Form I-688B is an obsolete Employment Authorization Card that has not been valid since 2009. USCIS stopped issuing it on October 1, 2006, and the Department of Homeland Security confirmed in October 2009 that every card in circulation had expired. If you’re holding one, it can’t be used to prove work authorization, and no employer can lawfully accept it. To work legally today, you need a current Employment Authorization Document, Form I-766, issued by USCIS.1Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.810 – Obsolete Forms I-688, I-688A and I-688B, Employment Authorization Documentation
What the I-688B Was
The I-688B, formally the Employment Authorization Card, was a laminated card issued to noncitizens across several immigration categories as standalone proof that the holder could work in the United States. It replaced the handwritten “employment authorized” stamps that immigration officials had previously placed on other documents.1Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.810 – Obsolete Forms I-688, I-688A and I-688B, Employment Authorization Documentation
Two other cards from the same era are often confused with it. The I-688 (Temporary Resident Card) went to people who gained temporary resident status through the 1986 amnesty and agricultural worker programs. The I-688A went to applicants for that status while their cases were pending. The I-688B was the general-purpose EAD issued to a broader range of categories. All three are now obsolete.1Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.810 – Obsolete Forms I-688, I-688A and I-688B, Employment Authorization Documentation
Why Every I-688B Has Expired
USCIS stopped issuing the I-688B on October 1, 2006, citing outdated card technology, security vulnerabilities, and obsolete production equipment at field offices.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Elimination of Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card In October 2009, DHS confirmed that all previously issued I-688B cards had expired and removed the card from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) system, so no government agency could electronically verify one even if presented.1Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.810 – Obsolete Forms I-688, I-688A and I-688B, Employment Authorization Documentation
The Social Security Administration stopped accepting all I-688 series cards on January 6, 2010. Since then, Form I-766 has been the only EAD SSA recognizes.1Social Security Administration. POMS RM 10210.810 – Obsolete Forms I-688, I-688A and I-688B, Employment Authorization Documentation
What This Means If You’ve Been Working on One
Working on an expired I-688B counts as unauthorized employment under federal immigration law, and the consequences reach beyond losing a job. Federal law bars adjustment of status for anyone who “continues in or accepts unauthorized employment prior to filing an application for adjustment of status” or who “was employed while the alien was an unauthorized alien.”3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1255 – Adjustment of Status of Nonimmigrant to That of Person Admitted for Permanent Residence
The bar is broader than most people expect. It applies to unauthorized employment during your current stay and any prior period in the United States. Leaving and re-entering does not clear it. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens and certain special immigrants are excepted, but for most noncitizens, any stretch of unauthorized work leaves a lasting obstacle on the path to a green card.4U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Policy Manual Volume 7, Part B, Chapter 6 – Unauthorized Employment
What Employers Should Do When They See One
If an employee presents an I-688B during hiring, you cannot accept it. Federal law requires every new hire to present original, unexpired documents proving identity and work authorization within three business days of starting work.5U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Every I-688B expired more than fifteen years ago, so none can satisfy the requirement. E-Verify will also reject an expired document and block case creation until valid documentation is provided.6E-Verify. 2.1.3 Unexpired Document Required
Employers who knowingly accept expired or fraudulent documents face civil penalties starting at $250 to $2,000 per worker for a first offense, $2,000 to $5,000 for a second offense, and $3,000 to $10,000 for further offenses, with annual inflation adjustments. A pattern of violations can trigger criminal prosecution, with fines up to $3,000 per unauthorized worker and up to six months in prison.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 USC 1324a – Unlawful Employment of Aliens
The right response is to explain that the document has expired and ask the employee to provide an acceptable, unexpired document from the current List of Acceptable Documents on the Form I-9 instructions. Do not specify which document to bring; that can amount to document discrimination.
How to Get Current Work Authorization
If you once held an I-688B and still need to work, you must file Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization. You cannot renew an I-688B. The application requires you to identify a current eligibility category, such as a pending adjustment of status application, parole status, or Temporary Protected Status.8U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form I-765 Instructions for Application for Employment Authorization
Along with the completed form, submit evidence of your current immigration status, proof of identity, and any prior USCIS receipts or notices connected to your case. A complete file moves faster than one that draws a request for additional evidence.
Filing Fees
Filing fees vary by eligibility category. As of January 1, 2026, initial EAD applications for asylum applicants, parolees, and TPS holders cost $560. Renewal applications cost $280 for parolees and TPS holders and $275 for asylum applicants. USCIS determines the fee based on the postmark date of your application.9U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. USCIS Announces FY 2026 Inflation Increase for Certain Immigration-Related Fees
If your household income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guidelines, you may qualify for a fee waiver by filing Form I-912 with your I-765. For a single-person household in 2026, that threshold is $23,940 in the 48 contiguous states. For a family of four, it’s $49,500. Alaska and Hawaii use higher thresholds.10U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Poverty Guidelines
File Early: Automatic Extensions Have Ended
DHS ended the longstanding automatic extension of EADs for timely renewal filings on October 30, 2025. Before that date, filing a renewal before your EAD expired kept the old card valid for up to 540 additional days while USCIS processed the case. That safety net is gone for applications filed on or after October 30, 2025, with limited exceptions for TPS holders. USCIS recommends filing your renewal up to 180 days before your current EAD expires to avoid a gap.11U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization
Processing times for Form I-765 vary widely by category and service center, ranging from roughly one month to over a year in early 2026. Check current estimates for your category at egov.uscis.gov.
Updating Your Social Security Card
Many former I-688B holders have Social Security cards printed with the restriction “Valid for Work Only with DHS Authorization.” Once you receive a new I-766 or a green card, you can have that notation removed by requesting a replacement card. If you’re filing Form I-765, you can request the replacement at the same time through the Enumeration Beyond Entry program. The new card arrives by mail within 7 to 10 business days after you receive your EAD or green card.12Social Security Administration. How Do I Change My Work Status on My Social Security Card?
If you didn’t include the request on your I-765, visit your local Social Security office after your new document arrives. Bring the original EAD or green card along with proof of identity. SSA does not accept photocopies or notarized copies.12Social Security Administration. How Do I Change My Work Status on My Social Security Card?
Getting Records of Your Past Status
The card itself is useless for work, but the records behind it can matter when you’re building an immigration case that depends on a full status history. If you’ve lost your I-688B or need official proof of past status, request your file from USCIS through a Freedom of Information Act or Privacy Act request. The fastest route is the online portal at uscis.gov/foia. You can also mail Form G-639. When completing the form, select “Information from your own immigration record” and list the specific documents you need; targeted requests are processed faster than broad file requests.13U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Form G-639, Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request
Can You Use It for Identification?
No. An I-688B is not a REAL ID-compliant document, and REAL ID has been required since May 2025 for boarding domestic flights and entering federal buildings.14USAGov. How to Get a REAL ID and Use It for Travel State DMVs require current, unexpired immigration documents when issuing driver’s licenses, so an expired I-688B won’t work there either. For any official identification purpose, you need a current Form I-766 or a Permanent Resident Card.