Labor & Employment Law Blog

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) introduced a new Form I-9 today, March 8, 2013, for immediate use.  The new form, which is identified with “version (Rev. 03/08/13)” in the lower left corner, features several new revisions:

• Expands the form from one page to two pages.  The first page is to be completed by the employee, the second by the employer.
• Asks for employee e-mail and telephone number.  Although these are optional, it does not specify that on the form, but only the instructions.
• Expands the instructions to the form from three to six pages
• insert ignores spaces for 3-D Barcodes.  There is no explanation as to their use.
• No material changes to the List of Acceptable Documents—except that Item 1 under List C, regarding Social Security Account Number Cards, clarifies which SSN cards with restrictions are not acceptable proof of authorization to work.

The new form may be obtained here: http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf

Prior versions of the form may be used for a grace period of 60 days, until May 7, 2013, for new employees. Employers should note that they do not need to complete a new Form I-9 for current employees who already have a completed Form I-9 on file, unless re-verification rules apply.