What Forms of ID are Needed For I9?

For completing the I-9 form, which is required to verify the identity and employment authorization of employees in the United States, employees must present specific forms of identification. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides a list of acceptable documents, divided into three categories: List A, List B, and List C. Employees have the option to present one document from List A, or a combination of one document from List B and one from List C.

Table of Contents

List A: Documents that Establish Both Identity and Employment Authorization

A document from List A proves both identity and authorization to work. Examples include:

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that contains a photograph (Form I-766)
Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa
Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the United States and the FSM or RMI

List B: Documents that Establish Identity Only

If an employee does not present a List A document, they must provide one document from List B for identity and one document from List C for employment authorization. List B documents include:

Driver’s license or ID card issued by any U.S. state or outlying possession
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies, provided it includes a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
School ID card with a photograph
Voter’s registration card
U.S. Military card or draft record
Military dependent’s ID card

List C: Documents that Establish Employment Authorization Only

When using a List B document for identity, an employee also needs to provide a document from List C that verifies their authorization to work in the U.S. Examples include:

Social Security card issued by the Social Security Administration (other than a card stating it is not valid for employment)
Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545)
Certification of Report of Birth issued by the Department of State (Form DS-1350)
Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the U.S. bearing an official seal
Native American tribal document

Important Notes:

Originals Required: Employees must present original documents; photocopies or expired documents are not accepted (with some exceptions for certain expired documents as specified by USCIS).
Freedom of Choice: Employees have the right to choose which documents to present from the lists provided. Employers cannot specify which documents they will accept, as long as the documents meet the legal requirements.
Physical Examination Required: Employers are required to physically examine each document to ensure that they are genuine and relate to the employee presenting them.

These requirements ensure that both the identity and employment eligibility of workers are appropriately verified, complying with federal regulations and maintaining legal work practices.