EAD 工卡与工作许可专题
EAD Employment Authorization Document & Work Authorization

美国国土安全部 DHS 发布新规，终止了部分 EAD 工卡无条件自动延长的做法。从 2025 年 10 月 30 日起，如果 EAD 工卡过期，且没有其他工作签证（如 H1B），即使 EAD 延期申请正在审理中 (Pending)，也不能继续工作。必须在当前工卡过期前获得延期批准。建议尽早提交延期申请（可提前 180 天），以免工作中断。

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a new rule ending the automatic extension of EAD for certain applicants. Starting October 30, 2025, if your EAD expires and you do not hold another valid work visa (such as H-1B), you cannot continue working even if your EAD renewal application is still pending. You must receive approval before your current EAD expires. We recommend filing your renewal application as early as possible (up to 180 days in advance) to avoid any interruption of employment.

除了 H1B 抽签，还有多种工作方式：
1. O-1 杰出人才签证： 无名额限制，不用抽签，适合 STEM 硕士及以上学历或有特殊技能的人才。
2. J-1 签证： 通过 Trainee 或 Intern 项目在公司工作。
3. 免抽签 H1B： 在大学、科研机构或非营利组织工作。
4. L-1 签证： 跨国公司内部调动。
5. 各类配偶 EAD： 如 H4 EAD, J2 EAD, L2 EAD。

Besides the H-1B lottery, there are multiple legal pathways to work:
1. O-1 Extraordinary Ability Visa: No annual cap, no lottery required, ideal for STEM graduates with master's or higher degrees, or professionals with extraordinary abilities.
2. J-1 Visa: Work at U.S. companies through the Trainee or Intern program.
3. Cap-Exempt H-1B: Working at universities, research institutions or non-profit organizations.
4. L-1 Visa: Intracompany transfer for multinational companies.
5. Spousal EAD: Such as H4 EAD, J2 EAD, L2 EAD.

OPT 申请窗口非常严格，必须在学业完成前的 90 天内或完成后的 60 天内提交。必须先拿到学校签发的新 I-20 表，并在新表签字后的 30 天内提交给移民局。切记不要挂靠！挂靠会导致以后的签证和绿卡申请被拒。早期 OPT 可以有 90 天失业期，期间可以做 unpaid 实习或志愿者工作来维持身份。

OPT filing timelines are very strict: you must file within 90 days before your program completion or within 60 days after completion. You must first obtain a new I-20 issued by your school, and submit your application to USCIS within 30 days of the DSO signature on the new I-20. Never use fraudulent employer/experience matching ("挂靠") — this will lead to denial of future visa and green card applications. Post-completion OPT allows up to 90 days of unemployment, during which you can accept unpaid internships or volunteer work to maintain status.

可以。即使是刚成立不久、员工很少且尚未盈利的初创公司，也可以为员工申请 O-1 或 H-1B，只要证明有足够的资金支付工资（如投资款、银行存款）并且工作职位是真实的专业职位。我们律所有成功帮助只有 3-4 名员工的初创公司获批 O-1 的案例。

Yes. Even newly founded startups with few employees and no profitability can sponsor O-1 or H-1B for their employees, as long as you can prove the startup has sufficient funds to pay the salary (e.g. investment funds, bank deposits) and the position is a legitimate professional role. Our law firm New Weiming Law Group has successfully obtained O-1 approvals for startups with only 3-4 employees.

Combo Card 是指同时拥有 EAD 工卡（I-765）和 Advance Parole 回美证（I-131）功能的卡片。通常在递交 I-485 绿卡申请后可以申请（无需排期的情况下）。持有 Combo Card 可以在美国自由工作（包括兼职、创业），并可以出入境美国而不需要签证。这是等待绿卡期间非常有用的过渡性证件。

A Combo Card combines both EAD work authorization (Form I-765) and Advance Parole (Form I-131) in a single card. It is typically available after you file your I-485 adjustment of status (green card) application (for those with current priority dates). Holding a Combo Card allows you to work freely in the U.S. (including part-time work and entrepreneurship), and exit and re-enter the U.S. without needing a separate employer visa. It is a very useful transitional document during the green card waiting process.