Passports & Hiring Dilemma

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Okay, this is somewhat a complicated story so I'll try to make it as understandable as I can.

I was hired for a new grad program recently, starts soon in March. I've gone through all pre-employment steps and finished all the paperwork. I even took my photo ID for my badge and was fitted for scrubs etc. Last thing was they needed verification of my citizenship and that I'm able to work. This is where it got tricky. I brought my passport, my green card, and my social security card. They came back after they were going to photocopy it and told me they couldn't take any of them. Reason being is because my passport expired in 2007, my green card expired in 2002, and my social security card has a restriction that says "Valid for work only with INS authorization". The HR recruiter told me that either I renew any one of them or get the social security card without any restrictions on it before I can begin employment in March.

The problem is, I can't renew anything because I apparently never received a Citizenship Certificate or Naturalization Certificate because I moved to the United States when I was 3 and had a valid green card that expires in 2002. In 2001 according to the "Child Citizenship Act" http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/pressrelease/ChildCitizenshipAct_022701.pdf I became an official American Citizen because my parents were citizens. Although I never got my citizenship certificates for some reason.

Long story short, I cannot renew them in time before my new grad program starts. & the solution I have is proof that I'm a citizen if you connect the dots, but it's just not the documentation they need.

Although I can prove I'm a citizen due to the Child Citizenship Act by providing my parents paperwork of being citizens etc. But will this even be sufficient enough to prove that I'm a citizen and that I can work in the United States? Or do I have to provide actual documentation and paperwork. I am able to receive the documentation...... But it will take 6-8 months.. This is the only thing I can think of. I know it's not official documentation but According to the law in 2011 I am a citizen due to my parents.

I've been jumping through hoops all weekend long and this is the fastest solution I can think about before the new grad program begins.. And this is definitely not an opportunity I want to miss..

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I'm Licensed in the state of California, but my employment for a new grad program starting soon is on a hold because my passport is expired and my social security card has a restriction saying "Valid for work only with INS authorization"

I'm just curious, how was I able to sit down for the NCLEX, pass, and receive my RN License in California. But I'm not able to work because my employer says my passport is expired & my SS Card has a restriction? This is regarding I-9 forms...

Here is the whole story: https://allnurses.com/general-nursing-discussion/passports-hiring-dilemma-902136.html

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You will need to speak to them to see if they will accept your information. Most likely they will need official documentation and you will need to get your SSN cleared. I don't know how you were able to get this far before this came up. Did you not know when your items expired? Have you had any other jobs before?

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You will need to speak to them to see if they will accept your information. Most likely they will need official documentation and you will need to get your SSN cleared. I don't know how you were able to get this far before this came up. Did you not know when your items expired? Have you had any other jobs before?

I didn't know they were expired until they told me they day I brought it. I've worked once for Rite Aid back in 2008, but they never required me to bring my passport etc because I was a minor back then apparently. I can't remember it was so long ago. But yes, overall I didn't know at all about this restriction on my ss card or my expired US passport.

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But I know for a fact I'm a US citizen, I just can't find my documentation because I've moved about 5 times before settling in my current city..

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Well, like in medicine, law and so many other fields, it's all about what you can prove. My suggestion is that you start with the social security office but you probably need an immigration lawyer.

Many colleges and even the State Boards are not concerned with proof of your citizenship; it's more a concern of employers as they have accountability to the government to only hire people legally able to work in the US.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

http://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartK-Chapter4.html

To apply to replace your Naturalization Certificate or Certificate of Citizenship issued by USCIS or by the U.S. Immigration and

Naturalization Service, file a Form N-565Application for Replacement Naturalization Citizenship Document. The N-565

or just renew your passport.
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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.

We cannot give legal advice as per the Terms of Service and you may need an immigration attorney. You have to apply for citizenship if you are foreign born and have parents as citizens. Here is a PDF of those requirements.

http://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/pressrelease/ChildCitizenshipAct_022701.pdf

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Specializes in ICU.

I am surprised you were able to attend nursing school and take your boards without the proper papers.

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Your future employer's hands are tied. Federal law establishes acceptable means of determining a potential employee's eligibility to work. Your employer must comply with those regulations and can't vary from them. Also, for future reference, expired documents are not valid for the purposes of establishing identity. Your local bar can't even accept them to serve you a beer.

I'm sorry for your situation, and hope you are able to straighten it out without losing this opportunity.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

Undocumented students can attend college. I am not implying you are undocumented but you asked how could you attend college without valid paperwork in hand and this would probably explain that.

Advising Undocumented Students

As for your NCLEX, it's been years since I took it so I can't remember. . . Did they ask for any paperwork that verifies citizenship? As I recall, the first time I was asked for paperwork verifying ability to work in the US was several years after I became an RN. It was the I-9 form?

I lived in a foreign country as a kid and they were far more stringent for the residents to prove their status in day-to-day dealings than there is here in the US. You really couldn't conduct much business, apply for credit cards, bank or anything else without presenting one's citizen ID or legal alien resident card. Fond memories of being fingerprinted at a police station when I was 9 years old!

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What the other posters mentioned are some good advices. You can probably try to do without hiring an immigration attorney for the time being but be prepared if this doesn't work out.

Time is against you. So work quickly. As it was mentioned, get your US passport renewed as soon as possible, go to the local approving office and pay for the extra processing. Go to the local SS# office as well and discuss with them your situation. I'm not sure if you do a walk-in or can make an appointment on-line to get faster service.

I'm not sure if it's better to have your updated passport in hand before going to the SSN office, but if you do have to leave the expired passport with the SSN office, make TWO copies of your expired passport, one to keep for your records and maybe one for the SS# officer to keep.

Maybe you can also get a copy of your citizenship certificate also with the updated passport. I'm not sure what would be the best steps to take, which comes first, but get ready to do some walking and waiting.

Good luck and keep us posted so that others that might be in your situation can benefit. Best of luck and congrats on getting a NG spot!

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