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New Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, Effective December 26, 2007

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) issued the new Form I-9, which employers must use for all new hires or re-verification, as of December 26, 2007.  The revised I-9 Form incorporates prior changes, which reduced the number of documents that employers can accept to confirm the identity and verify eligibility of their employees.  The new form, dated June 5, 2007  (Form "(Rev. 06/05/07)N"), reflects the removal of five documents from the list of acceptable documents to prove identity and employment eligibility and the addition of one new document to the "List A” column of acceptable documents.  Employers who fail to use the new form will be subject to penalties.  

The Form I-9 is available in English and Spanish.  (The English form must be the employer's primary I-9.  The Spanish form is used for translation only, except in Puerto Rico, where it may be used as the primary I-9 document.)  In addition, the USCIS has issued an updated “Handbook for Employers, Instructions for Completing the Form I-9.” 

The new Form I-9 and the updated "“Handbook for Employers” are available from USCIS.  If you would like assistance with this revised Form I-9, or any other policy, employee handbook or employment law issue, please contact your attorney at Moss & Barnett. 

(December, 2007)