ORDER YOUR BIRTH CERTIFICATE ONLINE
If you are looking for a job in the U.S., you will need to provide prospective employers with several documents that go beyond your resume and cover letter.
In fact, if you do not prove your identity and right to work in the United States, companies will not be able to hire you, no matter how impressed they were during your job interview. This applies to first-time applicants and seasoned professionals looking for a new challenge alike.
You can use several documents as proof of identity and employment authorization in the U.S. Keep reading this article to find out which ones you will need and how to get them.
All workers in the U.S. need these documents in order to be hired successfully. As explained, it does not matter how long you have been in the workforce for, you should keep your proof of ID and employment authorization at hand.
It is not mandatory to walk into the interview with a printed copy of these documents, although some candidates prefer to do so. Usually, once a job offer is made, the HR department will ask you to provide them.
However, it is strongly recommended to obtain certified copies of your vital records and other documents beforehand so that there are no delays and issues with your new contract.
All employers must complete Form I-9 for each professional they wish to hire in the United States, whether the prospective employee is a U.S. citizen or not. Employees must complete a copy of their form too.
Form I-9 is used to verify an individual’s identity and eligibility to work. The form must be accompanied by acceptable supporting I-9 documents.
I-9 documents are divided into 3 lists of acceptable documentation according to what they can prove and whether they can be used alone as evidence. The lists are issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service. Keep reading to find the 3 complete lists below.
Documents on list A serve a double purpose as they can be used as proof of ID as well as evidence of employment authorization.
This means that, unless instructed otherwise, providing just one the following will be enough for you to meet the I-9 verification requirements:
I-9 documents in list B serve as proof of identity but do not verify the eligibility for employment in the U.S.
If you are under 18 years of age, you can prove your identity with one of the following:
I-9 documents featured in list C represent proof of employment eligibility:
Since individuals must prove both their identity and right to work in the United States, those who provide an item on list C must also supply a list-B item and vice versa.
No, it is not advisable to use a short-form birth certificate as proof of employment eligibility. Short-form birth certificates (also known as informational birth certificates) vary depending on state law but are often an abstract of the original certificate that does not include detailed information about its holder.
A long-form birth certificate is the original document or a certified copy which includes all information necessary on a birth certificate.
Although some states accept short-form birth certificates to establish legal proof of identity and/or citizenship, it is best to obtain an official birth certificate as an I-9 verification document.