March 2020: Employers Must Begin Using New Form I-9 by May 1

Employers Must Begin Using New Form I-9 by May 1

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recently published a new version of Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification. The previous version of this form expired Aug. 31, 2019, but USCIS advised employers to continue using the expired form until a new form was made available.

Transition Period
With the new form, USCIS has also clarified that employers have the option of initially using either the expired or the new Form I-9. However, employers must begin using the new form exclusively by May 1, 2020.

What’s Different?

The paper version of the new form has not changed, but the electronic form shows a few minor changes. Specifically, the new form:

• Lists additional countries (Eswatini and Macedonia) in the country of issuance field;
• Clarifies who can act as an authorized employer representative;
• Updates the USCIS website address;
• Clarifies the list of acceptable documents;
• Updates the process for requesting paper versions of the form; and
• Updates the privacy notice from the Department of Homeland Security.

Additional articles from the March 2020 Employee Benefits Newsletter:

1. Families First Coronavirus Response Act Signed into Law
2. DOL Increases Civil Penalty Amounts for 2020
   
3. Helping Employees Embrace Workplace Change