Which Documents are Eligible for USCIS’s 2 Forms of ID?

Under federal law, every employer is required to fill the I-9 form, to verify their identity and their authorization to work. With that in mind, the employee needs to provide the identification information necessary, working together with their employer to get the paperwork in order.

With all the documents necessary to get your employment paperwork in order, it might get rather confusing at some point. For example, what are the 2 forms of ID that need to be provided? Are there any documents that must be provided alongside them? This article will bring you down to the basics. 

Why Are 2 Forms of ID Required to Submit an I-9 Form?

There is a very good reason why one may be required to send in two forms of ID. The first one is to establish your identity. You must be able to show who you are – that you are a citizen or resident on a visa in the United States. 

With that in mind, even if someone can prove they are an actual person or a resident, they are not always fit for work. This is why the second form of ID is required – the one that establishes your employment authorization. 

What Are the Acceptable Forms of ID?

USCIS has 3 lists of forms that contain acceptable documents. The first list establishes both your identity and your authorization for employment. The second establishes only your identity, whereas the third tackles your work permit. 

Depending on where you are planning to work, you might have to submit one, or a combination of more of those lists. Here are the documents on each list. 

List A

The documents found on List A will establish both your identity and your employment authorization. If you present List A as an acceptable form of ID, then you won’t have to present any other lists or documents. 

List A combines at least 2 documents, depending on the paperwork available and the person presenting them. Regardless of the number of documents, as long as both purposes are fulfilled, all presented documents will count as a single List A document.

That being said, here are the documents that you will have to present as a part of List A:

U.S. Passport or Passport Card

The original passport or passport card must be provided. A certified copy may also be presented in the absence of the document.

Alien Registration Receipt Card or Permanent Resident Card with Form I-551 

Depending on the time of issuing, the passport card may have a different design. Some may have a signature, some may not. Some may have the “waived signature” notation. Make sure that the document ivalid before presenting it. 

Employment Authorization Document Card with Form I-766

Using form I-766, the U.S. government will issue an employment authorization card. Different versions may be available, depending on whether it was released before or after May 1st, 2017. Both are accepted, as long as their date shows they are valid. 

Foreign Passport Associated with Forms I-96 or I-96A

If you have a foreign passport, then you will need to associate it with form I-96 or I-96A – i.e., your Arrival-Departure Record. This document is to be used in a valid period of endorsement, and it needs to have the same name as the one on your U.S. passport. 

FSM or RMI Passports with Forms I-94 or I-94A

If you have a passport from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) or the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), then you will need to present them with form I-94 or I-94A as well. This will show the non-immigrant admission between the two areas.

Foreign Passport with Form I-551 Printed Notation or Stamp

A foreign passport may be presented with a Form I-551 printed notation or Form I-551 Stamp. Bear in mind that this document may be subjected to re-verification. 

List B

The documents on List B will only deal with your identity. If the employee chooses to present List B, they will also need to present List C as well. The latter is needed to establish your employment authorization. Here are the documents that are part of List B:

Driver’s License

In most cases, a Driver’s license is a standard way of establishing your identity – with the condition that it has been issued on the territory of the United States. 

Other forms of identification may be presented as well, under the condition that they have a photograph and other personal information. This includes your name, address, birth date, height, gender, and eye color. 

With that in mind, here are the other types of documentation that you may want to present alongside or in absence of a driver’s license. 

• School ID that includes a photograph
• ID card released by a state, local or federal government 
• U.S. draft record or military card
• Voter’s registration card
• Native American tribal ID documentation
• U.S. Coast Guard MMD card
• Military dependent ID card, for those who are considered immediate family
• Driver’s license that was issued by the Canadian government

Alternative Documentation 

If the individual is under 18 years of age, then they may use the following documents as well to establish their identity. 

• Hospital, doctor, or clinic records
• A school report card or record
• Nursery school or daycare records

If the person in question is a minor or has a certain disability, special notations were made in List C. This is helpful in case the person in question cannot produce any of the documents mentioned above. For more help, you may want to contact the USCIS service center in your area.

List C 

List C only handles the employment authorization. However, if you decide to present the documents in List C, then you will have to present List B as well. Depending on your possibilities, you might want to provide at least one of the following documents: 

• Unrestricted US Social Security Card account number. Laminated cards are allowed. For the card to be permitted as a List C document, it needs to specify that it is valid for employment and can work with both INS and DHS authorization. It also needs to specify the same name as your ID. 
• Form FS-240, also referred to as “Consular Report of Birth Abroad.”
• Form FS-545, also going under the name of “Certification of Birth Abroad.”
• Form I-179, also known as “Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States.”
• Native American Tribal Document.
• Form DS-1350, also referred to as the “Certification of Report of Birth.”
• Birth certificate issued by the United States or an outlying territory. A certified copy may be provided as well.
• Form I-197, also referred to as the U.S. Citizen Identification Card.
• Authorization for employment issued by the DHS (Department of Homeland Security).

All of these documents have to be issued under the Department of State for the U.S. 

Read More

• How Do I Speak to a Live Person at USCIS?
• How Many Citizenships Can You Have?
• How Do I Know Which USCIS Service Center?
• How Do I Know If USCIS Received My Application?
• What “Country of Residence” and How to Know Yours When on a Visa
• How to Check Dropbox Eligibility with the App

The Bottom Line

Both forms of ID must be provided in order to be employed. This applies to both citizens in the United States, as well as the people who are there on a visa. To be sure that no documents are left out, you might also want to discuss matters with your immigration attorney. This way, you will ensure that the process goes smoothly and with as few delays as possible.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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