I-9 Acceptable Documents: The Complete Employer Guide
How Form I-9 Document Verification Works
There are 25 acceptable documents, organized into three lists. List A has 6 documents that prove both identity and work authorization. List B has 12 documents that prove identity only (9 standard, plus 3 for minors under 18). List C has 7 document categories that prove work authorization only.
Sources: M-274 §4.0 and §13.0 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-resources/handbook-for-employers-m-274); 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(v).
The Three Business Day Deadline
You have three business days from the employee's first day of work for pay to examine their documents and complete Section 2. If the job lasts less than three business days, Section 2 is due on the first day. ICE lists a late Section 2 as a substantive violation in its inspection fact sheet (March 2026, revised August 31, 2026), which means there's no 10-day correction period, and paperwork fines run $288 to $2,861 per form.
Sources: 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(ii); ICE Form I-9 Inspection fact sheet, Aug 31, 2026 (https://www.ice.gov/factsheets/i9-inspection); 28 CFR 85.5.
What This Guide Covers
Below is the complete list of 25 acceptable documents for Form I-9, organized by list, with practical guidance on receipts, combination documents, document examination, and the 8 most common employer mistakes.
List A Documents: Identity and Employment Authorization
All List A documents must be unexpired.
What These Documents Look Like
List B Documents: Identity Only
E-Verify employers: If your employee presents a List B + List C combination, the List B document must contain a photograph.
Standard List B Documents (9)
List B Documents for Minors Under 18 (3)
List C Documents: Employment Authorization Only
What to Record in Section 2
Who Gets Which Document: Cross-Reference Matrix
Source: USCIS I-9 Central, "Who is Issued This Document?"
Acceptable Receipts for Form I-9
Three Core Receipt Types
Receipt for a replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged document (List A, B, or C)
Form I-94 with temporary I-551 stamp and photograph (List A receipt)
Form I-94 with refugee admission stamp or "RE" notation (List A receipt)
Additional I-94 Receipts for Specific Populations
USCIS also recognizes certain I-94 forms as acceptable List A receipts for specific populations:
When any of these receipts expire, the employee must present either an unexpired EAD or a List B document paired with an unrestricted Social Security card.
How to Record Receipts in Section 2
When the employee first presents a receipt:
- Write "Receipt" followed by the document title in the appropriate List A, B, or C column in Section 2.
When the receipt expires and the employee presents the actual document:
- Cross out the word "Receipt."
- Record the replacement document information in the Additional Information field.
- Initial and date the change.
If the employee presents different but acceptable documentation instead of the original replacement:
- Complete a new Section 2 and attach it to the original Form I-9.
- Note the reason in the Additional Information box (document delays, status changes, etc.).
Combination Documents for Students and Exchange Visitors
F-1 Students in Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
An F-1 student participating in CPT presents all three of the following as one List A document:
- Unexpired foreign passport
- Form I-94 indicating F-1 nonimmigrant status
- Form I-20 with the Designated School Official (DSO) endorsement for employment
In Section 2, record information from all three documents. Use the second and third List A fields and the Additional Information area as needed.
Alternatively, an F-1 CPT student can choose to present List B + List C instead. For example: a state driver's license (List B) and a Form I-94 indicating F-1 status with a properly endorsed Form I-20 (List C #7).
J-1 Exchange Visitors
A J-1 exchange visitor presents all three of the following as one List A document:
- Unexpired foreign passport
- Form I-94 indicating J-1 nonimmigrant status
- Form DS-2019 with the responsible officer's endorsement for employment
The J-1 exchange visitor cannot work after the program end date on the DS-2019. In Section 2, record information from all three documents and note the responsible officer's documentation in the Additional Information field.
J-1 students who also have a letter from the responsible officer authorizing employment may present those documents as well.
How to Examine Documents for Form I-9
What "Reasonably Genuine" Means
You are examining the document for obvious signs that it is fake or does not belong to the employee. You do not need specialized training or equipment. Look at the document, compare the name and photo (if present) to the person in front of you, and confirm it appears legitimate.
When to Accept a Document
Accept the document if:
- It is on the Lists of Acceptable Documents
- It reasonably appears to be genuine
- It relates to the employee presenting it (name matches, photo matches)
- It is unexpired (or qualifies for an automatic extension)
Handling Name Discrepancies
When to Reject a Document
If a document does not reasonably appear to be genuine or does not appear to relate to the employee, reject it and ask for a different document from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. If the employee cannot present any acceptable documentation, you may terminate employment.
Anti-Discrimination Rules
Federal law prohibits employers from:
- Requesting specific documents. You cannot tell an employee which document to present. They choose.
- Requesting more documents than required. If an employee presents a valid List A document, do not ask for List B or List C documents.
- Rejecting documents that reasonably appear genuine. You cannot refuse a valid-looking document because you prefer a different one.
- Treating employees differently based on national origin, citizenship status, or immigration status. Applying different verification standards to different employees is discrimination under INA Section 274B.
For more information, contact the Department of Justice's Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) at 1-800-255-7688.
8 Common I-9 Document Mistakes
1. Telling Employees Which Documents to Bring
Saying "bring your passport" or "we need a driver's license and Social Security card" is document abuse — even if you say it to every employee equally. The law requires you to present the Lists of Acceptable Documents and let the employee choose.
2. Rejecting Valid Documents
If a Permanent Resident Card looks different from what you've seen before, that does not make it invalid. All previous designs remain valid until the card's expiration date. The same applies to EADs.
3. Accepting Restricted Social Security Cards
Social Security cards stamped "NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT," "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION," or "VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION" are not acceptable as List C documents. If an employee presents a restricted card, ask for a different List C document or a List A document instead.
4. Missing the Three-Day Deadline
Section 2 must be completed within three business days of the employee's first day of work for pay. As of March 2026, missing this deadline is a substantive violation — no correction window, immediate fine exposure. Even if the employee's documents are perfectly valid, a late Section 2 is fineable on its own.
5. Incomplete Document Recording
Every field in Section 2 must be filled in completely: document title, issuing authority, document number, and expiration date. As of March 2026, leaving any of these fields blank is a substantive violation — even if you retained a legible photocopy of the document. The days of relying on copies to fill in missing information during an audit are over.
6. Accepting Photocopies
When physically examining documents, you must examine originals. Copies are not acceptable — with one exception: certified copies of birth certificates are allowed. If your organization uses remote document examination under the E-Verify alternative procedure, different rules apply.
7. Not Recording Receipt Replacements
If an employee initially presents a receipt, you must follow up when it expires. Cross out "Receipt," record the actual document information, initial, and date the change. Failing to update the receipt is a common audit finding.
8. Over-Documenting
Requesting both a List A document and List B + List C documents is a violation, even if the employee offers them. If you see a List A document, stop there. Do not record List B and List C documents.
How I-9 Software Prevents Document Errors
I-9 compliance software eliminates the most common document errors by:
See how i9 Intelligence automates document verification or learn about our remote Section 2 verification service — where our US-based compliance team completes Section 2 over a live video call, so your team never has to examine a document again.
Frequently Asked Questions
What documents do I need for an I-9?
An employee must present either one document from List A (which proves both identity and employment authorization) or one document from List B (identity) plus one document from List C (employment authorization). There are 25 total acceptable documents across the three lists. The employee — not the employer — chooses which documents to present. See the full lists above.
Can an employer require specific documents for Form I-9?
No. Federal anti-discrimination law under Section 274B of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) prohibits employers from specifying which documents an employee must present. You must show the employee the Lists of Acceptable Documents and accept any valid document or combination they choose. Requiring a specific document — even if you require it of all employees — is document abuse.
Can I accept an expired document for Form I-9?
Generally, no. All documents presented for Form I-9 must be unexpired. However, some documents may qualify as unexpired through automatic extensions. An Employment Authorization Document (EAD, Form I-766) with certain category codes may be automatically extended up to 540 days past its expiration date — but only if a timely renewal was filed before Oct. 30, 2025. Renewals filed on or after that date are no longer eligible for automatic extensions. For TPS-based EADs, H.R. 1 (effective July 22, 2025) caps auto-extensions at one year or the TPS designation duration, whichever is shorter. A Permanent Resident Card may also be extended via Form I-797 receipt notice — and note that permanent resident status itself does not expire when the card does. Check with your compliance team or USCIS guidance when an employee presents a document with a past expiration date.
Are receipts acceptable for Form I-9?
Yes, but only three specific types of receipts and only for a temporary period. You can accept: (1) a receipt for a replacement of a lost, stolen, or damaged List A, B, or C document (valid 90 days), (2) a Form I-94 with temporary I-551 stamp and photograph for lawful permanent residents (valid until stamp expiration or one year), and (3) a Form I-94 with refugee admission stamp or "RE" notation (valid 90 days). You cannot accept receipts if employment will last less than three business days, and you cannot accept a receipt for an initial grant of employment authorization.
Do I need to be a document expert to complete Section 2?
No. USCIS explicitly states that employers are not expected to be document experts. The standard is reasonableness: accept documents that reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the person presenting them. If you have questions about a specific document, contact the USCIS Form I-9 Contact Center or call the i9 Intelligence compliance team at (713) 668-6200.
What are List A, List B, and List C documents?
List A documents prove both identity and work authorization, so one is enough. Examples are a U.S. passport or passport card, a Permanent Resident Card, and an Employment Authorization Document. List B documents prove identity only, like a driver's license or a school ID with a photo. List C documents prove work authorization only, like an unrestricted Social Security card or a U.S. birth certificate. An employee shows one List A document, or one from List B and one from List C.
Source: M-274 §13.0.