If you’ve got this far (application in, assessment done, interview passed) and you’re suddenly asked for a passport scan, that can feel like a step too far. It isn’t. Here’s why it happens, what it actually involves, and how long to expect it to take.
Why you’re asked for ID at all
This isn’t unique to AI training work, and it isn’t a warning sign. Platforms paying contractors need to verify who they are paying and may also need to meet client, fraud-prevention, eligibility or compliance requirements. Contractors can work with confidential project materials, but identity verification does not imply that a project contains identifiable patient or other personal client data.It’s the same reason a new employer asks for your passport on your first day.
If something about a request feels off, such as being asked to pay a fee or send money before you can start, that’s a different problem, and our platform review pages cover how to tell a genuine process from a scam.
How ID verification works, on Mercor
Once you start verification, you’re handed off to Persona, a third-party identity verification service Mercor uses, not something ACJ or Mercor builds themselves. Persona asks for two things:
- A government-issued ID: your passport, national ID card, or driving licence, photographed front and back, well-lit, with all four corners visible and no glare
- A short video selfie, turning your head left and right as instructed
If you’d rather finish on a different device, Persona lets you scan a QR code to switch partway through. Most people are done in a few minutes. If your case gets flagged for extra review, it can take up to a business day.
One thing worth knowing before you start: turn off any VPN. Persona checks your location using your IP address, and a VPN will interfere with that check.
What a background check covers, and when it happens
This runs separately from ID verification, and it doesn’t start until after you’ve been matched to a role or begun onboarding, not the moment you apply.
## How ID verification works, on Mercor
Clearance to start work typically takes one to two weeks from the point your background check begins. That’s the figure worth holding onto, since it’s what actually determines when you can start.
Mercor checks your legal name, date of birth, and ID against your stated employment and education history. It also runs criminal record checks across local, national and international databases. If you’re applying for a finance or legal role, there’s an additional layer: checks against sanctions and regulatory lists (OFAC, SEC, FCA) and professional disciplinary records.
Two providers handle the check itself depending on the role. Certn’s own processing typically takes 5–7 business days; Zinc’s timing varies by country. Either way, once it’s submitted, Mercor can’t speed it up from their end. Neither can we.
What to have ready
Keep a valid, in-date photo ID to hand, and be ready to account for your addresses going back seven years if asked. Having this ready before you’re prompted for it is the only thing that speeds the process up.
Applied Clinical Judgement earns a referral fee if you’re placed through the links on this page. That doesn’t affect your pay, your application, or the platform’s decision. We’re an independent referral partner, not Mercor, micro1, Turing or AfterQuery staff.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a normal part of the process, or a red flag?
Normal. Identity verification is common on paid contractor platforms. Formal background screening varies by platform, role, client and country. A request to pay a fee directly to secure work, however, should be treated as a warning sign and checked carefully. What would be a red flag is being asked to pay for it yourself, or to hand over payment details before any of this stage.
Does ACJ see or handle any of my ID documents?
No. Verification and background checks run entirely between you and the platform (and its verification providers, like Persona). We refer you to the platform; we don’t process or store anything you submit to them.
What if my verification gets rejected or flagged?
Contact the platform’s own support directly. This is their process, not ours, and they’re the only ones who can see what triggered the flag or fix it.
There is no universal start time because checks vary by provider, country and project. For the Mercor examples ACJ has reviewed, allow at least several business days and potentially longer where additional screening is required. Use the status shown by the verification provider and platform rather than treating a published estimate as a deadline.
Typically one to two weeks from when your background check begins, though the check itself (via Certn or Zinc, depending on the role) can process faster than that. Neither the platform nor ACJ can expedite it once it’s submitted.