USCIS Releases New Two-Page I-9 Verification Form, Handbook for Employers

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form (I-9), effective March 8, 2013. All employers must complete an I-9 for each employee hired in the United States.

Changes to the I-9 include new fields, reformatting, and revised instructions to both employees and employers. Optional fields have been added for employee e-mail addresses and telephone numbers, as well as foreign passport information if applicable.

Employers should begin using the newly revised Form I-9 (Rev. 03/08/13)N for all new hires and reverifications. Employers may continue to use previously accepted revisions [(Rev.02/02/09)N and (Rev. 08/07/09)Y] until May 7, 2013. After May 7, 2013, employers must only use the I-9 version with the revision date of (Rev. 03/08/13)N. The revision date of the I-9 is printed on the lower left corner of the form.

USCIS noted that employers should not complete a new I-9 for current employees if a properly completed I-9 is already on file.

A Spanish version of the revised I-9 is available on the USCIS website for use in Puerto Rico only. Spanish-speaking employers and employees in the 50 states; Washington, DC; and other U.S. territories may use the Spanish version for reference but must complete the English version of the form.

USCIS said it is updating, and will release shortly, a new handbook for employers containing guidance for completing the I-9.

USCIS is holding numerous upcoming webinars on the I-9 form. For the full list, see this site.

The revised form is available in English and Spanish. The Department of Homeland Security has published a notice in the Federal Register about the revised I-9. The USCIS announcement is available. The Federal Register notice is available as PDF.

USCIS has also released a new M274 Handbook for Employers. It has a revision date of 3-8-13 and is available as PDF.