Last month, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, that employers must begin using January 22, 2017. Form I-9 is the form employers are required to complete for each new hire to verify an employee’s identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
The revised Form I-9 is designed to be overall easier to complete electronically. Among other things, it’s enhanced with drop-down lists, calendars with fill dates, on-screen instructions for each field, and an option to clear the form and start over. When printed, a quick response code is automatically generated.
Specific changes to the old form include:
- Instructions are separated from the form in line with other USCIS forms;
- Section 1 asks for “other last names used” rather than “other names used;”
- Section 1 was changed for some foreign nationals to enter either their Alien Registration Number/Form 1-94 or Foreign Passport Number/Country of Issuance (not both);
- Requirement to fill in N/A for each inapplicable space in Section 1;
- Ability to enter multiple translators/preparers if used;
- Inclusion of a supplemental page for the preparer/translator.
Until January 22, you can continue to use the old version or begin using the new.