Background
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a new version of the Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification on January 31, 2020. This new version contains minor changes to the form and its instructions.
Employers can choose to use the new version immediately or continue using the prior version (Rev. 07/17/2017 N) until April 30, 2020. The Form I-9 is used to verify employee identity and employment authorization. The version date is in the lower left corner of the form. The new form (Rev. 10/21/2019) must be used beginning May 1, 2020.
Summary
USCIS made the following changes to the form and its instructions:
Revised the Country of Issuance field in Section 1 and the Issuing Authority field (when selecting a foreign passport) in Section 2 to add Eswatini and Macedonia, North per those countries’ recent name changes. (Note: This change is only visible when completing the fillable Form I-9 on a computer.)
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
Employers Next Steps
- Ensure that you are using the correct form as of May 1, 2020. However, as a best practice employers should start using the new form now.
- If you are a Full-Service or Virtual HR client and would like our assistance with updating your policy, please email us.
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This content is provided with the understanding that HR Knowledge is not rendering legal advice. While every effort is made to provide current information, the law changes regularly and laws may vary depending on the state or municipality. The material is made available for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice or your professional judgment. You should review applicable laws in your jurisdiction and consult experienced counsel for legal advice. If you have any questions regarding this content, please contact HR Knowledge at 508.339.1300 or email us.
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