Page 47 - Handbook for Employers - Guidance for Completing Form I-9
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any document (from List A) or combination
of documents (one from List B and one from 8. Q. My employee has presented a U.S. passport
List C) listed on Form I-9 and found in Part card. Is this an acceptable document?
Eight of this handbook that reasonably appear A. Yes. The passport card is a wallet-size document
on their face to be genuine and to relate to the issued by the U .S. Department of State. While
person presenting them. To do otherwise could its permissible uses for international travel
be an unfair immigration-related employment are more limited than the U .S. passport book,
practice in violation of the anti-discrimination the passport card is a fully valid passport that
provision in the INA. Individuals who look attests to the U.S. citizenship and identity of the
and/or sound foreign must not be treated bearer. As such, the passport card is considered
differently in the recruiting, hiring, or a “passport” for purposes of Form I-9 and
verification process. Please see Part Eight of this has been included on List A of the Lists of
handbook for more information on acceptable Acceptable Documents on Form I-9.
documents.
9. Q. Why was documentation for citizens of the
For more information relating to Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) and the
discrimination during the Form I-9 process, Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) added
contact IER at 1-800-255-8155 (employers) or to the Lists of Acceptable Documents on Form
1-800-237-2515 (TDD) or visit IER’s I-9?
website at justice.gov/ier.
NOTE: An employer participating in E-Verify A. Under the Compacts of Free Association be-
can only accept a List B document with a tween the United States and FSM and RMI,
photograph. most citizens of FSM and RMI are eligible
to reside and work in the United States as
nonimmigrants. An amendment to the Compacts
7. Q. What is my responsibility concerning the eliminated the need for citizens of these two
authenticity of document(s) presented to countries to obtain Employment Authorization
me? Documents (Forms I-766) to work in the
A. You must physically examine the document(s), United States. However, FSM and RMI citizens
and if they reasonably appear on their face to be may also apply for Employment Authorization
genuine and to relate to the person presenting Documents (Forms I-766) if they wish, or
them, you must accept them. To do otherwise present a combination of List B and List C
could be an unfair immigration-related documents. The List A document specific to FSM
employment practice. If the document(s) and RMI citizens is a valid FSM or RMI passport
do not reasonably appear on their face to be with a Form I-94/Form I-94A indicating
genuine or to relate to the person presenting nonimmigrant admission under one of the
them, you must not accept them. Compacts.
However, you must provide the employee with
an opportunity to present other documents
from the Lists of Acceptable Documents.
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