What Do I Need For My I9 Form?

To complete your I-9 form, which is used to verify your eligibility to work in the United States, you’ll need to fill out specific sections and provide documentation that establishes both your identity and your authorization to work. Here’s a breakdown of what you need:

Table of Contents

1. Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation

You, as the employee, must complete this section on or before your first day of employment. The following information is required:

Personal Information: Full legal name, address, date of birth, and optional fields for your email address and phone number.
Citizenship or Immigration Status: You must attest to one of the following:
1. U.S. Citizen
2. Noncitizen National of the U.S.
3. Lawful Permanent Resident (Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number required)
4. Alien authorized to work (Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number or I-94 Admission Number, expiration date of work authorization, and passport number if applicable)
Signature and Date: You must sign and date this section, confirming the information provided is accurate.
Preparer/Translator Certification (if applicable): If someone helps you fill out the form, they must sign this part.

2. Section 2: Employer Review and Verification

Your employer is responsible for completing Section 2 within three business days of your start date. You will need to provide one of the following document combinations to establish your identity and work authorization:

Option 1: One Document from List A

List A documents establish both identity and employment authorization. Examples include:

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a photograph (Form I-766)
Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or I-94/Admission number

Option 2: One Document from List B and One from List C

List B Documents (Identity): Examples include:
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by a state
- School ID card with a photograph
- U.S. Military card or draft record
List C Documents (Employment Authorization): Examples include:
- Social Security card (unless it is marked “Not Valid for Employment”)
- Birth certificate issued by a U.S. state, county, or municipality
- Native American tribal document

3. Original, Unexpired Documents

You must present original, unexpired documents for your employer to physically examine. Photocopies or expired documents are generally not accepted, except for certain cases specified by USCIS.

4. Employer’s Role

Your employer will review and verify the authenticity of the documents you provide. They will complete Section 2 by recording the document information (title, issuing authority, number, and expiration date) and certify that the documents appear genuine. The employer will also sign and date this section.

5. Section 3: Reverification and Rehires (if applicable)

If your work authorization expires or if you’re rehired within three years of the initial I-9 completion, your employer will need to complete Section 3 to verify that you remain authorized to work.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your I-9 form is correctly completed, verifying your eligibility to work in the U.S.