Employees who attest to being a lawful permanent resident in Section 1 of Form I-9 may choose to present a valid Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, for employment verification. A Form I-551 Permanent Resident Card is a List A document which verifies both identity and employment authorization.
Permanent Resident Cards do not always include the holder's signature. USCIS previously only waived the signature requirement for children under the age of consent or individuals who were physically unable to provide a signature. Beginning in February 2015, USCIS began to also waive the signature requirement for people "entering the United States for the first time as lawful permanent residents after obtaining an immigration visa abroad from a U.S. Embassy or consulate." Where USCIS has authorized the waiver of a signature, the card will state "Signature Waived" on the front and back of the card.
Pursuant to USCIS guidance, Permanent Resident Cards with the notation "Signature Waived" are acceptable documents for Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, purposes, as long as they are reasonably appear to be genuine and related to the person presenting to them.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
