New I-9 form for verifying eligibility

Published on: 4/01/2009

New I-9 form was effective as of April 3, 2009 for verifying employment eligibility.

As of April 3, 2009, all U.S. employers must begin using the updated I-9 form for verifying employment eligibility.  The I-9 system of employment verification, created by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, is the nation's sole mandatory employment eligibility verification program. All U.S. employers are responsible for the completion and retention of Form I-9 for each individual hired for employment in the United States, including citizens and non-citizens.

With a few exceptions, the new form is nearly identical to the previous edition.  Most notable among the changes to the form is that employees will no longer be able to present expired documents.  Previously, employees were allowed to present expired driver's licenses or U.S. passports.  The new I-9 form can be found on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) website (http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/I-9_IFR_02-02-09.pdf).
If you have questions about these requirements, or need the assistance of an Employment or Immigration attorney, please contact us at one of our offices.