The feds just announced the release of a new employment eligibility verification form. Which version are you required to use?
As is always the case when a new form is issued, there’s some confusion over what’s being asked of employers. This time, though, things are relatively simple.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently posted the new version on its Web site. The previous form was scheduled to expire in June, before USCIS extended the date to August 31. The new I-9 is good until August 31, 2012.
What’s new? Nothing at all, in fact.
The form is the same as the old one, with the exception of the expiration and revision dates (The new version is dated 08/07/09 at the bottom right corner, compared to 02/02/09 for the old form.)
Better yet: HR is allowed to use either version of the form. However, some experts recommend always using the newest revision — whether it’s required or not — to avoid confusion.
You can the latest Form I-9 from USCIS’s Web site here.
