EAD vs. H-1B: Fast Guide to Work Authorization & Path to Green Card
EAD stands for Employment Authorization Document—a plastic card issued by USCIS that proves you can work for any U.S. employer. H-1B is a visa petition your employer files to hire you in a specialty role; it binds you to that specific company and job.
People confuse them because both let you work and appear in green-card conversations, but an EAD is a flexible work permit while an H-1B is a tied sponsorship. That mix-up can cost you job offers or your immigration timeline.
Key Differences
EAD: open-market work, spouse & OPT friendly, renewable in 1–2-year chunks. H-1B: employer-locked, 3 + 3 year limit, tied to LCA wage, lottery odds ~25%. Green-card path: EAD via pending I-485 adjustment; H-1B via PERM/I-140, then adjust.
Which One Should You Choose?
Need job mobility or STEM OPT ending soon? Secure EAD through marriage, asylum, or pending I-485. Want corporate sponsorship and are okay staying put? Aim for H-1B and let the employer foot the PERM bill for your green card.
Can I hold both EAD and H-1B at the same time?
Yes. Many keep H-1B as backup while using EAD for flexibility, but once you switch employers with EAD you lose H-1B status.
Does EAD automatically lead to a green card?
No. The card only grants work rights; you still need an approved I-140 and available priority date to file I-485 and secure permanent residence.