EdLawConnect Blog

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) introduced a new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, on March 8, 2013, for immediate use, along with a new Handbook for Employers. The new form, which is identified with “version (Rev. 03/08/13)” in the lower left corner, features several new revisions:

• Expands the form from one page to two pages. The first page is to be completed by the employee, the second by the employer.

• Contains new data fields relating to the employee, including foreign passport number and country of issuance, telephone number, and e-mail address. The latter two are optional, but the form does not say this, only the instructions.

• Expands the instructions to the form from three to six pages.

• insert ignores spaces for 3-D Barcodes. There is no explanation as to their use.

• No material changes to the List of Acceptable Documents-except that Item 1 under List C, regarding Social Security Account Number Cards, clarifies which SSN cards with restrictions are not acceptable proof of authorization to work.

Prior versions of the form may be used for a grace period of 60 days, until May 7, 2013, for new employees. However, use of the new form is mandatory effective May 7, 2013. Employers do not need to complete a new Form I-9 for current employees who already have a completed Form I-9 on file, unless re-verification rules apply.

Extensive information concerning the new form, the types of documents that may be accepted for purposes of verifying employment eligibility, retention requirements, and similar related subjects is available here.  Links to the new Form I-9 and Handbook for Employers are available here.