The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released the latest version of the I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification form earlier this morning.
To ensure compliance with the latest regulatory requirements, we encourage you to download the updated I-9 Form from the official USCIS website. This new version features several revisions and updates, so it is essential to utilize this latest edition for all new hires and any necessary re-verification.
Please note that employers must start using this new version of the Form I-9 for all employees hired on or after August 1, 2023. For existing employees with previously completed Form I-9s, there is no need to complete new forms unless re-verification is necessary due to expiring work authorization documents. We recommend switching to the revised form as soon as possible. Employers who continue to use the outdated form after October 31 could be subject to fines.
In addition to the revised form, USCIS published a final rule that allows for the remote examination of identification and employment authorization documents if employers participate in E-Verify. If you participate, or plan to participate, in E-Verify and would like the option to examine an employee’s documents remotely, contact Sierra HR Partners for more information.
We understand the significance of regulatory compliance and want to ensure that our valued clients remain up-to-date with the latest requirements. Should you have any questions or need assistance related to the I-9, our team is ready to provide support and guidance.
Overview of Form I-9 changes:
- Reduced Sections 1 and 2 to a single sheet. No previous fields were removed. Multiple fields were merged into fewer fields when possible, such as in the employer certification.
- Moved the Section 1 Preparer/Translator Certification area to a separate Supplement A that employers can use when necessary. This supplement provides three areas for current and future preparers and translators to complete as needed. Employers may attach additional supplements as needed.
- Moved Section 3 Reverification and Rehire to a standalone Supplement B that employers can use as needed for rehire or reverification. This supplement provides four areas for current and subsequent reverifications. Employers may attach additional supplements as needed.
- Removed use of “alien authorized to work” in Section 1 and replaced it with “noncitizen authorized to work” and clarified the difference between “noncitizen national” and “noncitizen authorized to work.”
- Ensured the form can be filled out on tablets and mobile devices by downloading onto the device and opening in the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app.
- Removed certain features to ensure the form can be downloaded easily. This also removes the requirement to enter N/A in certain fields.
- Improved guidance to the Lists of Acceptable Documents to include some acceptable receipts, guidance, and links to information on automatic extensions of employment authorization documentation.
- Added a checkbox for E-Verify employers to indicate when they have remotely examined Form I-9 documents.
Overview of Form I-9 Instructions changes:
- Reduced length from 15 pages to 8 pages.
- Added definitions of key actors in the Form I-9 process.
- Streamlined the steps each actor takes to complete their section of the form.
- Added instructions for the new checkbox to indicate when Form I-9 documents were remotely examined.
- Removed the abbreviations charts and relocated them to the M-274.
