February 04, 2020
New I-9 Form Available as of 1/31/2020, Becomes Mandatory on 5/1/2020
On January 31, 2020, the Department of Homeland Security released a new version of the I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification form, with an edition date of 10/21/2019. The I-9 form is used to verify identity and employment authorization of all employees hired by U.S. employers. The new version may be downloaded from the USCIS website here. Employers may continue to use the previous version of the I-9 until April 30, 2020, but we strongly advise our clients to begin using the new form right away for new hires and to purge any unused (blank) prior versions. The form’s edition date may be found in the bottom, left-hand corner of each page of the form. Employers must continue to follow existing storage and retention rules for any previously completed Form I-9.
What’s new?
Revisions to the Form I-9 Instructions:
- Clarified who can act as an authorized representative on behalf of an employer
- Updated USCIS website addresses
- Provided clarifications on acceptable documents for Form I-9
- Updated the process for requesting paper Forms I-9
- Updated the DHS Privacy Notice
For further guidance, employers may consult these USCIS resources: Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9, the I-9 Instructions, or the USCIS website, I-9 Central. As always, if you require further information or guidance, our office is happy to assist.