New Passport Card Acceptable Form of Employment Eligibility Verification  Posted Sep 12, 2008
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The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on August 8, 2008 that the newly created U.S. passport card may be used in the employment eligibility verification process. According to the U.S. Department of State (DOS) WebSite, the first passport cards went into production on July 14, 2008. Long-time readers of MurthyDotCom and the MurthyBulletin may recall an earlier discussion of the card (then called a PASS card) included in our NewsBrief from October 27, 2006 entitled, Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Update.
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Passport Card Acceptable for Form I-9
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As the USCIS's press release indicates, the U.S. passport card is considered proof of a person's U.S. citizenship, identity, and suitable for employment eligibility. This is because the passport card is only available to U.S. citizens and bears a picture and biographic information of the card holder.
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Uses for Form I-9 and the E-Verify Program
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The passport card is considered a "List A" document for Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) purposes. Newly hired employees, therefore, may present the card during the employment eligibility verification process to prove both their identity and work authorization status. Employers participating in the E-Verify program may also accept the passport card for I-9 purposes. Extensive coverage of the E-Verify program can be found in our July 18, 2008 article, Why is the E-Verify Program Important for an Employer to Join? Common Questions Answered.
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Limited Use for International Travel
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Passport cards may be used at U.S. land and sea ports-of-entry by U.S. citizens returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda. These cards may not be used for international air travel.
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Conclusion
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We at the Murthy Law Firm appreciate the information provided by the USCIS and DOS on the use of U.S. passport cards for both travel and employment eligibility verification purposes. We will continue to monitor developments in the uses and circumstances surrounding the passport card, Form I-9, and E-Verify programs, to inform MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers.