USCIS is reminding employers that if they are continuing to use a Form I-9 (“Smart Form”) that was downloaded between November 14 (when the form first became available) and November 17, 2016, they should download, save, and start using a new Form I-9, available at uscis.gov/i-9 .
There was a glitch in the software during those days that resulted in Social Security numbers being transposed. For example, the number 123-45-6789 entered in the Social Security number field might appear as 123-34-6789.
The USCIS is advising the following:
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Employers should check to see if their employees’ Social Security numbers are incorrect;
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If they are incorrect, employers should have their employees draw a line through the transposed number in Section 1, enter the correct number, and initial and date the change; and
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Include a written explanation with the Form I-9 about why the correction was made in the event of an audit, citing to the USCIS announcement dated April 6, 2017, at: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/whats-new .
