Big Lots new hires should know these I-9 rules

A smooth first week at Big Lots can hinge on one federal form: the I-9. Before you touch a register, stockroom cart, or schedule app, you and your manager each have a section to complete, and the document check has to follow federal rules that protect both work authorization and worker choice.

What the I-9 is doing behind the scenes

Form I-9 is not a formality. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services uses it to document the identity and employment authorization of every new employee hired after Nov. 6, 1986, to work in the United States. The current instructions list OMB No. 1615-0047, and the form is set to expire on May 31, 2027.

The process is designed to confirm that you can work in the United States, and it gives employers a standardized way to document that verification before you start.

What you need to bring

Acceptable I-9 documents fall into three lists: List A, List B, and List C. You can present either one document from List A or a combination of one document from List B and one from List C. The key rule is that documents with expiration dates must be unexpired when you hand them over for I-9 purposes.

For new Big Lots hires, that means the smartest move is to gather original documents before your start date instead of trying to sort them out after orientation begins. A passport, a permanent resident card, a state ID, a driver’s license, or a Social Security card may all come into play depending on which list they appear on, but the federal rule is simple: you choose from the acceptable options, and the documents must be valid.

What your manager can and cannot ask

USCIS’ anti-discrimination notice says, “All employees can choose which acceptable documentation to present for Form I-9.” It also says employers cannot ask for documentation to verify information in Section 1, or specify which document or documents an employee may present.

That means a Big Lots hiring manager cannot demand a specific card, require extra paperwork beyond what the form allows, or push you toward one document over another. The job of HR or the store leader is to collect the right paperwork and complete the employer’s section, not to redesign the document rules for convenience.

How to move through the first week without delays

Employers and employees must complete their respective sections of Form I-9. That means you need to do your part accurately and on time, and the company needs to do the same on its side. If a document has an issue, the best move is to resolve it quickly and carefully rather than guessing.

A few practical steps help prevent delays:

• Bring original, acceptable documents instead of copies unless USCIS specifically allows an exception.
• Check expiration dates before your first day, because expired documents can create a hold-up.
• Make sure your name matches across the documents you plan to use.
• Ask HR if you are unsure which list your document belongs on, rather than showing up with the wrong combination.
• Complete your section of the form promptly so the employer can finish its part without holding up your start date.

Why this is especially relevant at Big Lots

Big Lots has been through a heavy stretch of restructuring. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Sept. 9, 2024. On Dec. 20, 2024, Big Lots announced plans to begin going-out-of-business sales at all remaining locations after failing to complete a potential asset purchase agreement with Nexus Capital Management.

A little more than a week later, on Dec. 28, 2024, Big Lots announced a deal with Gordon Brothers Retail Partners that could keep hundreds of stores open and save thousands of jobs. The company also planned to permanently lay off up to 555 employees from its Columbus, Ohio, corporate headquarters beginning the week of Dec. 29, 2024.

The federal references that matter

USCIS keeps the core rules in a few places every worker and hiring manager should know. The I-9 instructions set out how employers and employees complete their sections. USCIS also maintains pages on completing Form I-9, acceptable documents, and related news, including a page covering minor changes to Form I-9 and E-Verify updates.

USCIS released a revised Form I-9 in August 2024. That version is streamlined, with a condensed layout and clearer antidiscrimination guidance. The revised form remains valid through May 31, 2027.