All Employers: Yet Again, USCIS Releases an Updated Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification

United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) has again changed the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.  On July 17, 2017, USCIS published the revised version, which employers are mandated to use effective September 18, 2017.  Until then, employers may continue to use the current Form I-9.  Further, employers must remain compliant with existing Form I-9 storage and retention policies for any previously completed employment verification forms.

USCIS revisions include adding the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) to List C of the acceptable documents an employee may provide to verify employment eligibility.  All List C documents have been renumbered and USCIS combined all of the certifications of report of birth that the United States Department of State issues (Form FS-545, Form DS-1350, and Form FS-240) under List C, Selection C, Number 2.

The Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. ALL employers in the United States must implement use of the form and ensure its proper completion for each individual they hire for employment in the United States—citizens and noncitizens alike.

Employers are reminded that the Department of Homeland Security has increased employer immigration compliance enforcement and employer immigration policies and regulations are in a constant state of change.  Daily, employers are caught off guard when Immigration & Customs Enforcement agents come knocking at Human Resources’ door, seeking to conduct random Form I-9 audits.  Be prepared.  Be proactive.  Be represented.

To download the revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, please click here.

If you have questions about this post, your rights, or any other immigration law issues, please contact me at rglahoud@nmmlaw.com.