Earlier this month, we issued an article stating that the state's new limited purpose driver's license was not an acceptable document for purposes of establishing eligibility for employment.  Indeed, the license itself must bear the words:  "Not acceptable for federal purposes" and "This license is issued only as a license to drive a motor vehicle.  It does not establish eligibility for employment, voter registration, or public benefits."

 

Although the I-9 is a federal form, however, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") has stated that such a limited purpose driver's license does in fact qualify as a List B document for identification purposes, if it contains a photograph or identifying information such as name, date of birth, sex, height, color of eyes, and address.  The USCIS also noted that employers who accept a limited driver's license for identification purposes must also examine a List C document that establishes employment authorization.

 

You can view a link to the USCIS I-9 Q&A page here:  I-9 Q&A.  The answer to the fourth question under "List B Documents ? Identity" provides that a limited purpose driver's license is an acceptable List B document if it meets the identifying requirements mentioned above.

 

Therefore, although the state's new limited purpose driver's license by itself does not establish eligibility for employment, it can still be used to establish an individual's identity for purposes of I-9 verification.