Employers Required to Use New Form I-9 by September 18, 2017

Employers must begin using a new version of the Form I-9 issued by the U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) no later than September 18, 2017 or face potentially large fines. The Form I-9 is the document employers must use to verify the identity of new hires to ensure they are authorized to work in the United States.

What’s Different?

The changes to the Form are subtle. There are changes to the instructions and the list of documents approved to verify eligibility. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240) was added as a List C document, and all the certifications of report of birth issued by the State Department (Form FS-545, Form DS-1350, and Form FS-240) have been combined.

The List C documents have been renumbered, except for the Social Security Card. All changes are described in detail in the newly revised Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274).

Storage and Retention Rules

Employers must be able to present the Forms to government officials for inspection within 3 business days of a request. Employers who choose to keep paper copies of the documents their employees present may store them with the employee’s Form I-9 or with the employees’ records. However, the USCIS recommends that employers keep Form I-9 separate from personnel records to facilitate an inspection request.

Employers are required to retain an employee’s Form I-9 until the later of (1) the date the employee began work for pay + 3 years, or (2) the date employment was terminated + 1 year.

Potential Penalties for Failure to Follow Form I-9 Rules

In 2016, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced increases for Form I-9 violations. For example, the minimum and maximum fines for simple Form I-9 violations increased to $216 and $2,156, respectively. Additionally, minimum and maximum fines for first offenses of Unlawful Employment of Unauthorized Workers has increased to $539 and $4,313 per worker, respectively.

Employers with lingering questions about the new Form I-9 should contact their employment counsel.

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