13.3 List C Documents That Establish Employment Authorization
The illustrations do not reflect the actual size of the documents.
U.S. Social Security account number card that is unrestricted. A laminated card is acceptable. A card that includes any of the following restrictive wording is not an acceptable List C document:
- NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT
- VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION
- VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION
These documents may vary in color and paper used. All will include a raised seal of the office that issued the document, and may contain a watermark and raised printing.
F-545, Certification of Birth Abroad, issued by the U.S. Department of State
DS-1350, Certification of Report of Birth, issued by the U.S. Department of State
FS-240, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, issued by the U.S. Department of State
You may only accept an original or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possession of the United States that bears an official seal. Versions will vary by state and year of birth.
You may only accept a Puerto Rico birth certificate issued on or after July 1, 2010.
Birth Certificate
Example images not available.
INS issued Forms I-179 to U.S. citizens who are residents of the United States. This card does not contain an expiration date, and is valid indefinitely.
Form I-179, Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States
Some employment authorization documents issued by DHS include but are not limited to:
- Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record issued to asylees or work-authorized nonimmigrants (for example, H-1B nonimmigrants) because of their immigration status,
- An unexpired Form I-327, Reentry Permit,
- Form N-560, Certificate of U.S. Citizenship or Form N-561, Replacement Certificate of Citizenship (PDF, 40.3 KB), or
- Form N-550, Certificate of Naturalization or Form N-570, Replacement Certificate of Naturalization (PDF, 176.3 KB).
A Form I-797 issued to a conditional resident may be an acceptable List C document in combination with an expired Form I-551.
The Form I-9 contact center can assist with questions on DHS-issued documents.
Receipt for a replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged List C document may be presented in lieu of a document listed above for a temporary period.
For receipt validity dates, see the M-274, Section 4.4 Acceptable Receipts.