Employers Must Begin Using New I-9 Form By December 26, 2007

12/14/07

All U.S. employers have long been required to fill out a federal I-9 form and collect certain specified documentation of identity and eligibility to work in the United States from each new employee.  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services ("USCIS") recently issued a revised form I-9.  Employers must begin using this new form no later than December 26, 2007.

 

The new form removes five documents from the "Column A" list of documents acceptable as proof of both identity and employment eligibility:

 

• Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-560 or N-570)
• Certificate of Naturalization (Form N-550 or N-570)
• Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-151
• Unexpired Reentry Permit (Form I-327)
• Unexpired Refugee Travel Document (Form I-571)

One item was added to the "Column A" list:  Unexpired Employment Authorization document (Form I-766). 

 

The revised I-9 instructions provide that employees are no longer required to fill in their Social Security numbers in Section 1, unless their employer participates in the "E-Verify" program.  Additionally, the instructions note that employers may now electronically sign and store I-9 forms if certain requirements are met. 

 

The revised form, instructions, and an Employer Handbook providing additional information can be downloaded from the USCIS website, at http://www.uscis.gov/i-9.