Form I-9, officially known as the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, is a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services form mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. It is used to verify the identity and legal authorization to work in the United States of all newly hired employees. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.
The form consists of two sections and two supplements:
- Section One: Employee Information and Attestation
- Section Two: Employer Review and Verification
- Supplement A, Preparer and/or Translator Certification for Section 1
- Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire (formerly Section 3)
In completing Form I-9, prospective employees attest, under penalty of perjury, that they are in one of the following categories: a U.S. citizen, a U.S. non-citizen national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work. The form requires the employee to present acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization, which the employer must examine to determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee.
Form I-9 is a fillable form, which means you can type your answers directly on the form instead of writing them by hand. In October 2004, new legislation made it possible to complete the I-9 electronically. The latest version of the form is dated 08/01/23, and employers who fail to use this version may be subject to penalties.
Overall, Form I-9 is an important document that helps ensure that all newly hired employees are authorized to work in the United States.
