I-9 Document Examples

List "A" Document Examples

The illustrations provided do not necessarily reflect the actual size of the documents.

 

U.S. PASSPORT

The U.S. Department of State issues the U.S. passport to U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals. There are a small number of versions still in circulation that may differ from the main versions shown here.

 

U.S. PASSPORT CARD

The U.S. Department of State began producing the passport card in July 2008. The passport card is a wallet- size card that can only be used for land and sea travel between the United States and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.

 

PASSPORT CARD FRONT AND BACK

 

Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

On May 1, 2017 USCIS began issuing a redesigned Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551 (also known as the “Green Card”). The card contains the bearer’s photo on the front and back, name, USCIS number, date of birth, card expiration date and laser engraved fingerprint. The new card does not have a signature or an optical stripe on the back. Some Permanent Resident Cards issued after May, 1 2017 may display the previous design format. Both the new and previous versions of the Permanent Resident Card remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card.

 

CURRENT PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD (FORM I-551) FRONT AND BACK

Another older version of the Permanent Resident Card shows the DHS seal and contains a detailed hologram on the front of the card. Each card is personalized with an etching showing the bearer’s photo, name, fingerprint, date of birth, alien registration number, card expiration date, and card number.

Also in circulation are older Resident Alien cards, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, which do not have expiration dates and are valid indefinitely. These cards are peach in color and contain the bearer’s fingerprint and photograph.

 

Foreign Passport with I-551 Stamp or MRIV

USCIS uses either an I-551 stamp or a temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV) to denote temporary evidence of lawful permanent residence. Sometimes, if no foreign passport is available, USCIS will place the I-551 stamp on a Form I-94 and affix a photograph of the bearer to the form. This document is considered a receipt.

 

TEMPORARY I-551 PRINTED NOTATION ON A MACHINE-READABLE IMMIGRANT VISA (MRIV)

The temporary Form I-551 MRIV is evidence of permanent resident status for one year from the date of admission.

 

EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION DOCUMENT (FORM I-766)

On May 1, 2017 USCIS began issuing a redesigned Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) EAD to certain individuals with temporary employment authorization to work in the United States. The card contains the bearer’s photograph on the front and back, name, USCIS number, card number, date of birth, laser-engraved fingerprint, and the card expiration date. Cards may contain one of the following notations above the expiration date: “Not Valid for Reentry to U.S.”, “Valid for Reentry to U.S.” or “Serves as I-512 Parole.”

Some EADs issued after May 1, 2017, may still display the previous design format. Both the existing and new EADs will remain valid until the expiration date shown on the card.

 

Current Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) with notation “NOT VALID FOR REENTRY TO U.S.” front and back

The older version of the Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) contains the bearer’s photograph, fingerprint, card number, Alien number, birth date, and signature, along with a holographic film and the DHS seal. The expiration date is located at the bottom of the card. Cards may contain one of the following notations above the expiration date: “Not Valid for Reentry to U.S.”, “Valid for Reentry to U.S.” or “Serves as I-512 Advance Parole.”

 

FORM I-20 ACCOMPANIED BY FORM I-94 OR FORM I-94A

Form I-94 or Form I-94A for F-1 nonimmigrant students must be accompanied by a Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Students, endorsed with employment authorization by the designated school official for curricular practical training. USCIS will issue an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766) to all students (F-1 and M-1) authorized for optional practical training (OPT).

 

FORM DS-2019 ACCOMPANIED BY FORM I-94 OR FORM I-94A

Nonimmigrant exchange visitors (J-1) must have a Form I-94 or Form I-94A accompanied by an unexpired Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, issued by the U.S. Department of State, that specifies the sponsor. J-1 exchange students also need a letter from their responsible officer authorizing their employment.

 

FORM I-94 OR FORM I-94A ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE RECORD

CBP and sometimes USCIS issue arrival-departure records to nonimmigrants. This document indicates the bearer’s immigration status, the date that the status was granted, and when the status expires. The immigration status notation within the stamp on the card varies according to the status granted, for example, L-1, F-1, J-1. Form I-94 can contain a handwritten date and status or be computer-generated. Form I-94A has a computer- generated date and status. Both may be presented with documents that Form I-9 specifies are valid only when Form I-94 or Form I-94A also is presented, such as the foreign passport, Form DS-2019, or Form I-20.

Form I-9 provides space for you to record the document number and expiration date for both the passport and Form I-94 or Form I-94A.

 

PASSPORT OF THE FEDERATED STATES OF MICRONESIA AND THE REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS

2003, Compacts of Free Association (CFA) between the United States and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) were amended to allow citizens of these countries to work in the United States without obtaining an Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766).

For Form I-9 purposes, citizens of these countries may present FSM or RMI passports accompanied by a Form I-94 or Form I94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the CFA, which are acceptable documents under List A. The exact notation on Form I-94 or Form I-94A may vary and is subject to change. The notation on Form I-94 or Form I-94A typically states “CFA/FSM” for an FSM citizen and “CFA/MIS” for an RMI citizen.

A driver’s license can be issued by any state or territory of the United States (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U .S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) or by a Canadian government authority, and is acceptable if it contains a photograph or other identifying information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address.

Some states may place restrictive notations on their drivers’ licenses. For Form I-9 purposes, these drivers’ licenses may be acceptable.

 

DRIVER’S LICENSE FROM MISSISSIPPI

 

 STATE-ISSUED ID CARD

An ID card can be issued by any state (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands) or local government. It is acceptable if it contains a photograph or other identifying information, such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address.

Some states may place restrictive notations on their ID cards. For Form I-9 purposes, these cards may be acceptable.

 

IDENTIFICATION CARD FROM MISSISSIPPI

 

LIST C DOCUMENTS THAT ESTABLISH EMPLOYMENT AUTHORIZATION

U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT NUMBER CARD

The U.S. Social Security account number card is issued by the Social Security Administration (older versions were issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) and can be presented as a List C document unless the card specifies that it does not authorize employment in the United States. Metal or plastic reproductions are not acceptable.

U.S. SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

Certifications of Birth Issued by the U.S. Department of State

These documents may vary in color and paper used. All will include a raised seal of the office that issued the document and may contain a watermark and raised printing.

CERTIFICATION OF BIRTH ABROAD ISSUED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (FS-545)

CERTIFICATION OF REPORT OF BIRTH ISSUED BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE (DS-1350)

  CONSULAR REPORT OF BIRTH ABROAD ISSUED BY THE U.S DEPARTMENT OF STATE (FS-240) 

BIRTH CERTIFICATE

Only an original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States that bears an official seal is acceptable. Versions will vary by state and year of birth.

Beginning October 31, 2010, only Puerto Rico birth certificates issued on or after July 1, 2010 are valid. Please check uscis.gov for guidance on the validity of Puerto Rico birth certificates for Form I-9 purposes.

U.S. CITIZEN IDENTIFICATION CARD (FORM I-197)

Form I-197 was issued by the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) to naturalized U.S. citizens. Although this card is no longer issued, it is valid indefinitely.

IDENTIFICATION CARD FOR USE OF RESIDENT CITIZEN IN THE UNITED STATES (I-179)

Form I-179 was issued by INS to U.S. citizens who are residents of the United States. Although this card is no longer issued, it is valid indefinitely.