On Nov. 14, 2016, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, issued an updated version of Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification (I-9 Form). Under federal law, every employer that recruits, refers for a fee or hires an individual for employment in the United States must complete an I-9 Form.
The updated form replaces a form that was issued in 2013 and expired on March 31, 2016. The updated form includes changes that should make using both the paper and electronic versions more intuitive and easier to use.
Employers will be allowed to continue using the 2013 form until Jan. 21, 2017. Exclusive use of the updated form is expected by Jan. 22, 2017. The new form expires on Aug. 31, 2019.
Important Dates
November 14, 2016
The USCIS published an updated version of its I-9 Form.January 22, 2017
Employers must transition to exclusive use of the updated I-9 Form by this date.
Action Steps
Employers should become familiar with the new I-9 Form and transition to exclusive use of the updated form by Jan. 22, 2017.
Employers should also determine whether they will use the manual or electronic versions of Form I-9. The electronic version may help employers avoid some common mistakes, but using it may require additional training.