than assumptions based on length or appearance.
- Sharing the number unnecessarily: EAD information is sensitive. Provide it only when required by a legitimate process and use secure channels when available.
What If the EAD Card Is Lost, Damaged, or Unavailable?
If the card is lost or damaged, a person may not be able to read or provide its document number. Do not invent a number or substitute an A-Number unless the form explicitly requests that identifier. Check whether the organization accepts an explanation or alternative evidence, and ask it how to proceed.
USCIS provides a process for requesting a replacement Employment Authorization Document, generally through Form I-765, subject to the applicant’s circumstances and current instructions. A replacement card is a new document. Once it arrives, use the number printed on the replacement when a form asks for that card’s document number.
If an EAD has expired, its number remains the number printed on that card, but the number alone does not establish current work authorization. Employment authorization and any applicable extension depend on the person’s category, dates, and governing rules. Employers should follow current Form I-9 guidance rather than treating an EAD number as proof of ongoing authorization by itself.
Protecting EAD Information
An EAD contains personal and immigration information. Keep the card in a secure place, avoid posting photographs of it online, and do not send an unprotected image through an unfamiliar email or messaging service. When a legitimate employer or agency requests information, provide only what the applicable process requires.
Employers handling Form I-9 information should follow applicable privacy and record-retention requirements. Employees should be allowed to present acceptable documents under the Form I-9 rules, rather than being steered toward a specific document solely because of their citizenship or immigration status.
Where to Find Official Guidance
For current requirements, consult USCIS resources rather than relying on a third-party description of a card number. Useful official sources include the USCIS I-9 Central pages and the current Form I-765 information page. The I-9 Central site provides Form I-9 instructions and guidance on acceptable documents, while the I-765 page covers applications for employment authorization.
If a particular form’s “document number” field remains unclear, the issuing agency or organization can confirm which identifier it requires. The safest general rule is straightforward: for an EAD document number, look for the card number on the Form I-766; for an A-Number or receipt number, use the separately labeled identifier requested by the form.