Hiring officials ensure completion of OMB Form I–9, Employment Eligibility Verification, review supporting documents, and verify the applicant’s status only after extending a bona fide job offer for a career or noncareer position. The review of documents and determination of status must be conducted in the same way for a United States citizen, a lawful permanent resident alien (one who possesses a “green card”), and a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States. Individuals granted only asylum status, refugee status, or conditional permanent resident status are not eligible for Postal Service employment.
The process of determining that a selectee meets the basic eligibility requirements to work in this country begins with completion of OMB Form 1–9 and recording of the documents presented by selectees. After the selectee completes OMB Form I–9 satisfactorily, the hiring official reviews the evidence presented by the selectee to determine if he or she is a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, or a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States.
After receiving a job offer, every Postal Service selectee (career or noncareer) must complete Section 1 of OMB Form I–9, used by all American employers in the federal and private sectors. Documents acceptable to establish identity and employment eligibility are listed on the reverse of OMB Form I–9. Hiring officials must complete Section 2 of OMB Form 1–9 by examining evidence of identity and employment eligibility presented by the selectee. Hiring officials may not ask for specific documents from a selectee, nor refuse employment on the basis of a future expiration date shown on a document. Any person — whether a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident alien (one who possesses a “green card”), or a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States — may satisfy the requirement to verify eligibility for employment by producing either one document from List A, or one document from List B and one from List C. Original documents are presented and recorded on OMB Form I–9, and the form is completed even though the documents may not demonstrate that the person meets the eligibility requirement. Hiring officials must complete the certification after recording the documents offered.
After OMB Form I–9 is completed, a determination is made that the selectee meets the Postal Service requirement for status of U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident alien (one who possesses a “green card”), or citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States. A document that is acceptable for completion of OMB Form I–9 is not necessarily evidence that the selectee meets the Postal Service’s status requirement. The following documents (or receipts for documents) do not demonstrate that the person meets the Postal Service’s requirement for status of U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, or a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States:
A receipt to replace a stolen or lost document that is evidence that the selectee is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident alien (one who possesses a “green card”), or a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States is acceptable. The selectee has 30 days to acquire a replacement document that indicates the status.
If a selectee does not possess evidence to document status of U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident alien, or a citizen of American Samoa or other territory owing permanent allegiance to the United States, then the selectee cannot be allowed to work in the Postal Service. Individuals granted only asylum status, refugee status, or conditional permanent resident status are not eligible for Postal Service employment. OMB Forms I–9 completed by applicants found ineligible are filed in the preemployment investigation file.
