Every new employee in the U.S. must complete Form I-9 to confirm their identity and that they are allowed to work. For Section 2, you show your employer original documents. The rule is simple: bring one document from List A, or one from List B plus one from List C. You choose which acceptable documents to show; your employer cannot ask for specific ones.
Remote new hire? PDX Fingerprinting can act as your employer’s authorized representative and complete Section 2 in person at our Hillsboro, Beaverton or Lake Oswego office. I-9 verification is $50. Book an appointment online.
List A: identity and work authorization (one document)
- U.S. passport or U.S. passport card
- Permanent Resident Card (“green card”, Form I-551)
- Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
- Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa
- Foreign passport with Form I-94 showing work authorization, for certain nonimmigrant workers
List B: identity only (pair with List C)
- Driver’s license or state ID card with a photo or identifying information
- School ID card with a photo
- Voter registration card
- U.S. military card or draft record
- Native American tribal document
- For minors under 18 only: school record, report card or a doctor’s or hospital record
List C: work authorization only (pair with List B)
- Social Security card without restrictions such as “Not valid for employment”
- Certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate issued by a state, county or city
- Certification of Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240, FS-545 or DS-1350)
- Native American tribal document
- U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197) or ID Card for Use of Resident Citizen (Form I-179)
- Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security
This is a summary. The full and current list is on the last page of Form I-9 and on the USCIS I-9 Central website.
Common mistakes
- Photocopies: documents must be originals. A certified birth certificate is an original; a photocopy is not.
- Expired documents: List A and B documents must be unexpired.
- Restricted Social Security cards: a card marked “Valid for work only with DHS authorization” is not acceptable as List C.
- E-Verify employers: a List B document must include a photo.
- Name mismatches: if your name changed, bring the document that links the names, or ask your employer how to handle it.
How an authorized representative works
- Your employer sends you Form I-9 and tells you who may act as their representative.
- You complete Section 1 on or before your first day of work.
- You visit the representative in person with your original documents.
- The representative examines the documents, completes and signs Section 2, and returns the form as your employer instructs.
An authorized representative is not a notary act. The I-9 is not notarized; the representative signs on behalf of your employer. Your employer remains responsible for the form.
Related services
Frequently asked questions
Can my employer ask for a specific document?
No. You choose which acceptable documents to show. Asking for specific documents can be discrimination.
Can I use a receipt instead of a document?
In some cases, such as a receipt for a lost or stolen document, a receipt is acceptable for a limited time. Your employer will tell you if it applies.
Does the I-9 need to be notarized?
No. Notarization is not part of the I-9 process. A notary can serve as an authorized representative, but acts as the employer’s agent, not as a notary.
When must Section 2 be completed?
Within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of work.
