The new version of the I-9 form is now required for all hires as of January 22, 2017.
The form may be completed online, printed, and signed, or it may be printed and completed manually.
Completing the form online has many benefits, including auto-filling blanks, pull-down menus, and pop-ups to help avoid many errors.
The downside is that the form still will not open in many browsers (Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc.). A work-around is to download the form, save it locally and use Adobe to fill it out electronically.
If you are completing the form manually, please note the following common errors:
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In Section 1 (completed by the employee) ensure:
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That every box is filled in completely with the employee’s name, address, and other personal information.
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Only ONE box is checked and that any additional information required with the box checked is completed.
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The employee signs and dates the form and indicates if a translator was used. If a translator was used, the certification must be completed also (the new form has room for several translator certifications if the form is completed electronically).
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In Section 2:
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Fill in the employee’s name and the number of the box checked in Section 1 under “Citizenship /Immigration Status” (i.e., 1, 2, 3 or 4).
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Complete the first day of employment in the blank above the signature block.
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To conform to the electronic version, employees and employers (in both Sections 1 and 2) should fill any blanks on the form with “N/A.” We do not know if failure to do this will result in a violation if the I-9s are audited. Since USCIS has provided no instruction, the best practice is to fill in all blanks.
