Here’s the new I-9 you need to start using Jan. 22
If you haven’t grabbed the new Form I-9 yet, here’s what you need to know about it.
For starters, employers must start using the revised Form I-9 (dated 11/14/2016) by Jan. 22, 2017.
Until then, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) agency is allowing employers to use the old Form I-9 (dated 03/08/2013) for a grace period, which ends Jan. 21, 2017.
The new Form I-9 (PDF) and the instructions for using it, can all be found on the USCIS’ website.
Some notable changes:
- It asks for “other last names used” rather than “other names used”
- The certification process for certain foreign nationals has been streamlined
- It has dedicated areas for adding additional information, rather than having to add it in the margins
- Prompts have been added to help ensure information is entered correctly, and
- Multiple preparers and translators can now be entered.
USCIS is also saying that the revised Form I-9 is easier to complete using a computer, thanks to:
- Drop-down lists and calendars for filling in dates,
- On-screen instructions for each field
- Easy-to-access full instructions, and
- An option to clear the form and start over.
