Topic Spotlight

USCIS reminds employers to start using the revised Form I-9 beginning April 3

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) service and benefits bureau, is reminding employers that the revised Form I-9 is currently scheduled to take effect on April 3, 2009.

Background. Pursuant to the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), all employers, agricultural recruiters and referrers for a fee are required to verify the identity and employment authorization of each individual they hire for employment in the United States, regardless of that individual's citizenship. As part of the verification process, employers and employees must complete the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, with employers retaining the form for a statutorily established period of time (three years after the employee's date of hire or one year after the date that employment is discharged) and make the form available for inspection for certain government officials.

The documents designated as acceptable for the Form I-9 are divided among three lists: List A --documents that establish both identity and employment authorization; List B --documents that establish only identity; and List C --documents that establish only employment authorization. Many work authorization documents must be renewed on or before their expiration date, requiring the Form I-9 to be updated. This process is called reverification. DHS recommends using a "tickler" system to keep track of employees with documents of limited-duration work authorization.

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