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Les Rosen's Corner
April 01, 2013 posted by Steve Brownstein
USCIS Publishes New Form I-9 for Employment Eligibility Verification
On March 8, 2013, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (Rev. 03/08/13) N that employers should begin using immediately for all new hires and re-verifications. However, since the USCIS recognizes employers may need additional time to allow for use of the new form, employers may continue to use previously accepted revisions (Rev.02/02/09) N and (Rev. 08/07/09) Y for a 60-day period until May 7, 2013. After that date, all U.S. employers must use the revised Form I-9. The new Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13) N is available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
All employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for each employee hired in the United States to comply with their employment eligibility verification responsibilities. After May 7, 2013, all U.S. employers must use the revised Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13) N for each new employee hired if they have not already been using the new form. The revision date of the Form I-9 is printed on the lower left corner of the form. Employers should not complete a new version of the Form I-9 for current employees if a properly completed Form I-9 is already on file. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published a Notice in the Federal Register informing employers of the new Form I-9 that is available at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2013-03-08/pdf/2013-05327.pdf.
The newly revised Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13) N has several new features and improvements designed to minimize errors in form completion. The key revisions to Form I–9 include:
-Adding data fields, including the employee’s foreign passport information (if applicable) and telephone and email addresses.
-Improving the form’s instructions to more clearly describe the information employees and employers must provide in each section.
-Revising the layout of the form, expanding the form from one to two pages (not including the form instructions and the List of Acceptable Documents).
A Spanish version of Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13) N is available on the USCIS website for use in Puerto Rico only. Spanish-speaking employers and employees in the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and other U.S. territories may use the Spanish version for reference, but must complete the English version of the form. For additional information, including a link to the new Form I-9, visit the I-9 Central Home on the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central.
