International Student's Guide: Selecting I-9 Identity Documents

what international student select on i 9

International students in the US on a non-immigrant student visa are required to fill out Form I-9 when they are hired for employment. This form is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the US. Students must provide specific documents to establish their identity and employment authorization, which are categorized into three lists: List A, List B, and List C. Individuals must present either one document from List A or a combination of one document from List B and one document from List C. The address on the form should reflect where the student is living while enrolled and taking classes, not their international home address.

Characteristics Values
Who needs to fill out Form I-9? All employers must keep and maintain I-9 forms for students to avoid any penalties. F-1 students in the United States on a nonimmigrant student visa are required to fill out the form when they are hired for employment.
When to fill out Form I-9? The form must be completed within the required timeline. Day 1: Complete Section 1, Employee Information and Attestation, on or before the first day of employment. Day 4: Section 2, Employer or Authorized Representative Review and Verification, is completed when employment authorization documents are presented in person.
Where to find Form I-9? The current version of the form can be downloaded from the official U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website.
What to fill in Form I-9? Section 1: Full legal name, address, date of birth, citizenship or immigration status, and other relevant details. If an international student, enter the Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) number and the expiration date, which can be found on your visa.
What documents are required with Form I-9? Either one document from List A or a combination of one document from List B and one document from List C. The most common document provided is a US passport, followed by a social security card and driver's license.

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International students must select their citizenship status

International students in the United States on a non-immigrant student visa are required to fill out the I-9 form when they are hired for employment, just like any other individual seeking employment in the country. The I-9 form is mandatory for employers to maintain while offering employment to students on F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas.

US citizens should select option "1. A citizen of the United States." Lawful permanent residents should select option "3. A lawful permanent resident" and enter the USCIS Number from their permanent resident card.

International Student Workers in F-1 or J-1 status should select option "4. A noncitizen (other than Item Numbers 1. and 3. above) authorized to work until (exp. date, if any)" and enter the date their employment authorization expires. Do not use the expiration date of your visa or select the N/A or D/S options.

F-1 students with on-campus employment should enter the program end date from their I-20. F-1 students with economic necessity or Optional Practical Training (OPT) should enter the program end date of their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the USCIS.

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Address should reflect where they live while enrolled

International students are required to fill out the I-9 form, also known as the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, when they are hired for employment in the US, just like any other individual seeking employment in the country. The I-9 form is mandatory for F-1, J-1, or M-1 visa students to maintain while being offered employment.

When filling out the I-9 form, international students must provide their address. This address should reflect where they live while enrolled and taking classes, not their international home address. For undergraduates, this means providing their address back home, not their on-campus mail center address. Graduate students, on the other hand, should enter their local address.

It is important to note that the address provided on the I-9 form is part of the student's personal information, which must be accurate to avoid potential violations and penalties. In addition to the address, the student's personal information includes their full legal name (last name, first name, middle initial, and any other last names used) and date of birth.

International students must also indicate their citizenship status on the I-9 form. They should select the option "A noncitizen (other than Item Numbers 1 and 3 above) authorized to work until (exp. date, if any)" and enter the date their employment authorization expires. It is important not to use the expiration date of the visa or select the N/A or D/S options.

The I-9 form must be completed within the required timeline, and students must maintain updated employment authorization documents throughout their employment. Failure to do so will result in the supervisor being notified, and the student must stop working immediately.

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International students without a Social Security Number can leave this blank

International students are required to fill out Form I-9 when they are hired for employment in the US, just like any other individual seeking employment in the country. The I-9 form is mandatory for employers to maintain while offering employment to students on F-1, J-1, or M-1 visas. It is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the US.

Section 1 of Form I-9 must be provided to new hires by the employer on their hire date or once the new hire accepts the job offer. Students must complete this section by the end of their first workday. This section requires students to provide personal information, including their full legal name, address, and date of birth.

If you are an international student without a Social Security Number (SSN), you can leave this section blank. An SSN is not required to complete Form I-9. Instead, international students must provide their Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) number. They must also indicate their citizenship status by selecting option "4. A noncitizen (other than Item Numbers 1. and 3. above) authorized to work until (exp. date, if any)" and enter the date their employment authorization expires.

It is important to note that international students must maintain updated employment authorization documents throughout their employment. Failure to complete and submit the required documents and information accurately and within the required timeline can result in penalties for both the student and the employer.

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Students in F-1 or J-1 status must select A noncitizen authorized to work until

Students in F-1 status are those who have entered the United States as full-time students at an accredited college, university, school, or other academic institutions. F-1 students may not work off-campus during their first academic year but may accept on-campus employment subject to certain conditions and restrictions. After the first academic year, F-1 students may seek off-campus employment through a variety of programs. However, off-campus work authorization requires case-by-case approval from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). USCIS will authorize off-campus employment only in cases of severe economic hardship occurring after enrollment in an academic program and after the student has been in F-1 status for at least one full academic year.

To be authorized to work, F-1 students must obtain an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS before they are authorized to work pursuant to OPT. The student may not begin employment until the date indicated on the EAD. When completing Section 1 of Form I-9, the student should select "A noncitizen authorized to work until" and enter the expiration date of their EAD.

J-1 status is not explicitly mentioned in the sources provided, but it is likely that students in J-1 status follow similar procedures to those in F-1 status when completing Form I-9. J-1 students are exchange visitors who have entered the United States to participate in an exchange visitor program, such as an academic or vocational program. Similar to F-1 students, J-1 students must have their employment authorized by the Designated School Official and USCIS before starting any work.

In summary, students in F-1 or J-1 status must select "A noncitizen authorized to work until" in Section 1 of Form I-9 and enter the expiration date of their work authorization, such as the date on their EAD or program end date.

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Students must provide documents from List A, B or C

Students must provide valid documents from List A, List B, or List C when completing Section 1 of Form I-9, also known as the Employment Eligibility Verification Form. This federal form is mandatory for students to complete within a certain timeframe to confirm their legal eligibility to work in the US. It is also used to verify their identity and employment authorization.

Students must provide documents from List A, List B, or List C, depending on their citizenship status. US citizens must select option "1. A citizen of the United States" and can present either one document from List A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C. Lawful permanent residents must select option "3. A lawful permanent resident" and enter their USCIS Number. They must also present documents from the lists, with the most common being a US passport, which fulfills both identity and eligibility requirements.

International students in F-1 or J-1 status must select option "4. A noncitizen (other than Item Numbers 1. and 3. above) authorized to work until (exp. date, if any)". They should not select the N/A or D/S options or use the expiration date of their visa. Instead, they must enter the date their employment authorization expires. For instance, an F-1 student with on-campus employment should enter the program end date from their I-20.

F-1 students with economic necessity or Optional Practical Training (OPT) should enter the program end date of their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) issued by the USCIS. Students in J-1 status can demonstrate their on-campus work permission by showing an unexpired foreign passport and printed copies of the DS-2019 and I-94. CPT work authorization is typically documented through the student’s Form I-20, endorsed by their Designated School Official (DSO), and their employment authorization can be verified via a job offer letter.

Frequently asked questions

Form I-9, also known as the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, is a mandatory document that verifies the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the US.

All employers in the US must complete and maintain I-9 forms for student employees. F-1 students in the US on a nonimmigrant student visa are required to fill out the form when they are hired for employment.

International students must provide their personal information, including their full legal name, address, date of birth, and citizenship or immigration status. They may also need to provide their Social Security number, Alien Registration Number, or Form I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record) number.

International students must submit either one document from List A or a combination of one document from List B and one document from List C. Common documents include a US passport, social security card, driver's license, and Employment Authorization Document.

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