Skip to main content

Last Updated: April 2026

Researched by the I9AuditReady Research Team

I-9 Issuing Authority: What to Write for Every Document

The “Issuing Authority” field in Form I-9 Section 2 trips up even experienced HR teams. Here is the exact text to enter for every acceptable I-9 document type.

Quick reference: U.S. Passport = “U.S. Department of State”  |  Green Card = “USCIS”  |  EAD = “USCIS”  |  Driver's License = “[State] DMV”  |  Social Security Card = “SSA”

Complete Issuing Authority Reference Table

Covers all documents on USCIS's acceptable documents list (Form I-9 Rev. 08/01/23). “[State]” means substitute the actual state name.

A

U.S. Passport

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of State

Both passport book and passport card

A

U.S. Passport Card

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of State

A

Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

Issuing Authority:

USCIS

Also acceptable: 'DHS'

A

Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)

Issuing Authority:

USCIS

EAD card — also acceptable: 'DHS'

A

Foreign Passport + Form I-94

Issuing Authority:

[Country] Government

Write the country that issued the passport (e.g., 'Government of Mexico')

B

Driver's License (any state)

Issuing Authority:

[State] DMV

Use state abbreviation or full name + DMV (e.g., 'CA DMV', 'California DMV')

B

State-Issued ID Card

Issuing Authority:

[State] DMV or relevant agency

Use same agency that issues driver's licenses in that state

B

U.S. Military ID Card

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of Defense

B

Military Dependent's ID Card

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of Defense

B

School ID Card (with photo)

Issuing Authority:

[Name of School or University]

Write the full name of the educational institution

B

Voter Registration Card

Issuing Authority:

[County] Board of Elections

Or: '[State] Secretary of State' depending on who issued it

B

Native American Tribal Document

Issuing Authority:

[Tribe Name]

Write the full name of the tribe that issued the document

B

Canadian Driver's License

Issuing Authority:

[Province] Ministry of Transportation

Example: 'Ontario Ministry of Transportation'

C

Social Security Card (unrestricted)

Issuing Authority:

Social Security Administration

Acceptable: 'SSA'. NOT acceptable if card reads 'NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT'

C

U.S. Birth Certificate

Issuing Authority:

[State/County] Vital Records

Example: 'California Department of Public Health' or 'Cook County Clerk'

C

U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)

Issuing Authority:

USCIS

C

Resident Citizen ID Card (Form I-179)

Issuing Authority:

USCIS

C

Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545 or DS-1350)

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of State

C

U.S. Passport (when used as List C only)

Issuing Authority:

U.S. Department of State

Typically used as List A — but if used separately for work auth only

Practical Tips for the Issuing Authority Field

Driver's licenses: Write the state name plus “DMV” — for example, “New York DMV” or “California Department of Motor Vehicles.” Abbreviations are acceptable. Some states use different agency names (Texas uses “DPS,” Florida uses “DHSMV”) — either the abbreviation or full name is fine.
Birth certificates: Write the specific vital records office listed on the document itself — state departments of health or county clerks both issue birth certificates. Look at the actual document to find the issuing agency name.
Foreign passports: The issuing authority is the country's government. Write the country name followed by “Government” (e.g., “Government of Canada”) or the foreign ministry name if printed on the passport. Do not write “USCIS” for foreign passports.
Abbreviations are fine: USCIS guidance does not require spelled-out agency names. “SSA,” “DHS,” “DOD,” and state abbreviations like “CA DMV” are all acceptable in Section 2.

Common Issuing Authority Mistakes

Leaving the Issuing Authority field blank

This is a substantive I-9 error. Every document in Section 2 requires an issuing authority. Blank fields can generate $281–$2,789 fines per I-9 during an ICE audit.

Writing 'Federal Government' for all documents

Be specific. A U.S. Passport is issued by the Department of State, not a generic federal government. Use the exact agency.

Writing 'USCIS' for a U.S. Passport

Passports are issued by the U.S. Department of State, not USCIS. USCIS issues green cards, EADs, and other immigration documents — not passports.

Omitting the state for driver's licenses

Write '[State] DMV' — not just 'DMV'. Without the state, the issuing authority is ambiguous.

USCIS audit note: A missing or incorrect Issuing Authority in Form I-9 Section 2 is classified as a substantive paperwork violation. During an ICE audit, each substantive violation carries a penalty of $281 to $2,789 per I-9 form (2024 penalty schedule). An employer with 50 employees and 30% error rate faces up to $41,835 in fines for this single field alone.

Validate all your employees' I-9 documents automatically

I9AuditReady checks issuing authority, document numbers, and expiration dates across every I-9.

Start Free Audit

Frequently Asked Questions About I-9 Issuing Authority

What is the issuing authority for a US Passport on Form I-9?

For a U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card, the issuing authority to enter on Form I-9 Section 2 is 'U.S. Department of State'. This applies to both the standard passport book and the passport card.

What do I write for issuing authority on a driver's license?

For a state driver's license or state ID card, write the name of the state followed by 'DMV' or the full agency name. Examples: 'California DMV', 'New York Department of Motor Vehicles', 'Texas DPS', or 'Florida DHSMV'. Abbreviations are acceptable. The issuing authority is the state agency that issued the license — this varies by state.

What is the issuing authority for a green card?

For a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551, also called a green card), the issuing authority is 'USCIS' or 'DHS'. Both abbreviations are acceptable on Form I-9.

What is the issuing authority for a Social Security card?

For a Social Security card used as a List C document, the issuing authority is 'Social Security Administration' or 'SSA'. Both are acceptable on Form I-9.

What is the issuing authority for a birth certificate?

For a U.S. birth certificate used as a List C document, the issuing authority is the state or county vital records office that issued the certificate. Examples: 'California Department of Public Health', 'New York City Vital Records', or '[County Name] County Clerk'. Write the specific agency that issued the document.

Validate all your employees' I-9 documents automatically

I9AuditReady scans every I-9 for blank fields, incorrect issuing authorities, and expired documents — and shows you exactly what to fix before an ICE audit.

Get Started Free

I9AuditReady provides compliance tracking tools, not legal advice. Information is based on USCIS Form I-9 instructions (Rev. 08/01/23). Penalty ranges are from the 2024 USCIS/ICE civil penalty schedule. Consult a qualified immigration attorney for advice on your specific situation.