Employers Must Use the New USCIS Form I-9 by May 7, 2013

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) has released a new version of its Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 (“Form I-9”), a form employers must complete to document their verification of each new employee’s identity and authorization to work in the United States, as well as any required re-verifications. USCIS revised the Form I-9 to try to minimize errors made by individuals completing the form. The new Form I-9 includes additional data fields, enhanced instructions, and a modified layout (which expands the form from one to two pages, in addition to the form’s instructions and List of Acceptable Documents).

Employers should begin using the new Form I-9 as soon as practicable, but no later than May 7, 2013. The new Form I-9 is available on the USCIS website, at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf. USCIS has also updated its Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274), which provides helpful information regarding the completion of the Form I-9 and answers to frequently asked questions. A copy of this updated Handbook is available on the USCIS’s website, at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf.

Please do not hesitate to contact any of our attorneys if you have any questions or need any additional information regarding this new Form I-9.