The Personal Identity Verification (PIV) Applicant is a current or prospective Department of Commerce (DOC) employee, contractor, or visitor, and is considered an Applicant until his or her identity has been verified using the new process and he or she is deemed suitable for access to Federal facilities and information systems. This is true even if an individual already has a current “ID” or “badge” issued by the Department or one of its bureaus.  

For New Employees and Contractors:

To obtain a PIV card, you must:

STEP 1: Complete the appropriate background investigation forms as directed by your Sponsor or COR.  Based upon the sensitivity and risk level of your position, your PIV Sponsor will tell you which standard form you will need to complete.

STEP 2: In some locations, your fingerprints will be taken electronically by the Office of Security in one of the Servicing Security Offices. In all other instances, your PIV Sponsor will give you the appropriate fingerprint cards and recommended locations to have your fingerprints taken.

  
STEP 3: Bring to your Sponsor (or Enrollment Official, as directed by your Sponsor):

• Your completed I-9 Form
• Two completed fingerprint cards, unless your sponsor indicates they are unnecessary
• Your completed background investigation forms
• Two IDs – one must be a Federal or State-issued photo ID
• One passport-quality photo, unless your Sponsor indicates your photo can be taken at the PIV Card Issuing Facility (PCIF) or by your Enrollment Official

STEP 4: After preliminary checks have been completed on your background investigation, USAccess sponsorship, and adjudication completed, you will then be notified to enroll and be issued your PIV card. Contact your Sponsor or COR if you do not receive notification within thirty days.

For Card Renewals:

To obtain a PIV card, you must follow these steps:

STEP 1: Your PIV Sponsor will tell you if you already have a completed I-9 Form, Employment Eligibility Verification on file in your Official Personnel Folder (OPF). If you do not have a completed form on file, complete the top portion (Section 1) of the I-9 Form, Employment Eligibility Verification. 

STEP 2: Your PIV Sponsor will tell you if you already have a completed background investigation on file.  If you do not, complete the appropriate background investigation forms as directed by your Sponsor. Based upon the sensitivity and risk level of your position, your PIV Sponsor will tell you which standard form you need to complete. 

STEP 3: Your PIV Sponsor will tell you if you already have a completed background investigation on file. If you do, you do not need to get your fingerprints taken.

If you do not have a completed background investigation on file, your fingerprints will need to be taken. In some locations, this will be done electronically by the Office of Security in one of the Servicing Security Offices. In all other instances, your PIV Sponsor will give you the appropriate fingerprint cards and recommended locations to have your fingerprints taken.

STEP 4: Bring to your Sponsor (or Enrollment Official, as directed by your Sponsor):

• One passport-quality photo, unless your Sponsor indicates your photo can be taken at the PIV Card Issuing Facility (PCIF) or by your Enrollment Official
• Two IDs – one must be a Federal or State issued photo ID
• Copy of the I-9 Form (if you did not previously have one on file, bring the original)

STEP 5: You will be notified to pick up and sign for your PIV card (if it is not immediately available).