Receipts

Sometimes, employees will present a "receipt" in place of a List A, B, or C document. An acceptable receipt is valid for a short period of time so you can complete Section 2 or Section B, Reverification and Rehire of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. You cannot accept receipts if employment will last less than 3 days.

You can only accept these receipts:

• A receipt showing that your employee has applied to replace a List A, B, or C document that was lost, stolen, or damaged.

This receipt is valid for 90 days from the date of hire (meaning, first day of work for pay) or in the case of reverification, 90 days from the date employment authorization expired. Within 90 days, the employee should show you the replacement document for which the receipt was given. However, this is not always possible due to document delays, changes in status, or other factors.

If the employee does not present the original document for which the previously provided receipt was issued but presents, within the 90-day period, other facially valid and reasonably related documentation to demonstrate his or her identity and/or employment authorization, as applicable, you may accept such documentation. In such cases, you should complete a new Section 2 and attach it to the original Form I-9. In addition, you should provide a note of explanation either in the Additional Information box included on page 2 of the Form I-9 or as a separate attachment.

An employee must provide one document from List A or one document each from both List B and List C. If the receipt is for a List A document but the employee cannot present the actual replacement List A document for which the receipt was issued by the end of the 90-day receipt period, then the employee may choose to present a different document from List A, or one document each from List B and List C to satisfy the Form I-9 requirements. If the receipt is for a List B document but the employee cannot present the actual document by the end of the 90-day receipt period, then the employee may choose to present a document from List A instead, or a different List B document to satisfy the Form I-9 requirements. (Similarly, if the receipt is for a List C document, and the employee does not provide the actual document, the employee can present a List A document or another List C document instead.)

• The arrival portion of Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) containing a temporary Form I-551 (otherwise known as the Alien Documentation, Identification and Telecommunication (ADIT) stamp and a photograph of the individual                                      

Lawful permanent residents may present this List A receipt instead of their Form I-551, permanent resident cards to show evidence of both identity and employment authorization. This receipt is valid until the expiration date on the stamp, or 1 year after the issuance date if the stamp does not contain an expiration date. When it expires, your employee must provide their permanent resident card.

• Departure portion of Form I-94 with a refugee admission stamp or computer-generated printout of Form I-94 with admission code “RE”

A refugee may present this List A receipt to show evidence of both identity and employment authorization. This receipt is valid for 90 days from the date of hire or in the case of reverification, 90 days from the date employment authorization expired. When the receipt expires, your employee must show the employer either Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document or a combination of a List B document and an unrestricted Social Security card.

• Unexpired Form I-94 that contains a class of admission of "OAR," or
• Unexpired Form I-94 that contains a class of admission of "PAR" and indicates Afghanistan as country of citizenship on the document.

Employees whose unexpired Form I-94 contains a class of admission described above may present it as an acceptable List A receipt that temporarily shows identity and work authorization for Form I-9. This receipt is valid for 90 days (or when the I-94 expires, if less) from date of hire or, for reverification, the date employment authorization expires. When the receipt expires, your employee must show you either an unexpired Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD), or a combination of a List B document and a List C unrestricted Social Security card.

When your  employee provides an acceptable receipt for initial verification, you should:

• Enter the word “Receipt” followed by the document title in Section 2 under List A, B or C, as applicable. 

After the receipt expires, you should:

• Cross out the word “Receipt;” 

• Record in the Additional Information field in Section 2 the document information from the documentation presented; and 

• Initial and date the change. 

If the employee presented different but acceptable documentation for a lost, stolen or damaged document:

• Complete a new Section 2 and attach it to the original Form I-9. 

• In the Additional Information box, explain the reason documentation other than the replacement document was presented

  • For example, document delays, changes in status, or other factors.

• Sign and date the note. 

You may not accept a second receipt at the end of the initial receipt validity period.