Getting to know the U.S. Passport Card

The new U.S. Passport Card is now on the list of documents that can be used to verify employment eligibility, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service announced today. What is the passport card? It’s a small card that confirms the citizenship and identity of the holder. The upside? It’s cheaper and smaller than a traditional, booklet-style passport. The downside? You can’t use it to get on international flights. In fact, it’s only good to get back and forth between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda, by land or by boat. The part employers need to be concerned with is that it’s acceptable as a List A document for I-9 purposes, and also can be used if you’re using the E-Verify system. We expect further word on the legal ramifications for employers shortly.