What Documents Satisfy I 9 Section 3 Reverification?

I like to keep things simple and practical: when somebody’s work authorization on their I-9 expires, you ask them for an unexpired document that proves they can still work. That means either one of the List A documents that prove identity and employment eligibility together (examples: U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, or an Employment Authorization Document), or a List C document that proves authorization only (examples: Social Security card, birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship).

A few quick tips from my experience tagging forms at the office: you can’t reverify using a List B identity-only document by itself — it doesn’t show work authorization. If the person originally presented a List B and C, they’ll only need to present a new List C on reverification. Also don’t forget — employees pick which acceptable document to present, and if they present a document with no expiration (like a U.S. passport), reverification usually isn’t necessary. If policies feel fuzzy, checking the USCIS I-9 handbook is a fast way to clear it up.

When the I-9 says 'reverification,' I picture someone handing over a new card and me filling in Section 3. The way I walk people through it is by focusing on what the new document has to prove: current authorization to work in the U.S. So first, accept any unexpired List A document — these establish both identity and authorization (U.S. passport, green card, EAD/Form I-766, or a foreign passport with an I-94 that authorizes work). If they prefer, they can instead give an unexpired List C document that proves authorization only — think Social Security card (no restrictions), U.S. birth certificate, certificate of naturalization or citizenship.

A couple of procedural quirks I always call out: if the original I-9 showed a List B document paired with a List C, the reverification only needs a new List C. Reverification is not a chance to demand a particular document — the employee chooses from accepted items. Also, documents showing permanent authorization (U.S. passport, green card) generally don’t require reverification because there’s no expiration of work rights. For clarity, I often jot the new document’s details (type, number, expiration) into Section 3 and keep a note of the date; if someone’s rehired after more than three years, I know a fresh Form I-9 is the right move instead of using Section 3.

Okay, here's the practical scoop I keep telling friends in HR-land and coworkers over coffee: Section 3 of the Form I-9 is used when you need to reverify someone's employment authorization or rehire them within three years using the original form. For reverification, the key rule I rely on is this — the employer must examine an unexpired document that shows current work authorization. Practically, that means the employee can present either an unexpired List A document (which proves both identity and employment authorization) or an unexpired List C document (which proves employment authorization only).

Examples I usually give when someone asks at my desk: U.S. passport or passport card, Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551), an Employment Authorization Document (EAD, Form I-766), or a foreign passport with an I-94 showing work permission are common List A picks. For List C, think Social Security card (if unrestricted), U.S. birth certificate, or a Certificate of Naturalization/Citizenship — anything that proves authorization to work. One big thing I always repeat: you cannot reverify with a List B document alone because those show identity, not work authorization. Also, employees with indefinite authorization (like a U.S. passport or green card) typically won’t need reverification in the first place, so don’t fuss over those.

If the document has an expiration date showing work permission expired, that’s when Section 3 is used to note the new document. And remember, the employee chooses which acceptable document to show — you can’t demand a specific piece of paper. When in doubt, I point people to the latest USCIS guidance to make sure nothing changed since the last time we updated our HR binder.

If you’re looking for a compact checklist from the perspective of someone who files I-9s on the regular: reverification needs an unexpired document that proves current work authorization. That means either an unexpired List A document (like a U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, or Employment Authorization Document) or an unexpired List C document (like a Social Security card without restrictions, birth certificate, or certificate of naturalization/citizenship).

I’ll add this practical note — don’t accept a List B document (driver’s license, state ID) by itself for reverification, because it only proves identity, not authorization. Employees get to choose which acceptable document to present, and if their prior document showed permanent authorization, you often won’t need to reverify. When in doubt, I check the current USCIS instructions so I’m not working off an old checklist — that little habit has saved me time more than once.