As part of the Scoot Education onboarding process, you’ll need to complete Form I-9, which is used to verify your identity and authorization to work in the United States.
The process is completed online through our onboarding portal, Fountain. If you’ve never completed an I-9 before, don’t worry! This guide will walk you through what the process is, what you’ll need, and what to expect before you begin.
What Is Form I-9?
What Is Form I-9?
Form I-9 is a federal employment eligibility verification form. Employers use it to verify an employee’s identity and authorization to work in the United States.
As part of the process, you’ll provide personal information and present acceptable documents that establish your identity and employment authorization.
What Is E-Verify?
What Is E-Verify?
E-Verify is an electronic system used by employers to confirm employment eligibility. It compares information provided on Form I-9 with records available to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration.
You may hear both “I-9” and “E-Verify” during onboarding. While they work together, they are not the same thing:
Form I-9 is the federal form used to verify your identity and authorization to work.
E-Verify is the electronic verification process that uses information from your Form I-9.
What Do I Need Before I Start?
What Do I Need Before I Start?
Having everything ready before you begin will help make the process quick and easy.
You’ll need:
Your personal information
An acceptable, unexpired identity and/or employment authorization document
A phone or device that can take clear photos of your documents
A reliable internet or Wi-Fi connection
An Authorized Representative who is at least 18 years old and can be physically present with you during the verification step
The phone number of your Authorized Representative
What Documents Can I Use?
What Documents Can I Use?
There are several types of documents you may be able to use to complete Form I-9.
Common examples include a U.S. Passport or a driver’s license paired with an acceptable employment authorization document.
The documents you provide must meet Form I-9 requirements and, where applicable, be unexpired.
For the complete list of acceptable documents, visit the official USCIS Form I-9 guidance.
What Does the Process Look Like?
What Does the Process Look Like?
The I-9 process has two main steps.
Step 1: Complete Your Information & Upload Your Documents
First, you’ll enter your required information through the Fountain onboarding portal.
You’ll also upload a clear copy of your acceptable document(s). You can take a photo of your document using your phone or use a scanning app to create a digital copy.
Before submitting, make sure the information you entered is accurate and that your document photo is clear and readable.
Step 2: Verify Your Documents
After completing the first step, you’ll need to complete the document verification portion of the process with an Authorized Representative.
Your Authorized Representative can be an adult age 18 or older of your choice. For example, they could be:
A spouse
A roommate
A neighbor
A friend
Another trusted adult
They must be physically present with you during the verification process. They’ll use their phone to scan a QR code and answer a few brief questions.
Your Scoot consultant cannot serve as your Authorized Representative.
Important: Have Your Authorized Representative Ready
One of the most common reasons applicants get stuck during the I-9 process is not having someone available for the document verification step.
To avoid delays, make sure you have an adult age 18 or older available before you begin.
Your Authorized Representative needs to be physically next to you and have their phone available during the verification process.