This page is general information, not legal advice. Match your actual documents and status to USCIS’s acceptable-document list.
Quick summary: For Form I-9, USCIS distinguishes List A evidence of both identity and employment authorization from List B plus List C evidence. A qualifying List A entry can consist of more than one document; a driver’s license alone supplies identity, and a restricted Social Security card is not acceptable List C evidence.
This guide covers the documents you present to an employer. For applying for an employment authorization card, see the I-765 work-permit guide.
Choose the correct document combination
The USCIS acceptable-document list gives the following examples. This table is a selection, not the complete list.
| Documents | List | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| US passport or passport card | A | Listed as evidence of identity and employment authorization |
| Permanent Resident Card, Form I-551 | A | Check validity; an earlier card design is not by itself invalid |
| Employment Authorization Document with a photograph, Form I-766 | A | Valid until the card’s expiration date unless an automatic extension is indicated on a Form I-797 or in a Federal Register notice; an earlier card design is not by itself invalid |
| Foreign passport containing temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa | A | The stamp or notation is part of the listed document |
| Foreign passport plus qualifying Form I-94/I-94A | A | Same name; unexpired endorsement of nonimmigrant status and employer-specific work authorization; proposed work must comply with restrictions |
| Qualifying driver’s license plus unrestricted US Social Security card | B plus C | License establishes identity; unrestricted card establishes employment authorization |
For the passport-and-I-94 route, USCIS warns that certain nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors need additional documentation. Do not apply the abbreviated table without reading the conditions for your status.
Read the Social Security card restrictions
USCIS lists an unrestricted US Social Security card under List C and says the card must not be laminated. It excludes cards carrying any of these notations:
- NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT
- VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION
- VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION
A List C document must be paired with List B identity evidence. USCIS says an acceptable List A document establishes both and the employee should not be asked to present another document.
Check validity and replacement receipts separately
USCIS explains that a newer green-card or EAD design does not automatically invalidate the earlier design. Its page says both designs remain valid until the expiration date on the card unless an automatic extension is indicated on a Form I-797, Notice of Action, or in a Federal Register notice; some green cards issued through January 2021 may carry a USCIS sticker extending validity to the date shown. Check the applicable rule for the particular document rather than assigning an extension from its appearance.
The page lists receipts for replacement of lost, stolen or damaged documents as temporary alternatives in specified circumstances and refers readers to its employer handbook for validity dates. This guide does not assign a duration to those receipts.
If the issue is an E-Verify mismatch, use the separate E-Verify and two-surnames guide. For other document tasks, see the diaspora hub.
Sources
- USCIS: Form I-9 acceptable documents, read 31 October 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need List B and List C documents if I present List A?
USCIS says employees presenting an acceptable List A document should not be asked for another document. Some List A entries require a combination of documents.
Does a driver's license prove work authorization?
USCIS places qualifying driver’s licenses in List B, which establishes identity only. A worker using List B must also present a List C document.
Can I use a restricted Social Security card for List C?
No. USCIS excludes cards marked NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT, VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION, or VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION.
Is a foreign passport by itself the listed document?
No. The USCIS foreign-passport entries require additional evidence: a temporary I-551 stamp or notation, or a qualifying I-94/I-94A combination with applicable work authorization and restrictions.
