Working in the United States without a work permit (Form I-765) can put an individual’s green card application in jeopardy. Penalties for working without authorization include being banned from entering the United States for anywhere between three and ten years. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) forgives unauthorized work only in very specific situations — for instance, a spouse of a U.S. citizen who worked without a work permit will not be barred from receiving a green card. Learn more here about the consequences of working without authorization.