<p>You can get another social security card if you lose it. You go to a social security office. They are around all over the place. You do have to have id, though to get a replacement. The big problem is when you lose it all. It becomes what's first, chicken or egg. </p>
<p>I like the new passport card that they are offering. Three of my kids renewed passports this year and for $25 more applied for a card as well. They received the passports very quickly, but we are still waiting for the cards. The cards are not good for air travel but for coming back from Canada or Mexico , they are perfect. The passport is an easy thing to lose, and the ramifications of losing one can be disasterous.</p>
<p>My passport was in a piece of luggage stolen once in a train station in Rome. I went to the US Embassy and they issued me another one within a day or two, but I don't remember how they confirmed my identity... this was a while back. I'm sure the only other ID I could have had at the time was my drivers license.</p>
<p>I never had to show my SS card to any employer, and I changed jobs a few times. The card is collecting dust in the security deposit box at the bank. The reason I'm aware of the document abuse issue is that a colleague was hounded by HR because they decided to go through everyone's paperwork and thought his green card had expired. It did, but that was irrelevant - it was NOT expired when he was hired.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I never had to show my SS card to any employer, and I changed jobs a few times.
[/quote]
That is because most employers are lazy. Read what I wrote - an employer has the RIGHT to not put you on the payroll until you show your valid Social Security card to them.</p>
<p>What you might not know about I-9's is that Immigration can walk into any employer at any time unannounced and review I-9's. If the documents are not in order the employer can be fined - megabucks.
Governmental employers - municipalities, school districts etc are subject to state and federal auditors that will periodically review I-9's. Hence, it would be prudent for many HR departments, especially if there is a change in management, to self-audit those files.</p>
<p>I though you just need your number....</p>
<p>JustAMomof4, I hope you are not in HR. Unlike some work permits, permanent residency status does not expire; therefore, a person who presented an unexpired green card for I-9 purposes on his/her first day of employment does not need to "update the file" when he/she renews the document (the status is permanent and does not need to be renewed), just like an American citizen does not need to show a new driver's license or a passport every time he/she renews it. That HR person I was talking about got into some hot water. HR do need to be diligent with work permits and watch out for their expiration.</p>
<p>Bunsen -</p>
<p>Who did the person get into hot water with? The feds?</p>
<p>I ask because legal status does change. People convert permanent residence into citizenship, and occasionally (rarely it's true, but it does happen) they can lose permanent residence status.</p>
<p>Bunsen - </p>
<p>My comments were referring to HR going through the files and why they would go through the files- you are correct that the information need only be valid upon hire. No need to keep updating the records.</p>
<p>The person only needs to be able to legally work in this country when they are hired and they attest to that on the I-9.
I should also add - the emplyer is under no obligation to ensure that that the documents are not forgeries. They just need to show that they asked for them, saw them (most make copies for the files as proof) and that the employee sign that they are legal.</p>