NEW EMPLOYMENT
AUTHORIZATION
DOCUMENT (FORM I-766)
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The following information is reprinted from an INS publication entitled "Work With Us!"
which was mailed to employers across the U.S. in February 1997:
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is phasing in a new Employment Authorization
Document (EAD), the I-766. This document will be a card issued to aliens who are authrorized to
work temporarily in the United States. While the document is being phased in, some work-
authorized aliens will continue to receive their work authorization on the existing EAD, the I-688B,
and both cards will remain in circulation. The I-688B will continue to be issued and remain valid
until the expiration date on the individual card. In addition, most aliens who are authorized to work
only for a specific employer will continue to receive their authorization on Form I-94 (Arrival -
Departure Record).
If you are an employer, aliens with temporary work authorization may, but are not required to ,
present this card to you during the employment verfiication process. The card will be a "List A"
document for this purpose, which means that it establishes both identity and employment eligibility.
The new card in no way alters your responsibilities to hire persons who are eligible to work in the
United States, complete the I-9, and avoid discrimination in the hiring and verfication process.
When you verify a new employee's eligibility to work, you do not need to be a document expert.
You have met your obligations if you examine the card and determine that it reasonably appears to
be genuine and to relate to the person who presents it. The I-766 has several features, visible to the
naked eye, to help you determine whether a card presented to you is genuine. The card also has
certain security and quality control features intended for government use.
HOLOGRAMS
Holograms are pictures or words that may be seen when the
card is turned or tilted in various directions. Most of the holograms are visible in ordinary
light; however, your ability to see them will vary depending on the lighting conditions and
angle at which you lood at the card. In most normal lighting conditions, you should be able
to see holograms of the Statue of Liberty, the letters
"U.S.A.," and the words "U.S. Immigration and
Naturalization Service" repeated across the face of the card.
ADDITIONAL HOLOGRAMS
There are two additional holograms which
you are not expected or required to look for, but which you may notice. You may see a
map of the United States. You may also notice the letters
"INS" which appear within the periods after each of the letters
"U.S.A."
The visibility of those two features varies, and you should not be concerned or reject
a card presented to you by an employee if you do not see them.
NUMBER AND BAR CODE
On the back of the card, the number and bar
code at the top are etched into the surface and will feel rough to the touch.
MICROPRINTING
The light blue printing around the INS Seal and the dark
printing around the words "Employment Authorization Card"
are microprinting . In other words, though they may appear as solid lines from a distance,
they are actually words in extremely small print. You do not need to attempt to actually
read the words.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORIZED ALIEN
The front of the card
contains information about the authorized alien, such as name, birthdate, and INS
"A number." The work authorization expiration date appears in
a box at the bottom of the card. Restrictions on employment, if any, are noted under
"Terms and Conditions." If there are no restrictions, the word
"none" will appear in this space. In certain circumstances, the
card may not bear a fingerprint. When it does not, the words "fingerprint not
available" will appear on the right side of the face of the card.
3-D ILLUSTRATION
The three dimensional depiction of the card highlights
each of the layers and is intended only to assist you in "seeing" its features.
EDGE OF CARD
The edge of the card appears to have a thin red
stripe between two white lines, as if the card were a sandwich with red filler in
the middle.
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