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Book outline for Handbook for Employers M-274
  • Handbook for Employers M-274
    • 1.0 Why Employers Must Verify Employment Authorization and Identity of New Employees
    • 2.0 Who Must Complete Form I-9
    • 3.0 Completing Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation
    • 4.0 Completing Section 2: Employer Review and Verification
    • 5.0 Automatic Extensions of Employment Authorization and/or Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) in Certain Circumstances
    • 6.0 Completing Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire of Form I-9
    • 7.0 Evidence of Employment Authorization for Certain Categories
    • 8.0 Rules for Continuing Employment and Other Special Rules
    • 9.0 Correcting Errors or Missing Information on Form I-9
    • 10.0 Retaining Form I-9
    • 11.0 Unlawful Discrimination and Penalties for Prohibited Practices
    • 12.0 Instructions for Agricultural Recruiters and Referrers for a Fee
    • 13.0 Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity
      • 13.1 List A Documents That Establish Identity and Employment Authorization
      • 13.2 List B Documents That Establish Identity
      • 13.3 List C Documents That Establish Employment Authorization
    • 14.0 Some Questions You May Have About Form I-9
    • Appendix A: Common Abbreviations for Document Entry in Section 2
    • Summary of Changes
    • Table of Contents
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  1. Home
  2. Handbook for Employers M-274

13.3 List C Documents That Establish Employment Authorization

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

1. U.S. Social Security Card

U.S. Social Security account number card that is unrestricted. A laminated card is acceptable. A card that includes any of the following restrictive wording is not an acceptable List C document:

  1. NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT
  2. VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION
  3. VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION
Picture of a Sample Social Security Card
2. Certification of report of birth issued by the Department of State (Forms DS-1350, FS-545, FS-240)

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.

F-545, Certification of Birth Abroad, issued by the U.S. Department of State

Image of Certificate of Birth Abroad FS 545

DS-1350, Certification of Report of Birth, issued by the U.S. Department of State

Image of a form DS-1350 Birth Abroad Certificate

FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, issued by the U.S. Department of State

Image of a Form FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad
3. Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by a State, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal

You may only accept 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. Versions will vary by state and year of birth.

You may only accept a Puerto Rico birth certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010.

Birth Certificate

Image of a sample United States birth certificate

 

4. Native American tribal document

Example images not available.

5. U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Sample of Form I-197, U.S. Citizen ID Card
6. Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)

INS issued Forms I-179 to U.S. citizens who are residents of the United States. This card does not contain an expiration date, and is valid indefinitely.

Form I-179, Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States

Image of a Form I-179, Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States

 

7. Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Some employment authorization documents issued by DHS include but are not limited to:

  • Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record issued to asylees or work-authorized nonimmigrants (for example, H-1B nonimmigrants) because of their immigration status,
Form I-94
sample for I-94A
  • Form I-571, Refugee Travel Document (PDF),
Sample of a Form I-571 Refugee Travel Document
  • An unexpired Form I-327, Reentry Permit,
Form I-327, Reentry Permit
  • Form N-560, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Form N-561, Replacement Certificate of Citizenship, or
Sample N-560
  • Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization or Form N-570, Replacement Certificate of Naturalization.
Sample Certificate of Naturalization

A Form I-797 issued to a conditional resident may be an acceptable List C document in combination with an expired Form I-551.

The Form I-9 contact center can assist with questions on DHS-issued documents.

Acceptable Receipts 

Receipt for a replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged List C document may be presented in lieu of a document listed above for a temporary period. 

For receipt validity dates, see the  M-274, Section 4.4 Acceptable Receipts.

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Last Reviewed/Updated: 03/08/2024
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