USCIS Issues New Edition of Form I-9

The issue

As expected, a new edition of the I-9 employment eligibility verification form has been issued for public use.  The new edition is dated 10/21/2019 and will become mandatory on May 1, 2020.

Through April 30, 2020, employers can continue to use the previous edition of Form I-9, dated 07/17/2017.

What has changed on Form I-9

The new edition of Form I-9 lists additional countries in the Country of Issuance field in Section 1, among other minor changes which are visible only when a user completes the fillable form on a computer.

Other revisions to Form I-9 instructions include:

• Clarification on who can act as an authorized representative on behalf of an employer;
• Updated USCIS website addresses;
• Clarifications pertaining to acceptable documents;
• An updated process for requesting the paper Form I-9; and
• An update to the DHS Privacy Notice.

What this means for employers

Employers should ensure that the new form is integrated into their employment eligibility verification systems and processes in time for May 1, 2020. If you have any questions about the new Form I-9 or other employment verification issues, please contact the firm’s Government Relations and Compliance Group or your designated Fragomen professional. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.