Legal Issues Impacting Your Business
New I-9 form FINALLY here
Dear Clients:
US Citizenship & Immigration Service (USCIS) has issued a new I-9 form and updated the instructions and employer handbook. I believe the last update was 1991, even though the list of acceptable documents was changed in 1996.
The form itself is not very different, but the list of acceptable documents has been changed to comply with the law. The form is available in English and Spanish and either version may be used.
We have already received emails from companies offering to provide employers with this new form for a "substantial discount". But of course the form is free from the government. You may find it by going to www.uscis.gov - go to "forms" and they are listed in alpha-numeric order (although in true government fashion "I-9" is at the END of the "I" section after "I-881"). Or you may call 800-870-3676.
Employers will have 30 days from the date USCIS publishes a notice in the Federal Register to transition to the new form, but you might as well start now since the new form is more clear and the list of acceptable documents is corrected.
The Employer Handbook is available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/m-274.pdf and appears to be much more clear. However, note that it still shows the current version of the "green card" with the 3/4 view photo rather than the full frontal view "passport-style" photo that is now mandated.
Immigration & Customs Enforcement has a publication with sample immigration documents, the Guide to Selected U.S. Travel and Identity Documents (M-396) that may be ordered in bulk at: Customs and Border Protection,National Distribution Center, P.O. Box 68912, Indianapolis, IN 46268; fax 317 290 3046. The request should be on form CF 262 --available at the www.ice.gov. We have ordered it to see if it is more helpful than the USCIS version.
As we study the form, we will let you know if there are items of which you should be aware.
Regards,
Lori Chesser
