It was officially announced on March 8, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a newly revised Employment Eligibility Verification form, Form I-9, which employers are required to use to verify the identity and employment authorization of newly hired employees. Employers have been required since 1986 to complete the I-9 Form for each new hire to verify the person’s identity and work eligibility, then to keep a copy of the form on file.
Use of prior versions of the Form I-9 will no longer be permitted beginning May 7, 2013, which is 60 days from the announcement’s publication in the Federal Register. Employers should start to use the new Form I-9 immediately. The Federal Register announcement can be viewed here.
What Changed on the Form I-9?
The major revisions to the Form I-9 include the following:
- Enhancing and improving the I-9 Form instructions
- Adding data fields, telephone number, email address and including fields for an employee’s foreign passport information (if applicable)
- Modifying the layout of the Form I-9
- Expanding the Form I-9 from one page to two pages (not including the form instructions and the List of Acceptable Documents)
What Does This Mean for Your Company?
Employers that fail to use the correct Form I-9 after the 60 day grace period open themselves to the varying penalties under the law. Employers should begin to use the new version of the Form I-9, “(Rev. 03/08/13)N,” immediately, unless they are using an electronic solution.
The USCIS recognized that some employers rely on electronic Form I-9 platforms and may need additional time to make necessary updates to their business processes to allow for use of the new form. Accordingly, USCIS is providing employers with a 60 day grace period to make necessary changes to their current Form I-9 protocols.
Software developers that provide third-party Form I-9 software will be expected to reconfigure their products during the 60-day transition period and will be required to use only the new version of the Form I-9 as of May 7.
Where Can I Find Information the New Form I-9?
- An electronic version of the new Form I-9, “(Rev. 03/08/13)N,” is available on the USCIS website.
- USCIS has also scheduled free webinars to help employers learn about the new form.
How can the nowHIRE I-9 Comply Solution Help?
It is highly recommended that employers conduct a review of their immigration compliance policies to ensure that your organization has an effective immigration compliance program in place. This will allow an organization a way to manage the risk associated with immigration compliance requirements.
To learn more about this topic and discuss how the nowHIRE I-9 Comply™ electronic Form I-9 software can help incorporate an Electronic I-9 compliance & E-Verify system to meet federal and state law requirements, please call 800-724-8546 or click here. Our Form I-9 experts and trusted attorney partners will be glad to discuss your unique I-9 and E-Verify challenges.
