I was approved for a C9 EAD and have the approval notice, but I am still waiting for the physical card to arrive. My employment start date is coming up soon. Is there any way to provide alternative I-9 documentation so I can start working without waiting for the physical EAD card? I already did an E-Verify self-check with my SSN and A-Number which confirmed my eligibility.
You cannot start working using just your approval letter or your online self-check result. You must wait for the physical work permit to arrive in the mail and hand it to your employer.
You can cross the worry of a denial off your list. The government approved your application, so your physical card is on its way.
Employers use a specific form, called Form I-9, to verify that you are allowed to work. To complete this form, you must show them physical documents from a strict government list.
Your approval letter shows that the government approved your application for a work permit. However, this letter is not on the list of acceptable documents. During the pandemic, the government temporarily allowed employers to accept these letters as a List C document, but that special rule ended on December 1, 2020. Today, the letter alone is not enough.
You also mentioned using the online self-check tool. This tool is a great way to confirm your records are correct. However, the system does not give you a work credential. The rules state that a confirmed result from this tool does not replace your employer's responsibility to review your physical documents.
