The information that follows was provided by a technical officer at the Office of International Affairs of the Social Security Administration headquarters in Baltimore, Maryland (25 Apr. 1995).

The basic document required for lawful employment in the United States is a social security card, which states whether the bearer is entitled to work in the country. However, the social security card cannot be used as a personal identification document; among other things, the card does not have a picture of the person to whom it is issued. The employer may require identification documents and other documents (immigration papers, diplomas, records of employment, etc.) specific to the needs or requirements of each employer and the position for which a person is being hired.

Please find attached an excerpt from a January 1988 discussion paper, which states that following the passing of the 1986 United States immigration law, "employers must now require all new hires to present proof of legal residency" (Anderson Jan. 1988, 3).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Anderson, Patricia Y.. January 1988. The New U.S. Immigration Law: Its Impact on Jamaicans at Home and Abroad. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center for Immigration Policy and Refugee Assistance.

Social Security Administration, Office of International Affairs, Baltimore, Md.. 25 April 1995. Telephone interview with technical officer.

Anderson, Patricia Y.. January 1988. The New U.S. Immigration Law: Its Impact on Jamaicans at Home and Abroad. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Center for Immigration Policy and Refugee Assistance, p. 3.