Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9)
Employers are required to have new employees complete Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) to confirm that employees are authorized to work in the United States. After the employer verifies the identity and work authorization of an employee, the employer must retain the completed I-9 on file.
Employees must present acceptable original documents (or valid receipts for replacement documents) within three business days of starting work. Employers are required to keep I-9 forms available for inspection by authorized government agencies.
Affidavit of Support (I-134)
Form I-134 (Affidavit of Support) is used by a sponsor to demonstrate that a visa applicant will have adequate financial support while in the United States. The purpose of the affidavit is to show that the individual is unlikely to become primarily dependent on government assistance for basic living expenses.
Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (I-140)
Employers use Form I-140 to petition for certain foreign workers to become lawful permanent residents under employment-based immigration categories. In most cases, the I-140 is filed after approval of a Labor Certification (PERM), if required.
Some employment-based categories, such as EB-1 priority workers, do not require a Labor Certification. Filing deadlines and eligibility requirements vary depending on the employment category.
Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (I-485)
Form I-485 is used by eligible individuals already in the United States to apply for lawful permanent resident status (a “green card”). USCIS conducts background and security checks on all applicants.
While an I-485 application is pending, applicants may be eligible to apply for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) and Advance Parole (Form I-131) to work or travel internationally. Travel outside the U.S. without approved Advance Parole may result in abandonment of the application.
Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (I-693)
When applying for permanent residence, applicants are generally required to submit Form I-693, completed by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. This medical examination helps determine whether an applicant meets public health requirements for immigration purposes, including required vaccinations.
Application for Employment Authorization (I-765)
Form I-765 allows certain noncitizens to request an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), commonly known as a work permit. The EAD shows employers that the individual is authorized to work in the United States for a specific period of time.
Some individuals are authorized to work incident to their status and may use Form I-765 to obtain physical proof of that authorization. Eligibility depends on immigration category.
Application to Replace Permanent Resident Card (I-90)
Form-90 is used to replace a Permanent Resident Card that is lost, stolen, damaged, or expired. Filing this form does not change a person’s permanent resident status, but having a valid card is important for employment verification, travel, and identification purposes.
Conditional permanent residents should not use Form I-90 to remove conditions on residence and must instead file the appropriate petition for their status.
Application for Naturalization (N-400)
Form N-400 is used by eligible lawful permanent residents to apply for U.S. citizenship. In most cases, applicants must have resided continuously in the United States for at least five years, lived in their state or USCIS district for at least three months, and demonstrate basic English proficiency and knowledge of U.S. history and government.
After filing, applicants are typically scheduled for biometrics collection, an interview, and a naturalization test, before a final decision is made.
Please note: This page offers general legal information, not but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask a Legal Pro.
