Recruiters asking for my passport number. Why?

November 1, 2018 12:43 PM

I've long been aware - and long had a workaround - for recruiting agencies asking for the last four digits of my SSN. (They want a "unique identifier" for each applicant, is how they explain it.) Today, a second recruiter asked me for standard information before submitting me for a job, but they also asked for my passport number.

This is for a role within the US, no travel required, and I am a US citizen.

I've never been asked for this number before except when travelling outside the US, or for use as an identity document (like I9s.) I'm not sure that I'm comfortable giving out my passport number to agencies before they're at the point where they're ready to offer me an actual job and need to verify my identity and work-authorization status. Am I just being paranoid?

posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien to Work & Money (11 answers total)

A passport isn't a required identity document, you can state you don't have one.

It sounds sketchy to me.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:01 PM on November 1, 2018 [9 favorites]

Could just be an easy out for the Real-ID stuff. Your state's Drivers License may not be up to meeting the Real-ID standards. If it's a multi-state recruiter, the Passport might just be the bog-standard easiest thing to ask for that they can easily check that meets all of the requirements. If not, maybe they're sure enough about you to wait until after interview/hiring where you will have to cough up some valid proof of identity.
posted by zengargoyle at 1:13 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

The recruiter is probably tired of applicants that say they're citizens and then ask for sponsorship upon an offer. Perhaps offer to meet in person and display your passport without letting them record the details?
posted by JoeZydeco at 1:19 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

A passport number by itself is not very useful. But you have probably already given them your name, address, phone number, the last 4 digits of your social security number and who knows what else. NOW they have the beginnings of something they could use to steal your identity... if they were so inclined. I am inclined to believe that a reputable recruiter will not want to steal your identity, but I would be much more worried, especially in these data-security-deficient times, about the information getting stolen from them. So yes, if you know that international travel is not required, just tell them you don't have one. There will be other things they can use.

It is true that if you need to prove your identity and citizenship, such as one does for a US Government job, with or without international travel, a passport is by far the easiest way to do this. But the recruiter will probably not be the agency taking you through that process.
posted by ubiquity at 1:21 PM on November 1, 2018

Response by poster: They don't have the last four of my SSN. They have four digits that I've given them, and I give the same four digits to every recruiter who asks for "last four of SSN" for unique-identifier purposes; but they're not the last four of my SSN. I never give that out to companies unless we're at the point of them paying me money. Otherwise...fuggedabowdit.
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 1:28 PM on November 1, 2018 [10 favorites]

I'm not sure what industry you're working in, but I have worked with several recruiters in biotech at various levels from entry to senior management and not once have I been asked for a unique identifier, my social security number or any form of ID. The most they ask for is a verbal confirmation that I am legally allowed to work in the United States on the assumption that if I lie, the offer will be rescinded. This seems extremely sketchy.
posted by Everydayville at 3:14 PM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Yeah, passport is way weird. It is the one piece of ID that can be used for identity over-riding the need for further ID for an I9. Another issue is this, not many Americans have passports whereas, state ID or a license is much more common. The identification you are providing that stray recruiter seems a lot.
posted by jadepearl at 4:41 PM on November 1, 2018

Response by poster: In tech, it's routine for recruiters to ask people to give them a RTR - Right to Represent. Some recruiting firms ask for last four of my social, which I've long-since "created" a different set of four numbers to give out to any recruiter who asks for this information. (I tell them that it's the same info that every recruiter gets, that it's not the last four of my SSN, and there's only ever been two objections in six years. I just didn't move forward with those recruiters.

I've told this particular recruiter that I'll give my legal ID if and when I'm offered employment. I'll have to see how these people respond.
posted by Tailkinker to-Ennien at 4:49 PM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

I am in the US, software engineer, citizen, non US born (obvious from my accent and resume) and I have worked with probably 50 different recruiters between 2000 and 2015, in NY and MN. I've never been asked for my social, ID, or passport, and I've never heard of RTR.
posted by rada at 7:09 AM on November 2, 2018 [3 favorites]

When my new job asked for mine, it was because they participate in e-Verify. Other docs would have done, but passport was easiest.
posted by ersatzkat at 9:30 AM on November 2, 2018

If you are just lying about the last 4 of your SSN, just lie about your passport number.
posted by sideshow at 6:19 PM on November 2, 2018