Can employees use the new U.S. Passport Card for I-9 proof of employment eligibility?
Last month the US Department of State began
issuing a U.S. Passport Card that can be used for limited travel. The Passport Card cannot be used throughout
the world but can be used for traveling by land or sea to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This
card was designed to be cheaper and more portable than a regular passport.
The U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS)
recently issued a press release stating that the Passport Card can be used for
a “List A” document on the I-9. List A
documents establish identity and work authorization. When an employee provides one of these documents
they do not have present List B and List C items.
When you fill out the I-9 form don’t forget
to put all of the information on the correct lines. Don’t write “new passport” for Document title
under List A. Do write, “U.S. Passport
Card” and then complete the line for Issuing authority with U.S. Department of
State. The Document # and Expiration
date can be found on the card for completion of the next 2 lines on the I-9
form.
You
will find a more detailed explanation of the I-9 process in; Do you have
correct I-9 forms for all of your employees?
For details about filling out I-9 forms in Spanish read, Can new
employees fill out the I-9 form in Spanish?
USCIS has information about the I-9 process on its website www.uscis.gov.
You can also call the USCIS National
Center at (800) 375-5283.
