U.S. Citizenship

TVA gives hiring preference to qualified U.S. citizens and other “protected individuals” (green card holders, asylees, etc.) for all job vacancies. Between qualified U.S. citizens and other protected individuals, TVA gives hiring preference to equally qualified born or naturalized U.S. citizens.

If you are not a U.S. citizen but are authorized to work in the United States, copies of your work authorization document(s) must be received by the closing date of the position for which you are applying. Email your document(s) to careers@tva.gov. Be sure to indicate the job number (For example: 1000001476) of the position in the subject line of your email to ensure the document(s) can be linked to the position for which you are applying.

Only if you are unable to email the document(s), you may mail a copy of it to: TVA, Staffing and Recruiting, 1101 Market St. LP 3A, Chattanooga, TN 37402. The required document(s) MUST be received by the closing date of the position to be considered. Nonreceipt of the required documentation as requested may result in disqualification of your application.

If you are a green card holder, asylee, refugee, etc. (protected individual), you must indicate this status on your online application. You must also provide documentation establishing your status as a protected individual (such as a green card or other document) by the closing date of the position for which you are applying following the methods outlined above.

Keeping documents on file

Once you submit your work authorization document(s), it will be kept on file and applied to all future positions on which you apply, as long as the document is still valid.

TVA Citizenship Policy

This policy outlines the citizenship requirements for TVA employees and for contractors who provide services to TVA under personal-services or consultant contracts that establish an employer-employee relationship.

1. Policy

United States citizens and individuals who are not U.S. citizens but who meet the hiring criteria outlined in this policy are eligible for TVA employment. Individuals who by contract are in an employer-employee relationship with TVA (those who receive an IRS Form W-2 from TVA) are also subject to the same criteria. Private companies that provide their employees to work at TVA are responsible for ensuring that these employees meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requirements for acquiring and maintaining documentation required by the INS.

2. Criteria

U.S. citizens and protected individuals

TVA gives hiring preference to qualified U.S. citizens and other “protected individuals” for all job vacancies. Protected individuals are individuals who intend to become citizens and have begun but not yet completed the naturalization process. Protected individuals include:

  • Those lawfully admitted for permanent residence (green card holders)
  • Those admitted or paroled into the United States as refugees and granted an employment authorization document
  • Those granted asylum and granted an employment authorization document
  • Certain other individuals who have established their intent to become U.S. citizens

Between U.S. citizens and other protected individuals, TVA gives hiring preference to equally qualified born or naturalized U.S. citizens.

Noncitizens

Individuals who are not U.S. citizens or protected individuals are eligible for employment if they meet the hiring criteria outlined below and the hiring is approved in advance by the executive vice president of Human Resources:

  • A qualified U.S. citizen or protected individual is unavailable for the work
  • The individual is qualified for the job
  • The individual meets the USCIS criteria authorizing him or her to work in the United States and possesses acceptable documentation indicating such authorization.

Check the USCIS Web site for hiring requirements and acceptable documentation. Employers are responsible for ensuring that the people they hire are eligible to work in the United States.

Employers and all new employees are required to complete an INS Form I-9, and employers must check employees’ documents to verify employment eligibility. U.S. employers may only hire a noncitizen who is a protected individual as listed above or who is:

  • Lawfully admitted for temporary residence and granted an employment authorization document by the USCIS
  • An alien holding a nonimmigrant visa and who is authorized to work. Common nonimmigrant visas where there may be such authorization include those issued to temporary workers, students, exchange visitors, employees of foreign employers, and spouses of nonimmigrant visitors.

TVA does not employ any individual who is in violation of any federal law or regulation, including the prohibitions against sharing particular types of technology and software with foreign nationals of certain countries as set forth in the Export Administration Regulations.

3. Source of information

Current information on the eligibility for employment of noncitizens can be obtained by emailing careers@tva.gov.

4. Authority for citizenship policy

  • The Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933
  • The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986
  • The statutory provisions enacted annually by the United States Congress as part of the appropriations process

EEO Statement

TVA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable laws and regulations regarding equal employment opportunities. Any applicant or employee who believes s/he has a discrimination claim (including harassment or retaliation) must contact TVA’s equal opportunity compliance office within 45 calendar days of the event or action s/he believes to constitute discrimination, harassment or retaliation.

Non-U.S. residents should read TVA's citizenship policy.

Individuals interested in claiming veterans’ preference should read the information for claiming veterans’ preference.