USCIS Released a New Employment Eligibility Verification Form

On March 8, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9. Employers should begin using the new Form I-9 immediately. There is a grace period of sixty days, until May 7, 2013, during which the USCIS is allowing employers to use the previously valid Form I-9.

Changes to the Form I-9 include:

• Is now two pages
• Has expanded instructions
• Has new fields for an e-mail address, phone number and foreign passport in Section 1

Employers are required to complete the Form I-9 for each person on their payroll. The Form I-9 must be retained and kept by the employer for three years after the date of hire or one year after employment is terminated, whichever is later. The Spanish version of Form I-9 is only required to be completed by employers and employees in Puerto Rico. In the 50 states and other U.S. territories, Spanish-speaking employers and employees may print the Spanish version for their reference, but must complete the form in English to meet the employment eligibility verification requirements.

Note: It is important to remember that when recertifying a current employee, recertification cannot be done on the old form but now must be done on the new I-9 form.