Has anyone been asked for a birth certificate in an interview before? Recently had an interview with a tech company where they didn’t believe I was a dual citizen of the US and another country and asked to be sent a copy of my birth certificate. I offered my passport instead.

5 Comments

1. SophJune 19,2024 at 9:43PM UTC

   That's ridiculous. I've heard of companies using a 3rd party to verify that someone is able to work in the country without sponsorship, but I've never heard of asking for a birth certificate. It's not legal to discriminate against candidates based on their place of origin. "where were you born?" is a very different question from "are you authorized to work in the country without sponsorship?" The first question is illegal. The second one isn't. Also, employers could use date of birth to discriminate.

   I would simply say that I'm authorized to work for any US employer without sponsorship now or in the future and that I would of course supply the appropriate information upon hire.

   A young tech company may not know the law and that they are violating it. If this is a more mature tech company, I can pretty much guarantee that this isn't the only sketchy thing they are doing. Approach with caution if at all.

2. AnonymousJune 19,2024 at 10:23PM UTC

   Little known fact. The tech industry is notorious for violating EEOC and other labor laws. And they get away with it because no one challenges them. Most tech companies don't have consistent guidance for how they interview candidates or what they ask for. On no planet should someone ask you for your birth certificate in the interview process. And you should never provide it in the interview process. Once they offer you a job, then they can verify your status through the I-9 verification process. What they are doing this discriminatory but again, because we don't have a government that oversees Tech appropriately, they get away with it.

3. AnonymousJune 20,2024 at 2:09AM UTC

   I've worked for 2 tech companies and both were audited and fined for not being in compliance on labor practices. Both companies took calculated risks and lost. One fine was quite large because they had been warned.

4. SPNN4 SJune 21,2024 at 1:17PM UTC

   Not during the interview, but once you show up on the first day and you are doing paperwork I've been asked for my Birth cert and SS card to verify my identity.

5. AnonymousJune 24,2024 at 4:11PM UTC

   For an interview? You shouldn't be asked to provide either for an interview. If hired, you would be required to complete a form I-9 proving your authorization to work (I am assuming you are in the U.S.) within the first 3 days of employment but you should not be asked for this at an interview.