You need no additional federal work-authorization document: after accepting the job, complete I-9 with your employer, and the same rules apply to paid full-time and part-time work.
“I am a marriage-based green card holder applying for my first job. Aside from my green card and SSN, are there any other documents I need for the job application? Do I submit the I-9 form once employed, and are there different documents needed for part-time jobs?”
Summary
Your unexpired green card is enough by itself for I-9, so you do not need to pair it with an SSN card or another ID. You complete I-9 with the employer after accepting the job; the employer keeps it rather than sending it to USCIS.
For I-9, you choose which acceptable document route to use after accepting the job.
Present your unexpired Form I-551 green card as one document. It establishes both identity and work authorization, so no SSN card, driver’s license, or second I-9 document is required. (USCIS Handbook for Employers M-274 §7.1.)
Instead of your green card, you may choose another document or one identity document plus one work-authorization document—for example, a state driver’s license plus an unrestricted Social Security card. Your employer cannot choose the route for you. (USCIS Form I-9, Lists of Acceptable Documents.)
If your marriage-based conditional card has expired while Form I-751 is pending, present the expired card and Form I-797 extension notice as the evidence, together with a document. The employer must reverify before the extension shown on the notice ends. (USCIS Handbook for Employers M-274 §7.1.)
Your SSN number is also used on Form W-4 and is required on Form I-9 if the employer participates in , but an SSN card is not an additional I-9 document when you use an unexpired green card.
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Next steps
These steps take you from applying to completing federal employment and payroll paperwork.
During the application
Apply and accept the job offer
Do not complete Form I-9 while you are only applying. Under the USCIS instructions, you may begin it only after accepting an offer; Form I-9 is completed with the employer, not filed by you with USCIS.
No later than your first workday
Complete Form I-9 Section 1
Use the employer’s I-9 process or the current USCIS form at https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/forms/i-9.pdf. Select “lawful permanent resident” and enter your A-Number; USCIS says a selects that same status. Enter your SSN in Section 1 if the employer participates in .
Requirements
Within three business days after starting
Present your chosen I-9 documents
Present original, acceptable documents from the USCIS lists at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents. An unexpired green card alone is enough. The employer completes Section 2 and retains the form; if the entire job lasts less than three business days, present the documents on your first day. Paid part-time jobs otherwise use the same rule.
Requirements
During payroll onboarding
Give Form W-4 to your employer
Complete the 2026 IRS Form W-4 at https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw4.pdf and give it to your employer so federal income tax can be withheld from your pay. It goes to the employer, not directly to the IRS.
Requirements
Legal sources
The answer comes from USCIS Form I-9 and its instructions, the USCIS Handbook for Employers, and the IRS 2026 Form W-4.
USCIS Form I-9 Instructions
This establishes when you may complete Section 1 and when you must present documents.
Employees; Section 1; Step 5
Employees may complete Section 1 before the first day of employment, but cannot complete the form before acceptance of an offer of employment. Employees must complete and sign Section 1 of Form I-9 no later than the first day of employment. Within three business days after your first day of employment, you, the employee, must present to your employer original, acceptable, and unexpired documentation that establishes your identity and employment authorization. However, if you were hired to work for less than three business days, you must present documentation no later than the first day of employment.
USCIS Form I-9
This establishes that you—not the employer—choose an acceptable I-9 document route.
Anti-Discrimination Notice; Lists of Acceptable Documents
All employees can choose which acceptable documentation to present for Form I-9. Employers cannot ask employees for documentation to verify information in Section 1, or specify which acceptable documentation employees must present for Section 2 or Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire. Employees may present one selection from List A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C.
USCIS Handbook for Employers M-274 §7.1
This confirms that an unexpired green card is a single List A choice and ordinarily is not reverified when it expires later.
7.1 Lawful Permanent Residents
In Section 2, an LPR may choose to present a List A document (such as Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, commonly referred to as a Green Card) or a List B and C document combination (such as a state-issued driver’s license and unrestricted Social Security card). You are not required to reverify the employment eligibility of a lawful permanent resident who presented these documents and you should not reverify their employment authorization.
USCIS Handbook for Employers M-274 §7.1
This gives the special I-9 route for an expired conditional card with an I-751 extension notice.
7.1 Lawful Permanent Residents—Temporary Form I-551 Requires Reverification
An expired PRC with a Form I-797, Notice of Action, receipt notice for either a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions or a Form I-829, Petition by Investor to Remove Conditions on Permanent Resident Status, that indicates USCIS has extended the card’s validity. You must reverify the employee’s employment authorization before their extension ends.
USCIS I-9 Central—Completing Section 1
This establishes the E-Verify exception to the normally optional I-9 SSN field.
Optional Employee Entries for Section 1
Social Security number (Exception: Employees must provide their Social Security number if you participate in E-Verify);
USCIS Handbook for Employers M-274 §2.0
This is why paid part-time employees follow the same I-9 requirement as full-time employees.
2.0 Who Must Complete Form I-9
You must complete Form I-9 each time you hire any person to perform labor or services in the United States in return for wages or other remuneration.
USCIS Form I-9 Instructions
You complete I-9 with the employer; the employer retains it instead of sending it to USCIS.
General Instructions; Retaining Completed Forms I-9
This form is completed by both the employer and the employee and is ultimately retained by the employer. Do not mail completed forms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
2026 Form W-4
Form W-4 is separate payroll paperwork that a new employee gives to the employer.
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Complete Form W-4 so that your employer can withhold the correct federal income tax from your pay. Give Form W-4 to your employer.
These are the official USCIS and IRS rules published on the cited dates; forms and rules can change.
This is general information about official processes, not legal advice, and SettleKit is not a law firm.
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