It is essential these days to have proof of your immigration status in the United States. To avoid a lot of legal hassle, it is best to have proper immigration papers, documentation or proof of your legal status in case there is any contact with law enforcement or immigration officials. Not only that, immigration papers are quite important when buying a house, renewing your driver’s license or receiving government benefits.
If you want to work or drive or perform certain other activities in the US, then you must have your immigration papers. However, it can be confusing to make sense of different documents that serve different purposes. However, the one thing in common is that all documents must be valid and unexpired.
What Documentation Is Required for Employment in the United States?
The Immigration Reform and Control Act (ICRA) was enacted by Congress in 1986 as a way to control the problem of undocumented immigrants being employed by US employers. After ICRA, all US employers are required to verify the identity of their new employees to check if they are authorized to be employed in the US.
All employers must complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, when hiring a new employee to work in the US. Re-verification may also be required under certain conditions. To confirm authorization, foreign nationals can provide the List A document that verifies their identity and work authorization. Or they can submit List B documents to verify their identity and List C to prove work authorization.
List A documents include:
-
Employment Authorization card
-
I-551b stamp on your foreign passport
-
I-94 record and work endorsement with your foreign passport
List B documents include:
-
US Driver’s license
-
State issued ID card
-
School ID with photograph
-
US military ID
List C documents include:
-
Social security card (nonrestrictive)
-
Form I-95 (if employment authorization is part of the class)
Just some examples above and not a complete list.
What Documentation Is Required to Apply for a Driver’s License?
Each US state has its own guidelines for the issuance of a driver’s license. Therefore, the requirements for each state are slightly different. Residents are required to apply for a driver’s license in the state they are living in. The following documents may be used to get a driver’s license:
-
Green Card
-
Foreign passport with an approved I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
-
Employment Authorization Card
-
Foreign passport with an I-551 stamp
-
Re-entry Permit
-
Refugee Travel Document
-
Form I-94 stamped “REFUGEE,” “PAROLE”, or “PAROLEE,” “ASYLEE,” “HP,” “PIP,” Section(s) 207, 208, 209, or 212d(2).
-
Form I-94 with attached photo stamped “Temporary evidence of lawful admission for permanent residence.”
-
Immigration judge’s order granting asylum
