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One of my hardest working
job search clients got a job offer for not only a good job, but THE JOB he told me he wanted at our first or second meeting. Both of us were on top of the world – back to work!
We talked on the phone several times to ensure he was completing everything required of the
employer for the hiring process:
- Drug Screen Completed
- Drug Screen Passed
- Formal Application Submitted
- Background Check Requested
- Background Check Passed
- References Submitted
- References Received
- Contract Received for Review
Everything seemed to be going along swimmingly. We met the Friday before he was to start work, bringing with him the signed contract and employment packet – 41 pages! He had downloaded it, but not yet reviewed it, planning to do so following our meeting.
No problem – all the hard work was done and he was ready to start… or so we thought! I mentioned among the 41 pages would be an I-9 documentation request or form. He would need a social security card and license or birth certificate and license or just a passport if he had that.
My client reported his passport was expired, but he had a birth certificate and his license (of course). I released him with a handshake and hearty congratulations to his new role as
WORKER. We were both quite happy.
Until I got an e-mail from him later that day, “I can’t find my birth certificate and Social Security is closed. What should I do?” What can you do at that point? “Should he go to Social Security at 8:00 AM when it opens and hope he makes it to work on his first day on time (8:45 AM)?” This didn’t seem like a good plan.
I used to request I-9 information at my second client meeting – I am returning to this practice IMMEDIATELY!
The best advice I could give him was to visit MVA and see if he had enough documentation for an enhanced license, if possible. BUT, to present to work on time for his first day – the Human Resource Manager he was to meet with had doubtless had this happen a time or to before.
The client e-mailed me Saturday to let me know that his mother had his birth certificate… I hope this is true. I say this because my husband and I recently applied for a passport and what he thought was his birth certificate was actually a registration of a birth certificate.
The actual certificate was on file with the Bureau of Vital Statistics or the Health Department in the city or county of birth.
While I await an update from my client I decided it was probably a good idea to brush up on I-9 requirements and make sure my clients were as well. Here is what I found:
In short, you can either bring ONE document from List A or ONE EACH (2 total) from List B or List C:
Starting a new job is stressful enough (good stress, but stress nonetheless!) – no need to feed the fire!
You will probably wow the socks off your new employer! That having been said, bring the documentation with you your first day. Since this is such a new service, your employer might not be familiar with it…
Be prepared to start work now and avoid the scramble to get the documentation your employer is required by law to obtain from you – a passport or authorization to work is all you need!
Mary Sevinsky is master’s-prepared and has over 18 years of experience in vocational assessment, counseling and testimony, primarily assisting clients who are changing careers.
