Employers should take note of two major updates in the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, world.
- New Version of Form I-9:
From May 1, 2020 onwards, employers will only be permitted to use the Form I-9 with a “10/21/19” version date. You can find the edition date at the bottom of the page on the form and instructions.
On January 31, 2020, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new version of the Form I-9, replacing the existing edition with a “07/17/17 N” version date. See here. USCIS created a transition period from January 31, 2020 to April 30, 2020, allowing employers to use either version. However, beginning May 1, 2020, employers can only use the “10/21/19” version. Failing to use the correct version of the Form I-9 may expose the company to monetary penalties.
- Revised M-274 Handbook for Employers:
USCIS recently released a revised M-274, Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9. The Handbook can be found here. The Handbook provides employers with detailed guidance for completing Form I-9.
A summary of the changes can be found here.
