U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a notice on Tuesday in the Federal Register inviting public comment on a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers must complete Form I-9 for all newly-hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the US.
While the form has a different "feel" with a redesigned layout and the expansion of instructions, the heart of the form remains the same. The most notable revisions include:
- Revised layout extending Form I-9 from one page to two pages;
- Expanded Form I-9 instructions which incorporate additional employer guidance;
- Improved instruction on which documents an employer must examine;
- New, optional data fields to collect the employee's email address and telephone number;
- Clarification that employer should record the "first day of work for pay" instead of "hire date" of the new hire;
- New data fields to collect the foreign passport number and country of issuance. Only aliens authorized to work in the U.S. who have also recorded their I-94 admission number on Form I-9 will need to provide the foreign passport number and country of issuance.
Originally debuting in 1987 after the passage of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the form has previously been revised eleven times. The public is invited to comment on the proposed revisions until May 29, 2012.
The Law Offices of Richard A. Gump, Jr. specializes in Form I-9 compliance. Contact our office today to ensure that your business complies with federal, state and local employment eligibility verification laws and regulations.
