By law, U.S. employers must verify the identity and employment authorization for every worker they hire, regardless of the employee’s immigration status. To comply with the law, employers must complete Form I-9.
Last week, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched I-9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to Form I-9, Employee Eligibility Verification. This free, easy-to-use website builds on recent employment-related enhancements by providing employers and employees simple, one-click access to resources, tips and guidance to properly complete Form I-9 and better understand the Form I-9 process.
The launch of I-9 Central follows the introduction of other important USCIS employment-related resources. These resources include E-Verify Self Check, a service launched in March that allows workers and job seekers in the United States to check their own employment eligibility status online, and an updated “Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9” published earlier this year.
I-9 Central includes sections about employer and employee rights and responsibilities, step-by-step instructions for completing the form and information on acceptable documents for establishing identity and employment authorization. I-9 Central also includes a discussion of common mistakes to avoid when completing the form, guidance on how to correct errors and answers to employers’ recent questions about the Form I-9 process.
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I-9 Central can be accessed at www.uscis.gov/I-9central.
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The Handbook for Employers can be accessed at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/m-274.pdf.
Even with this online assistance, compliance with Form I-9 requirements can be tricky. Our immigration attorneys are available to help. Contact Natalie Dressel at ndressel@wp.hallrender.com or Michael Kim at mkim@wp.hallrender.com for specific guidance.
