USCIS Releases New Form I-9 And New Handbook For Employers

On July 17, 2017, the USCIS announced the release of a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.

Key information:

• The revised version may be used immediately, but it must be used no later than September 18, 2017.
• Employers can continue using Form I-9 with a revision date of 11/14/16 N through September 17, 2017.
• Employers must continue following existing storage and retention rules for any previously completed Form I-9.

The changes below also can be found in the newly revised Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274).

Revisions to the Form I-9 instructions:

• The name of the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices (OSC) has been changed. Its new name is Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER).
• The instructions on Section 2 have been slightly changed to read: "Employers or their authorized representative must complete and sign Section 2 within 3 business days of the employee's first day of employment."

Revisions related to the List of Acceptable Documents on Form I-9:

• The 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 Department of State (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, which remains #1 on the list.

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