No Green Card Yet, Show I-94 With a Temporary Stamp for I-9
If your physical green card hasn’t arrived when you fill out Form I-9 on your first day of work, you can show your employer the arrival portion of Form I-94 with a temporary green card stamp (the ADIT stamp, formally a temporary Form I-551): USCIS lists it as an acceptable receipt. The receipt is valid until the expiration date on the stamp, or 1 year after the issuance date if the stamp has no expiration date.
When the receipt expires, you show your employer your permanent resident card. Employers can’t accept receipts if the job will last less than 3 days.
Three receipts acceptable for I-9
USCIS explains (USCIS I-9 receipts):
| Receipt | Valid for | After it expires, show your employer |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival portion of I-94 with temporary I-551 stamp (ADIT) | Until the date on the stamp, or 1 year after issuance if there is none | Your permanent resident card |
| Departure portion of I-94 with refugee admission stamp | 90 days from the date of hire | Form I-766 (Employment Authorization Document), or a List B document plus an unrestricted Social Security card |
| Replacement receipt for a lost, stolen or damaged document | 90 days from the date of hire | The replacement document itself |
- Receipts are temporary: they let you complete Section 2 of Form I-9 for now; later you swap in the actual document.
- No second receipt: USCIS says an employer may not accept a second receipt when the first one expires.
For the other forms on your first day of work, see New Job, I-9 Within 3 Days, Nonresidents Mark Single on W-4; for what to check first if your green card hasn’t arrived, see No Green Card After 90 Days, Check Immigrant Fee and Address; for what else to do after entering on an immigrant visa, see Green Card Arrival, What to Do in 90 Days, From SSN to AR-11.
What this article did not check
- How to get a temporary green card stamp: where it is stamped and what to bring aren’t on this USCIS page, and this article did not check.
- What to do if the employer uses E-Verify: this article did not check.
Frequently asked questions
My green card hasn’t arrived. Can I start work?
USCIS lists the arrival portion of I-94 with a temporary I-551 stamp as an acceptable I-9 receipt, so you can use it to complete Form I-9 for now.
How long is this receipt good for?
Until the expiration date on the stamp, or 1 year after it was issued if the stamp has no expiration date.
What do I do when the receipt expires?
Show your employer your permanent resident card.
Can I use a receipt for a two-day job?
No. USCIS says employers can’t accept receipts if the job will last less than 3 days.
Sources and dates checked
All checked on 2026-10-30. This article is not legal or immigration advice.
- USCIS I-9 Central, Receipts (page updated 2026-09-18):https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents/receipts