The U.S. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has released a new version of Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification form. The form is needed by employers in the US to confirm the identity and work permit of employees. The new form aims to be more frictionless and simpler for both employers and employees.
In this post, we’ll explain what are the main changes to the new Form I-9 and what you should know to remain compliant with U.S. immigration law.
What’s New on the Revised Form I-9?
Form I-9 version v2 has several major updates that simplify and make the process more user-friendly. The biggest news: Below are the most important updates:
1. Shorter Sections for Easier Completion
The most important is that the fields of the form have been trimmed. Now parts 1 and 2 are shortened to fit on one page. USCIS divided some fields into shorter and more compact sections so the form is easier for both employers and employees to fill out.
2. Enhanced Preparer and Translator Certification (Supplement A)
The Preparer and/or Translator Certification, which was once part of the original form, is now Supplement A. This is why employers can give it to workers so they can fill it out themselves which eliminates confusion and simplifies things.
3. Separate Reverification and Rehire Statement (Supplement B)
Previous version: Section 3 of the I-9 form was for employment authorization verification during a rehire or re-verification. Supplement B is now separated from the others in these changes. This makes it simpler for employers to manage workers who need to be reverified (eg, temporary workers).
4. Terminology Changes for Clarity
The words in the form have been revised to make them more comprehensible. “alien authorized to work” has been replaced by “noncitizen authorized to work.” The “noncitizen national” vs. “noncitizen authorized to work” is now stated so employers know which kinds of employees they are allowed to employ.
5. Better Mobile and Tablet Compatibility
The new form is mobile and tablet-friendly. Employers and employees can fill out the form electronically from work, home, or anywhere else with this release.
6. More Concise Instructions
The Instructions for the Form I-9 have been slashed from 15 pages to 8 pages. The change is so that employers can quickly access what they’re looking for without getting drowned in long, rambling commands.
7. Updated Anti-Discrimination Guidelines
On the top of the new Form I-9 are new instructions for employers on how to not discriminate in employment screening. It’s about ensuring that employers treat all employees equally (regardless of citizenship and immigration status) and with fairness in the application of the law.
8. Alternative Document Examination Procedure
The new Form I-9 now has a new checkbox. This checkbox is for employers to mark when they have used another document-examination procedure regulated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It’s an alternative process to a physical review of employee documents done in person.
What Is The Effective Date For The New Form I-9?
This is the new version of Form I-9 (Rev. 08/01/23) commenced to be used on 1 August 2023. However, employers can still access the previous version (Rev. 10/21/19) until October 31, 2023. It’s no longer valid for any older version of the form after this date and all employers need to use the new version.
Why Compliance is So Important
Employers should fill out and keep Form I-9 for all of their new hires. The form is fundamental to US immigration law, and a breach of the I-9 can come with significant fines. These can be civil or criminal, depending on the type of violation. Furthermore, To not be a problem, use the right form and updated one, with all the instructions taken care of. You can stay legally risk-free and get your employees recorded to prevent potential claims. Also, Download the new Form I-9 right from the USCIS website so you have the most recent version.
With this updated Form I-9, employment eligibility checks can be easier and faster for both employers and employees. You can know what these changes are, and do what you need to to ensure that your business meets the requirements of U.S. immigration. Just keep in mind if you have the correct version of the form and follow the new steps you won’t get penalized and your hiring cycle will stay on track.
