Uscis Laminated Social Security Card

Over the years the uscis has had varying positions on whether a laminated card was acceptable.

Uscis laminated social security card.

However you may cover the card with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card. Metal or plastic reproductions of social security cards are not acceptable for form i 9 purposes. While the social security administration ssa discourages individuals from laminating their social security cards the u s citizenship and immigration services uscis guidance indicates an. If you are not a u s.

Citizen or lawful permanent resident you may have a work restriction listed on your card. If the card states on the back not valid if laminated then the laminated social security card is not valid. Lamination prevents detection of many security features. We issue three types of social security cards.

Title uscis questions and answers author brooke created date 6 8 2011 4 10 52 pm. If your employee presents a restricted social security card ask the employee to provide a different document from list c or a document from list a. The united states citizenship and immigration services uscis website s form i 9 central questions and answers include this guidance in response to a question asking whether a laminated social security card is valid. Then the agency s position morphed into they are acceptable unless the card on the back indicates that it was not valid if laminated and sure enough many cards had that notation.

The rule used to be that if the card itself said not valid if laminated then the card was not valid for list c purposes so i would stick with this latest rule. If the card states on the back not valid if laminated then the laminated social security card is not valid. You must accept any document s from the lists of acceptable documents that reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the person presenting them. The social security administration ssa advises cardholders not to laminate social security cards.

Link see questions 31 33 there is no official guidance on i 9 central uscis webpage for i 9 questions or in the m 274 regarding laminated social security cards. Previously applicants needed to submit a form i 765 to uscis for an ead and then submit additional paperwork in person at their local social security office to obtain an ssn. Do not laminate your card.