Employees must produce proof of identity and work authorization within a few days of starting a new job.
Under the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act, new employees must present proof that they are legally authorized to work in the United States. When you take a new job, you are required to fill out the employee's section of USCIS Form I-9 by the end of your first day on the job. You then have three business days to present your new employer with documents proving that:
you are who you say you are, and
you are legally authorized to work in the United States.
If you use forged, counterfeit, or altered documents to prove your identification or authorization to work, you may be fined and even imprisoned.
In This Article
When One Document Is Sufficient
When Two Documents Are Required
When One Document Is Sufficient
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly the INS) periodically updates the list of documents sufficient to prove both identity and eligibility to be employed in the United States. Any one of the following documents is sufficient, on its own, to meet the requirements:
an unexpired United States passport
an unexpired foreign passport with an I-551 stamp
an alien registration receipt card or permanent resident card
an unexpired employment authorization card
an unexpired employment authorization document, issued by USCIS, which contains a photograph, or
an unexpired foreign passport with Form I-94 containing an endorsem*nt of nonimmigrant status.
When Two Documents Are Required
An employee who does not have one of the documents listed above must produce two documents: one establishing that he or she is authorized to work in the United States and another verifying identity.
To prove employment authorization, USCIS will accept:
a Social Security card
a U.S. birth or birth abroad certificate
a Native American tribal document
a U.S. citizen ID card
a resident citizen ID card, or
unexpired employment authorization documents issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
As proof of identity, USCIS will accept:
a current U.S. or Canadian driver's license that contains a photograph or description of personal characteristics
a federal, state, or local identification card with a photograph on it
a school ID card with a photograph
a voter's registration card
a U.S. military card or draft record
a military dependent's ID card
a U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner card, or
a Native American tribal document.
For workers age 16 and younger, USCIS considers a school report card, daycare or nursery school record, or a hospital record (such as a birth certificate) acceptable as proof of identity.
CAUTION
Your employer may copy and keep the forms. Your new employer is required to note the type of documents you produce and any expiration dates on your Form I-9. Although employers are not required to photocopy such documents, they have the right to do so. If they do, the copies must be kept on file with your Form I-9.
To learn more about immigrant documentation, see Nolo's Immigration Law section.
You do not need to be a permanent resident to get a work permit, but you need to have an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa that allows you to live and work in the United States. DACA recipients can also get work permits. It costs $410 –$495 to apply for a work permit and takes 2-7 months to get one.
If you live outside the United States and want to work here, you generally must apply for a visa from the U.S. Department of State (DOS), unless a visa is not required for people from your country of nationality. You may visit DOS' Travel Without a Visa page for more information.
Nonimmigrant visa holders are typically required to have a work permit (EAD) before being hired to work in the U.S. In most cases, lawful or conditional permanent residents and nonimmigrants authorized to work in the U.S. for a specific employer may not need a work permit.
Most employers require at least a bachelor's or master's degree from the candidates. Skills and work experience: Some job roles may require additional qualifications and skills. So, check the job requirements carefully before applying. Health requirements: It is mandatory to submit a medical certificate for work visas.
An individual's work authorization, or employment eligibility, refers to his or her legal right to work in the United States. U.S. citizens, born or naturalized, are always authorized to work in the United States, while foreign citizens may be authorized if they have an immigration status that allows them to work.
Unlike many other countries, practicing law in the US requires an advanced JD or similar degree (so, three years of schooling on top of a four-year bachelor's degree in the USA). Students who know they want to pursue a law career in the future will often study pre-law in undergrad.
Typically, individuals are legally authorized to work in a country if they are citizens of that country, or if they have other status that grants them permission to work. If you're currently legally permitted to work in the country, select Yes.
Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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