Uscis Laminated Social Security Card

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.

Uscis laminated social security card. The revised uscis form includes additional questions that allow applicants to apply for an ssn or replacement card without visiting a social security office. Citizen or lawful permanent resident you may have a work restriction listed on your card. All cards show your name and social security number. 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.

Over the years the uscis has had varying positions on whether a laminated card was acceptable. Lamination prevents detection of many security features. Title uscis questions and answers author brooke created date 6 8 2011 4 10 52 pm. Do not laminate your card.

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. 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. If the card states on the back not valid if laminated then the laminated social security card is not valid. However you may cover the card with plastic or other removable material if it does not damage the card.

If you are not a u s. For a period of time the answer was no. 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. 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.

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. 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.