September 14, 2023

Last month, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Until November 1, 2023, employers may continue using the current Form I-9. However, the USCIS will require employers to switch forms by this date. As such, employers should familiarize themselves with the updated format and its changes.

The new Form I-9 includes significant changes to the verification process. For example, it returns a single page present from 1986 to 2013. This change also necessitated the introduction of new supplements for employers to use when required. The form introduced several other crucial changes that employers should review before November.

Examples include the following:

• Sections 1 and 2 are now on one page. The USCIS reduced these sections to one page to make Form I-9 more user-friendly.
• Added a checkbox for those using remote verification. Qualified employers enrolled in E-verify can remotely examine their employees’ identity and employment authorization documents. Employers choosing this option and marking this checkbox confirm they have used the correct procedure for reviewing these documents.
• Section 3 is now a supplement. When re-verifying or rehiring an employee, employers must use Section 3. The new form changed Section 3 into Supplement B, contained on a separate page. This change allows employers to print this page only when needed. However, this does increase the risk of forgetting this section of Form I-9.
• The Preparer and Translation section is a separate page. It is now Supplement A; as with Supplement B, employers may miss it.
• Individuals previously referred to as “aliens” are now called “noncitizens.” Under Status 4, the USCIS clarified that noncitizens must supply a USCIS number, Form I-4 Admission number, or a Foreign Passport number and Country of Issuance.
• It is no longer necessary to mark N/A in unused fields of Section 1. Before, the USCIS did not penalize employers for not writing “N/A” in irrelevant lines; now, the USCIS no longer requires the step.
• The new Form I-9 is now mobile-friendly. Employers can now fill out the form electronically. However, the USCIS still requires “wet” signatures when not using an electronic Form I-9 system.
• The instructions for the form have shortened. They are now eight pages long instead of the previous fifteen pages. 

Employers can download the new version of Form I-9 on the USCIS website. However, they can continue using the previous edition until October 31, 2023. The new Form I-9 should prove less complicated than the previous form. Despite the changes, employers may still find it challenging to fill out. 

Making compliance mistakes can lead to costly mistakes, so employers should consider a way to reduce stress. One way to ensure compliance is by using an electronic I-9 management system. This system guides employers through the process. It also safely and securely stores the forms for easy retrieval.

Streamline your hiring process with an automated employment eligibility verification and ensure compliance today with I-9Compliance.

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