Employment Eligibility Verification (Employees)

Employment Eligibility Verification

I-9 INS 30day 20190530

Employment Eligibility Verification (Employees)

OMB: 1615-0047

Document [pdf]
Download: pdf | pdf
 

Instructions for Form I-9,
Employment Eligibility Verification
 

Department of Homeland Security
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

 

 

USCIS
Form I-9

OMB No. 1615-0047
Expires 08/31/2019

 

 

Anti-Discrimination Notice. It is illegal to discriminate against work-authorized individuals in hiring, firing, recruitment or
referral for a fee, or in the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9 and E-Verify) process based on that individual's
citizenship status, immigration status or national origin. Employers CANNOT specify which document(s) the employee may
present to establish employment authorization and identity. The employer must allow the employee to choose the documents
to be presented from the Lists of Acceptable Documents, found on the last page of Form I-9. The refusal to hire or continue to
employ an individual because the documentation presented has a future expiration date may also constitute illegal
discrimination. For more information, call the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) in the Department of Justice's
Civil Rights Division at 1-800-255-7688 (employees), 1-800-255-8155 (employers), or 1-800-237-2515 (TTY), or visit
https://www.justice.gov/crt/immigrant-and-employee-rights-section.
 

What is the Purpose of This Form?
 

Employers must complete Form I-9 to document verification of the identity and employment authorization of each new employee
(both citizen and noncitizen) hired after November 6, 1986, to work in the United States. In the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands (CNMI), employers must complete Form I-9 to document verification of the identity and employment
authorization of each new employee (both citizen and noncitizen) hired after November 27, 2011.

 

General Instructions
 

Both employers and employees are responsible for completing their respective sections of Form I-9. For the purpose of
completing this form, the term “employer” means all employers, including those recruiters and referrers for a fee who are
agricultural associations, agricultural employers, or farm labor contractors, as defined in section 3 of the Migrant and Seasonal
Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Public Law 97-470 (29 U.S.C. 1802). An “employee” is a person who performs labor or
services in the United States for an employer in return for wages or other remuneration. The term “Employee” does not include
those who do not receive any form of remuneration (volunteers), independent contractors or those engaged in certain casual
domestic employment. Form I-9 has three sections. Employees complete Section 1. Employers complete Section 2 and, when
applicable, Section 3. Employers may be fined if the form is not properly completed. See 8 USC § 1324a and 8 CFR § 274a.10.
Individuals may be prosecuted for knowingly and willfully entering false information on the form. Employers are responsible for
retaining completed forms. Do not mail completed forms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

 

These instructions will assist you in properly completing Form I-9. The employer must ensure that all pages of the instructions
and Lists of Acceptable Documents are available, either in print or electronically, to all employees completing this form. When
completing the form on a computer, the English version of the form includes specific instructions for each field and drop-down
lists for universally used abbreviations and acceptable documents. To access these instructions, move the cursor over each field
or click on the question mark symbol ( ) within the field. Employers and employees can also access this full set of
instructions at any time by clicking the Instructions button at the top of each page when completing the form on a computer that
is connected to the Internet.
 

Employers and employees may choose to complete any or all sections of the form on paper or using a computer, or a
combination of both. Forms I-9 obtained from the USCIS website are not considered electronic Forms I-9 under DHS
regulations and, therefore, cannot be electronically signed. Therefore, regardless of the method you used to enter information
into each field, you must print a hard copy of the form, then sign and date the hard copy by hand where required.
 

Employers can obtain a blank copy of Form I-9 from the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/files/form/
i-9.pdf. This form is in portable document format (.pdf) that is fillable and savable. That means that you may download it, or
simply print out a blank copy to enter information by hand. You may also request paper Forms I-9 from USCIS.
 

Certain features of Form I-9 that allow for data entry on personal computers may make the form appear to be more than two
pages. When using a computer, Form I-9 has been designed to print as two pages. Using more than one preparer and/or translator
will add an additional page to the form, regardless of your method of completion. You are not required to print, retain or store
the page containing the Lists of Acceptable Documents.
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 1 of 15

 
The form will also populate certain fields with N/A when certain user choices ensure that particular fields will not be
completed. The Print button located at the top of each page that will print any number of pages the user selects. Also, the Start
Over button located at the top of each page will clear all the fields on the form.
 

The Spanish version of Form I-9 does not include the additional instructions and drop-down lists described above. Employers
in Puerto Rico may use either the Spanish or English version of the form. Employers outside of Puerto Rico must retain the
English version of the form for their records, but may use the Spanish form as a translation tool. Additional guidance to
complete the form may be found in the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) and on USCIS’
Form I-9 website, I-9 Central.
 

Completing Section I: Employee Information and Attestation
 

You, the employee, must complete each field in Section 1 as described below. Newly hired employees must complete and sign
Section 1 no later than the first day of employment. Section 1 should never be completed before you have accepted a job offer.
 

Entering Your Employee Information
 

Last Name (Family Name): Enter your full legal last name. Your last name is your family name or surname. If you
have two last names or a hyphenated last name, include both names in the Last Name field. Examples of correctly entered
last names include De La Cruz, O’Neill, Garcia Lopez, Smith-Johnson, Nguyen. If you only have one name, enter it in
this field, then enter “Unknown” in the First Name field. You may not enter “Unknown” in both the Last Name field and
the First Name field.
 

First Name (Given Name): Enter your full legal first name. Your first name is your given name. Some examples of
correctly entered first names include Jessica, John-Paul, Tae Young, D’Shaun, Mai. If you only have one name, enter it
in the Last Name field, then enter “Unknown” in this field. You may not enter “Unknown” in both the First Name field
and the Last Name field.
 

Middle Initial: Your middle initial is the first letter of your second given name, or the first letter of your middle name, if
any. If you have more than one middle name, enter the first letter of your first middle name. If you do not have a middle
name, enter N/A in this field.
 

Other Last Names Used: Provide all other last names used, if any (e.g., maiden name). Enter N/A if you have not used
other last names. For example, if you legally changed your last name from Smith to Jones, you should enter the name
Smith in this field.
 

Address (Street Name and Number): Enter the street name and number of the current address of your residence. If
you are a border commuter from Canada or Mexico, you may enter your Canada or Mexico address in this field. If your
residence does not have a physical address, enter a description of the location of your residence, such as “3 miles
southwest of Anytown post office near water tower.”
 

Apartment: Enter the number(s) or letter(s) that identify(ies) your apartment. If you do not live in an apartment, enter N/A.
 

City or Town: Enter your city, town or village in this field. If your residence is not located in a city, town or village, enter
your county, township, reservation, etc., in this field. If you are a border commuter from Canada, enter your city and
province in this field. If you are a border commuter from Mexico, enter your city and state in this field.
 

State: Enter the abbreviation of your state or territory in this field. If you are a border commuter from Canada or Mexico,
enter your country abbreviation in this field.
 

ZIP Code: Enter your 5-digit ZIP code. If you are a border commuter from Canada or Mexico, enter your
5- or 6-digit postal code in this field.
 

Date of Birth: Enter your date of birth as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example,
enter January 8, 1980 as 01/08/1980.
 

U.S. Social Security Number: Providing your 9-digit Social Security number is voluntary on Form I-9 unless your
employer participates in E-Verify. If your employer participates in E-Verify and:
1. You have been issued a Social Security number, you must provide it in this field; or
 

2. You have applied for, but have not yet received a Social Security number, leave this field blank until you receive
a Social Security number.
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 2 of 15

 
Employee’s E-mail Address (Optional): Providing your e-mail address is optional on Form I-9, but the field cannot be
left blank. To enter your e-mail address, use this format: name@site .domain. One reason Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) may e-mail you is if your employer uses E-Verify and DHS learns of a potential mismatch between the
information provided and the information in government records. This e-mail would contain information on how to begin
to resolve the potential mismatch. You may use either your personal or work e-mail address in this field. Enter N/A if you
do not enter your e-mail address.
 

Employee’s Telephone Number (Optional): Providing your telephone number is optional on Form I-9, but the field
cannot be left blank. If you enter your area code and telephone number, use this format: 000-000-0000. Enter N/A if you do
not enter your telephone number.
 

Attesting to Your Citizenship or Immigration Status
 

You must select one box to attest to your citizenship or immigration status.

 

1.

A citizen of the United States.

2.

A noncitizen national of the United States: An individual born in American Samoa, certain former citizens of the
former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and certain children of noncitizen nationals born abroad.

3.

A lawful permanent resident: An individual who is not a U.S. citizen and who resides in the United States under legally
recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. This term includes conditional residents. Asylees
and refugees should not select this status, but should instead select "An Alien authorized to work" below.

 

 

 

If you select “lawful permanent resident,” enter your 7- to 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number), including the
“A,” or USCIS Number in the space provided. When completing this field using a computer, use the dropdown provided
to indicate whether you have entered an Alien Number or a USCIS Number. At this time, the USCIS Number is the same
as the A-Number without the “A” prefix.
 

4.

An alien authorized to work: An individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, or a lawful permanent
resident, but is authorized to work in the United States.

 

If you select this box, enter the date that your employment authorization expires, if any, in the space provided. In most
cases, your employment authorization expiration date is found on the document(s) evidencing your employment
authorization. Refugees, asylees and certain citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, or Palau, and other aliens whose employment authorization does not have an expiration date should enter N/A in
the Expiration Date field. In some cases, such as if you have Temporary Protected Status, your employment authorization
may have been automatically extended; in these cases, you should enter the expiration date of the automatic extension in
this space.
 

Aliens authorized to work must enter one of the following to complete Section1:
1. Alien Registration Number (A-Number)/USCIS Number; or
2. Form I-94 Admission Number; or
3. Foreign Passport Number and the Country of Issuance
 

Your employer may not ask you to present the document from which you supplied this information.
 

Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number: Enter your 7- to 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number),
including the “A,” or your USCIS Number in this field. At this time, the USCIS Number is the same as your
A-Number without the “A” prefix. When completing this field using a computer, use the dropdown provided to indicate
whether you have entered an Alien Number or a USCIS Number. If you do not provide an A-Number or USCIS Number,
enter N/A in this field then enter either a Form I-94 Admission Number, or a Foreign Passport and Country of Issuance in
the fields provided.
 

Form I-94 Admission Number: Enter your 11-digit I-94 Admission Number in this field. If you do not provide an I94Admission Number, enter N/A in this field, then enter either an Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number or a
ForeignPassport Number and Country of Issuance in the fields provided.
 

Foreign Passport Number: Enter your Foreign Passport Number in this field. If you do not provide a Foreign Passport
Number, enter N/A in this field, then enter either an Alien Number/USCIS Number or a I-94 Admission Number in the
fields provided.

 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 3 of 15

 
Country of Issuance: If you entered your Foreign Passport Number, enter your Foreign Passport’s Country of Issuance.
If you did not enter your Foreign Passport Number, enter N/A.
Signature of Employee: After completing Section 1, sign your name in this field. If you used a form obtained from the
USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this field. By signing this form, you attest under penalty of
perjury (28 U.S.C. § 1746) that the information you provided, along with the citizenship or immigration status you selected,
and all information and documentation you provide to your employer, is complete, true and correct, and you are aware that you
may face severe penalties provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly and willfully making false
statements or using false documentation when completing this form. Further, falsely attesting to U.S. citizenship may subject
employees to penalties, removal proceedings and may adversely affect an employee's ability to seek future immigration benefits.
If you cannot sign your name, you may place a mark in this field to indicate your signature. Employees who use a preparer or
translator to help them complete the form must still sign or place a mark in the Signature of Employee field on the printed form.
 

If you used a preparer, translator, and other individual to assist you in completing Form I-9:
 

Both you and your preparer(s) and/or translator(s) must complete the appropriate areas of Section 1, and then sign
Section 1. If Section 1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS website, the form must be printed to sign
these fields. You and your preparer(s) and/or translator(s) also should review the instructions for Completing the
Preparer and/or Translator Certification below.
If the employee is a minor (individual under 18) who cannot present an identity document, the employee's parent or
legal guardian can complete Section 1 for the employee and enter “minor under age 18” in the signature field. If Section
1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS website, the form must be printed to enter this information. The
minor's parent or legal guardian should review the instructions for Completing the Preparer and/or Translator
Certification below. Refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more
guidance on completion of Form I-9 for minors. If the minor's employer participates in E-Verify, the employee must
present a list B identity document with a photograph to complete Form I-9.
If the employee is a person with a disability (who is placed in employment by a nonprofit organization, association or as
part of a rehabilitation program) who cannot present an identity document, the employee's parent, legal guardian or a
representative of the nonprofit organization, association or rehabilitation program can complete Section 1 for the
employee and enter “Special Placement” in this field. If Section 1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS
website, the form must be printed to enter this information. The parent, legal guardian or representative of the nonprofit
organization, association or rehabilitation program completing Section 1 for the employee should review the
instructions for Completing the Preparer and/or Translator Certification below. Refer to the Handbook for Employers:
Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on completion of Form I-9 for certain employees with
disabilities.

 

Today's Date: Enter the date you signed Section 1 in this field. Do not backdate this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month,
2-digit day and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014. A preparer or translator who
assists the employee in completing Section 1 may enter the date the employee signed or made a mark to sign Section 1 in this
field. Parents or legal guardians assisting minors (individuals under age 18) and parents, legal guardians or representatives of a
nonprofit organization, association or rehabilitation program assisting certain employees with disabilities must enter the date
they completed Section 1 for the employee.
 

Completing the Preparer and/or Translator Certification
 

If you did not use a preparer or translator to assist you in completing Section 1, you, the employee, must check the box marked
I did not use a Preparer or Translator. If you check this box, leave the rest of the fields in this area blank.

 

If one or more preparers and/or translators assist the employee in completing the form using a computer, the preparer and/or
translator must check the box marked “A preparer(s) and/or translator(s) assisted the employee in completing Section 1” ,
then select the number of Certification areas needed from the dropdown provided. Any additional Certification areas generated
will result in an additional page. Form I-9 Supplement, Section 1 Preparer and/or Translator Certification can be separately
downloaded from the USCIS Form I-9 webpage, which provides additional Certification areas for those completing Form I-9
using a computer who need more Certification areas than the 5 provided or those who are completing Form I-9 on paper.
The first preparer and/or translator must complete all the fields in the Certification area on the same page the employee has
signed. There is no limit to the number of preparers and/or translators an employee can use, but each additional preparer and/or
translator must complete and sign a separate Certification area. Ensure the employee's last name, first name and middle initial
are entered at the top of any additional pages. The employer must ensure that any additional pages are retained with the
employee's completed Form I-9.
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 4 of 15

 
Signature of Preparer or Translator: Any person who helped to prepare or translate Section 1of Form I-9 must sign his or
her name in this field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this
field. The Preparer and/or Translator Certification must also be completed if “Individual under Age 18” or “Special Placement”
is entered in lieu of the employee’s signature in Section 1.
 

Today's Date: The person who signs the Preparer and/or Translator Certification must enter the date he or she signs in this
field on the printed form. Do not backdate this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/
yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014.
 

Last Name (Family Name): Enter the full legal last name of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating
Section 1 in this field. The last name is also the family name or surname. If the preparer or translator has two last names or a
hyphenated last name, include both names in this field.
 

First Name (Given Name): Enter the full legal first name of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating
Section 1 in this field. The first name is also the given name.
 

Address (Street Name and Number): Enter the street name and number of the current address of the residence of the person
who helped the employee in preparing or translating Section 1 in this field. Addresses for residences in Canada or Mexico may
be entered in this field. If the residence does not have a physical address, enter a description of the location of the residence, such
as “3 miles southwest of Anytown post office near water tower.” If the residence is an apartment, enter the apartment number in
this field.
 

City or Town: Enter the city, town or village of the residence of the person who helped the employee in preparing or
translating Section 1 in this field. If the residence is not located in a city, town or village, enter the name of the county,
township, reservation, etc., in this field. If the residence is in Canada, enter the city and province in this field. If the residence is
in Mexico, enter the city and state in this field.
 

State: Enter the abbreviation of the state, territory or country of the preparer or translator’s residence in this field.
 

ZIP Code: Enter the 5-digit ZIP code of the residence of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating
Section 1 in this field. If the preparer or translator's residence is in Canada or Mexico, enter the 5- or 6-digit postal code.
 

Presenting Form I-9 Documents
 

Within 3 business days of starting work for pay, you must present to your employer documentation that establishes your
identity and employment authorization. For example, if you begin employment on Monday, you must present documentation
on or before Thursday of that week. However, if you were hired to work for less than 3 business days, you must present
documentation no later than the first day of employment.

 

Choose which unexpired document(s) to present to your employer from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. An employer
cannot specify which document(s) you may present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. You may present either one
selection from List A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C. Some List A documents,
which show both identity and employment authorization, are combination documents that must be presented together to be
considered a List A document: for example, the foreign passport together with a Form I-94 containing an endorsement of the
alien’s nonimmigrant status and employment authorization with a specific employer incident to such status. List B documents
show identity only and List C documents show employment authorization only. If your employer participates in E-Verify and
you present a List B document, the document must contain a photograph. If you present acceptable List A documentation, you
should not be asked to present, nor should you provide, List B and List C documentation. If you present acceptable List B and
List C documentation, you should not be asked to present, nor should you provide, List A documentation. If you are unable to
present a document(s) from these lists, you may be able to present an acceptable receipt. Refer to the Receipts section below.
 

Your employer must review the document(s) you present to complete Form I-9. If your document(s) reasonably appears to be
genuine and to relate to you, your employer must accept the documents. If your document(s) does not reasonably appear to be
genuine or to relate to you, your employer must reject it and provide you with an opportunity to present other documents from
the Lists of Acceptable Documents. Your employer may choose to make copies of your document(s), but must return the
original(s) to you. Your employer must review your documents in your physical presence.

 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 5 of 15

 
Your employer will complete the other parts of this form, as well as review your entries in Section 1. Your employer may ask
you to correct any errors found. Your employer is responsible for ensuring all parts of Form I-9 are properly completed and is
subject to penalties under federal law if the form is not completed correctly.
 

Minors (individuals under age 18) and certain employees with disabilities whose parent, legal guardian or representative
completed Section 1 for the employee are only required to present an employment authorization document from List C. Refer to
the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on minors and certain individuals
with disabilities.
 

Receipts
 

If you do not have unexpired documentation from the Lists of Acceptable Documents, you may be able to present a receipt(s) in
lieu of an acceptable document(s). New employees who choose to present a receipt(s) must do so within three business days of
their first day of employment. If your employer is reverifying your employment authorization, and you choose to present a
receipt for reverification, you must present the receipt by the date your employment authorization expires. Receipts are not
acceptable if employment lasts fewer than three business days.
 

There are three types of acceptable receipts:
1. A receipt showing that you have applied to replace a document that was lost, stolen or damaged. You must present the
actual document within 90 days from the date of hire or, in the case of reverification, within 90 days from the date your
original employment authorization expires.
2. The arrival portion of Form I-94/I-94A containing a temporary I-551 stamp and a photograph of the individual. You must
present the actual Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) by the expiration date of the temporary I-551 stamp, or, if there is
no expiration date, within 1 year from the date of admission.
3. The departure portion of Form I-94/I-94A with a refugee admission stamp. You must present an unexpired Employment
Authorization Document (Form I-766) or a combination of a List B document and an unrestricted Social Security Card
within 90 days from the date of hire or, in the case of reverification, within 90 days from the date your original employment
authorization expires.

 

Receipts showing that you have applied for an initial grant of employment authorization, or for renewal of your expiring or
expired employment authorization, are not acceptable.
 

Completing Section 2: Employer or Authorized Representative Review and Verification
 

You, the employer, must ensure that all parts of Form I-9 are properly completed and may be subject to penalties under federal
law if the form is not completed correctly. Section 1 must be completed no later than the employee’s first day of employment.
You may not ask an individual to complete Section 1 before he or she has accepted a job offer. Before completing Section 2,
you should review Section 1 to ensure the employee completed it properly. If you find any errors in Section 1, have the
employee make corrections, as necessary and initial and date any corrections made.
You may designate an authorized representative to act on your behalf to complete Section 2. An authorized representative can
be any person you designate to complete and sign Form I-9 on your behalf. You are liable for any violations in connection with
the form or the verification process, including any violations of the employer sanctions laws committed by the person
designated to act on your behalf.
 

 

You or your authorized representative must complete Section 2 by examining evidence of identity and employment
authorization within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of employment. For example, if an employee begins
employment on Monday, you must review the employee's documentation and complete Section 2 on or before Thursday of that
week. However, if you hire an individual for less than 3 business days, Section 2 must be completed no later than the first day of
employment.
 

Entering Employee Information from Section 1
 

 

This area, titled, “Employee Info from Section 1” contains fields to enter the employee's last name, first name, middle initial
exactly as he or she entered them in Section 1. This area also includes a Citizenship/Immigration Status field to enter the number
of the citizenship or immigration status checkbox the employee selected in Section 1. These fields help to ensure that the two
pages of an employee's Form I-9 remain together. When completing Section 2 using a computer, the number entered in the
Citizenship/Immigration Status field provides drop-downs that directly relate to the employee's selected citizenship or
immigration status.
Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 6 of 15

 

Entering Documents the Employee Presents
 

You, the employer or authorized representative, must physically examine, in the employee's physical presence, the unexpired
document(s) the employee presents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents to complete the Document fields in Section 2.
 

You cannot specify which document(s) an employee may present from these lists. If you discriminate in the Form I-9 process
based on an individual's citizenship status, immigration status, or national origin, you may be in violation of the law and subject
to sanctions such as civil penalties and be required to pay back pay to discrimination victims. A document is acceptable as long
as it reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the person presenting it. Employees must present one selection from List A
or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C.
 

List A documents show both identity and employment authorization. Some List A documents are combination documents that
must be presented together to be considered a List A document, such as a foreign passport together with a Form I-94 containing
an endorsement of the alien’s nonimmigrant status.
 

List B documents show identity only, and List C documents show employment authorization only. If an employee presents a List
A document, do not ask or require the employee to present List B and List C documents, and vice versa. If an employer
participates in E-Verify and the employee presents a List B document, the List B document must include a photograph.
 

If an employee presents a receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged document, the employee must present
the replacement document to you within 90 days of the first day of work for pay, or in the case of reverification, within 90 days
of the date the employee's employment authorization expired. Enter the word “Receipt” followed by the title of the receipt in
Section 2 under the list that relates to the receipt.
 

When your employee presents the replacement document, draw a line through the receipt, then enter the information from the
new document into Section 2. Other receipts may be valid for longer or shorter periods, such as the arrival portion of Form I-94/
I-94A containing a temporary I-551 stamp and a photograph of the individual, which is valid until the expiration date of the
temporary I-551 stamp or, if there is no expiration date, valid for one year from the date of admission.
 

Ensure that each document is an unexpired, original (no photocopies, except for certified copies of birth certificates) document.
Certain employees may present an expired employment authorization document, which may be considered unexpired, if the
employee's employment authorization has been extended by regulation or a Federal Register Notice. Refer to the Handbook for
Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) or I-9 Central for more guidance on these special situations.
 

Refer to the M-274 for guidance on how to handle special situations, such as students (who may present additional documents
not specified on the Lists) and H-1B and H-2A nonimmigrants changing employers.
 

Minors (individuals under age 18) and certain employees with disabilities whose parent, legal guardian or representative
completed Section 1 for the employee are only required to present an employment authorization document from List C. Refer to
the M-274 for more guidance on minors and certain persons with disabilities. If the minor's employer participates in E-Verify,
the minor employee also must present a List B identity document with a photograph to complete Form I-9.
 

You must return original document(s) to the employee, but may make photocopies of the document(s) reviewed. Photocopying
documents is voluntary unless you participate in E-Verify. E-Verify employers are only required to photocopy certain documents.
If you are an E-Verify employer who chooses to photocopy documents other than those you are required to photocopy, you
should apply this policy consistently with respect to Form I-9 completion for all employees. For more information on the types of
documents that an employer must photocopy if the employer uses E-Verify, visit E-Verify’s website at www.dhs.gov/e-verify.
For non-E-Verify employers, if photocopies are made, they should be made consistently for ALL new hires and reverified
employees.
 

Photocopies must be retained and presented with Form I-9 in case of an inspection by DHS or another federal government
agency. You must always complete Section 2 by reviewing original documentation, even if you photocopy an employee’s
document(s) after reviewing the documentation. Making photocopies of an employee’s document(s) cannot take the place of
completing Form I-9. You are still responsible for completing and retaining Form I-9.

 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 7 of 15

 
List A - Identity and Employment Authorization: If the employee presented an acceptable document(s) from List A or an
acceptable receipt for a List A document, enter the document(s) information in this column. If the employee presented a List A
document that consists of a combination of documents, enter information from each document in that combination in a separate
area under List A as described below. All documents must be unexpired. If you enter document information in the List A
column, you should not enter document information or N/A in the List B or List C columns. If you complete Section 2 using a
computer, a selection in List A will fill all the fields in the Lists B and C columns with N/A.
 

Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List A, enter the title of the List A document or receipt in
this field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When
completing the form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviation to enter the
document title or issuing authority. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third
Document Title fields as necessary.
 

Full name of List A Document

 

Abbreviations

 

U.S. Passport

U.S. Passport

U.S. Passport Card

U.S. Passport Card

 

Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)

Perm. Resident Card (Form I-551)

Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)

Alien Reg. Receipt Card (Form I-551)

Foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 printed
notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV)

1. Foreign Passport
2. Temporary I-551 Stamp
1. Foreign Passport
2. Machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV)

Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)

Employment Auth. Document (Form I-766)

For a nonimmigrant alien authorized to work for a specific
employer because of his or her status, a foreign passport
with Form I/94/I-94A that contains an endorsement of the
alien's nonimmigrant status

1. Foreign Passport, work-authorized nonimmigrant
2. Form I-94/I94A
3. "Form I-20" or "Form DS-2019"

Foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 stamp

 

Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)
with Form I-94/I-94A
Passport from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)
with Form I-94/I94A
Receipt: The arrival portion of Form I-94/I-94A containing a
temporary I-551 stamp and photograph
Receipt: The departure portion of Form I-94/I-94A
with an unexpired refugee admission stamp
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged foreign passport with Form I-94/I-94A that contains
an endorsement of the alien's nonimmigrant status
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged passport from the Federated States of Micronesia
with Form I-94/I-94A
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged passport from the Republic of the Marshall Islands
with Form I-94/I-94A

Note: In limited circumstances, certain J-1
students may be required to present a letter
from their Responsible Officer in order to work.
Enter the document title, issuing authority,
document number and expiration date from this
document in the Additional Information field.
1. FSM Passport with Form I-94
2. Form I-94/I94A
1. RMI Passport with Form I-94
2. Form I-94/I94A

 

 

Receipt: Form I-94/I-94A w/I-551 stamp, photo
Receipt: Form I-94/I-94A w/refugee stamp
Receipt replacement Perm. Res. Card
(Form I-551)

 

Receipt replacement EAD (Form I-766)
1. Receipt: Replacement Foreign Passport,
work-authorized nonimmigrant
2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A
3. Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (if presented)
1. Receipt: Replacement FSM Passport with
Form I-94
2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A
1. Receipt: Replacement RMI Passport
with Form I-94
2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A

 

Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List A document or receipt. The issuing authority is the specific
entity that issued the document. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third Issuing
Authority fields as necessary.
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 8 of 15

 
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List A document or receipt presented. If the document
does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second
and third Document Number fields as necessary. If the document presented was a Form I-20 or DS-2019, enter the Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number in the third Document Number field exactly as it appears on
the Form I-20 or the DS-2019.
Expiration Date (if any) (mm/dd/yyyy): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List A document. The document is not
acceptable if it has already expired. If the document does not contain an expiration date, enter N/A in this field. If the
document uses text rather than a date to indicate when it expires, enter the text as shown on the document, such as “D/
S”(which means, “duration of status”). For a receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as described
above. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third Expiration Date fields as necessary.
If the document presented was a Form I-20 or DS-2019, enter the program end date here.
 

List B - Identity: If the employee presented an acceptable document from List B or an acceptable receipt for the application to
replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed List B document, enter the document information in this column. If a parent or legal guardian
attested to the identity of an employee who is an individual under age 18 or certain employees with disabilities in Section 1, enter
either "Individual under age 18" or "Special Placement" in this field. Refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for
Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on individuals under age 18 and certain person with disabilities.
 

If you enter document information in the List B column, you must also enter document information in the List C column. If an
employee presents acceptable List B and List C documents, do not ask the employees to present a List A document. No entries
should be made in the List A columnIf you enter document information in List B, you should not enter document information
or N/A in List A. If you complete Section 2 using a computer, a selection in List B will fill all the fields in the List A column
with N/A.
 

Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List B, enter the title of the List B document or receipt in
this field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When
completing the form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviations to
document the document title or issuing authority.
 

Full name of List B Document
Driver's license issued by a State or outlying possession of the
United States
ID card issued by a State or outlying possession of the
United States
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government
agencies or entities (Note: This selection does not include
the driver’s license or ID card issued by a State or outlying
possession of the United States as described in B1 of the
List of Acceptable Documents.)
School ID card with photograph

Abbreviations
 

 

 

ID card issued by state/territory
Government ID

School ID

Voter's registration card

Voter registration card

U.S. Military card

U.S. Military card

U.S. Military draft record

U.S. Military draft record

Military dependent's ID card

Military dependent's ID card

U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card

USCG Merchant Mariner card

Native American tribal document

Native American tribal document

Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority
School record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Report card (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Clinic record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Doctor record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Hospital record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Day-care record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)

 

Driver's license issued by state/territory

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Canadian driver's license
 

 

 

 

 

 

School record (under age 18)
Report card (under age 18)
Clinic record (under age 18)
Doctor record (under age 18)
Hospital record (under age 18)
Day-care record (under age 18)
Page 9 of 15

 
Full name of List B Document
Nursery school record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)

Abbreviations
 

Nursery school record (under age 18)

Individual under age 18 endorsement by parent or guardian

Individual under Age 18

Special placement endorsement for persons with disabilities

Special Placement

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Driver's License issued by a State or outlying possession of
the United States
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged ID
card issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States

 

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged ID card issued by federal, state, or local
government agencies or entities
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged School ID card with photograph
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Voter's registration card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged U.S. Military card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Military dependent's ID card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged U.S. Military draft record
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority

 

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Native American tribal document
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
School record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Report card (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Clinic record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Doctor record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Hospital record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Day-care record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to
present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Nursery school record (for persons under age 18 who are unable
to present a document listed above)

 

 

 

 

 

Receipt: Replacement driver's license

Receipt: Replacement ID card

Receipt: Replacement Gov't ID
Receipt: Replacement School ID
Receipt: Replacement Voter reg. card
Receipt: Replacement U.S. Military card
Receipt: Replacement U.S. Military dep. card
Receipt: Replacement Military draft
record

 

 

Receipt: Replacement Merchant Mariner card
Receipt: Replacement Canadian DL
Receipt: Replacement Native American
tribal doc

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receipt: Replacement School record
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Report card
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Clinic record
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Doctor record
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Hospital record
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Day-care record
(under age 18)
Receipt: Replacement Nursery school record
(under age 18)

 

Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List B document or receipt. The issuing authority is the entity that
issued the document. If the employee presented a document that is issued by a state agency, include the state as part of the
issuing authority.
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List B document or receipt exactly as it appears on the
document. If the document does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field.

 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 10 of 15

 
Expiration Date (if any) (mm/dd/yyyy): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List B document. The document is not
acceptable if it has already expired. If the document does not contain an expiration date, enter N/A in this field. For a
receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as described in the Receipt section above.
List C - Employment Authorization: If the employee presented an acceptable document from List C, or an acceptable
receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed List C document, enter the document information in this
column. If you enter document information in the List C column, you must also enter document information in the List B
column. If an employee presents acceptable List B and List C documents, do not ask the employee to present a list A document.
No entries should be made in the List A column. If you enter document information in List C, you should not enter document
information or N/A in List A. If you complete Section 2 using a computer, a selection in List C will fill all the fields in the List A
column with N/A.
 

Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List C, enter the title of the List C document or receipt in this
field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When
completing the form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviations to document
the document title or issuing authority. If you are completing the form on a computer, and you select an Employment
authorization document issued by DHS, the field will populate with List C #7 and provide a space for you to enter a
description of the documentation the employee presented. Refer to the M-274 for guidance on entering List C #7
documentation.
 

Full name of List C Document

Abbreviations

 

Social Security Account Number card without restrictions

(Unrestricted) Social Security Card

Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545)

Form FS-545

 
Form DS-1350  
Form FS-240  

Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350)
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240)
Original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate bearing an
official seal

 

Birth Certificate

Native American tribal document

Native American tribal document

U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)

Form I-197

Identification Card for use of Resident Citizen in the United
States (Form I-179)

 

Form I-179

 
 

Employment authorization document issued by DHS (List C #7)
(Note: This selection does not include the Employment
Authorization Document (Form I-766) from List A.)

Employment Auth. document (DHS) List C #7

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Social Security Account Number Card without restrictions
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate
bearing an official seal
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or
damaged Native American Tribal Document

Receipt: Replacement Unrestricted SS
Card

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged
Employment Authorization Document issued by DHS

 

Receipt: Replacement Birth Certificate
Receipt: Replacement Native American Tribal
Doc.
Receipt: Replacement Employment Auth. Doc.
(DHS)

Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List C document or receipt. The issuing authority is the entity
that issued the document.
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List C document or receipt exactly as it appears on
the document. If the document does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field.
Expiration Date (if any) (mm/dd/yyyy): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List C document. The document is not
acceptable if it has already expired, unless USCIS has extended the expiration date on the document. For instance, if a
conditional resident presents a Form I-797 extending his or her conditional resident status with the employee's expired
Form I-551, enter the future expiration date as indicated on the Form I-797. If the document has no expiration date, enter
N/A in this field. For a receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as described in the Receipt section
above.
 

Additional Information: Use this space to notate any additional information required for Form I-9 such as:


 

Employment authorization extensions for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries, F-1 OPT STEM students, CAPGAP, H-1B and H-2A employees continuing employment with the same employer or changing employers, and other
nonimmigrant categories that may receive extensions of stay
Additional document(s) that certain nonimmigrant employees may present

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 11 of 15

 




 

Discrepancies that E-Verify employers must notate when participating in the IMAGE program
Employee termination dates and form retention dates
E-Verify case number, which may also be entered in the margin or attached as a separate sheet per E-Verify
requirements and your chosen business process.
Any other comments or notations necessary for the employer's business process

You may leave this field blank if the employee's circumstances do not require additional notations.

 

Entering Information in the Employer Certification
 

Employee's First Day of Employment: Enter the employee's first day of employment as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day and
4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy).
 

Signature of Employer or Authorized Representative: Review the form for accuracy and completeness. The person who
physically examines the employee's original document(s) and completes Section 2 must sign his or her name in this field. If you
used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this field. By signing Section 2,
you attest under penalty of perjury (28 U.S.C. § 1746) that you have physically examined the documents presented by the
employee, the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee named, that to the best of your
knowledge the employee is authorized to work in the United States, that the information you entered in Section 2 is complete,
true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you are aware that you may face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly and willfully making false statements or knowingly accepting false
documentation when completing this form.
 

Today's Date: The person who signs Section 2 must enter the date he or she signed Section 2 in this field. Do not backdate this
field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to write the date in this field. Enter the date
as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014.
 

Title of Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the title, position or role of the person who physically examines the
employee's original document(s), completes and signs Section 2.
 

Last Name of the Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the full legal last name of the person who physically
examines the employee’s original documents, completes and signs Section 2. Last name refers to family name or surname. If
the person has two last names or a hyphenated last name, include both names in this field.
 

First Name of the Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the full legal first name of the person who physically
examines the employee’s original documents, completes, and signs Section 2. First name refers to the given name.
 

Employer’s Business or Organization Name: Enter the name of the employer’s business or organization in this field.
 

Employer’s Business or Organization Address (Street Name and Number): Enter an actual, physical address of the
employer. If your company has multiple locations, use the most appropriate address that identifies the location of the employer.
Do not provide a P.O. Box address.
 

City or Town: Enter the city or town for the employer’s business or organization address. If the location is not a city or town,
you may enter the name of the village, county, township, reservation, etc. that applies.
 

State: Enter the two-character abbreviation of the state for the employer’s business or organization address.
 

ZIP Code: Enter the 5-digit ZIP code for the employer’s business or organization address.
 

Completing Section 3: Reverification and Rehires
 

Section 3 applies to both reverification and rehires. When completing this section, you must also complete the Last Name, First
Name and Middle Initial fields in the Employee Info from Section 1 area at the top of Section 2, leaving the Citizenship/
Immigration Status field blank. When completing Section 3 in either a reverification or rehire situation, if the employee’s name
has changed, record the new name in Block A.

 

Reverification
 

Reverification in Section 3 must be completed prior to the earlier of:
The expiration date, if any, of the employment authorization stated in Section 1, or
The expiration date, if any, of the List A or List C employment authorization document recorded in Section 2
(with some exceptions listed below).
Some employees may have entered “N/A” in the expiration date field in Section 1 if they are aliens whose employment
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 12 of 15

 
authorization does not expire, e.g. asylees, refugees, certain citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, or Palau. Reverification does not apply for such employees unless they choose to present evidence of
employment authorization in Section 2 that contains an expiration date and requires reverification, such as Form I-766,
Employment Authorization Document.
 

You should not reverify U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals, or lawful permanent residents (including conditional residents)
who presented a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Reverification does not apply to List B documents.
For reverification, an employee must present an unexpired document(s) (or a receipt) from either List A or List C showing he or
she is still authorized to work. You CANNOT require the employee to present a particular document from List A or List C. The
employee is also not required to show the same type of document that he or she presented previously. See specific instructions on
how to complete Section 3 below.

Rehires
 

If you rehire an employee within three years from the date that the Form I-9 was previously executed, you may either rely on
the employee’s previously executed Form I-9 or complete a new Form I-9.
 

If you choose to rely on a previously completed Form I-9, follow these guidelines.
 

If the employee remains employment authorized as indicated on the previously executed Form I-9, the employee does
not need to provide any additional documentation. Provide in Section 3 the employee’s rehire date, any name changes if
applicable, and sign and date the form.
If the previously executed Form I-9 indicates that the employee’s employment authorization from Section 1 or
employment authorization documentation from Section 2 that is subject to reverification has expired, then
reverification of employment authorization is required in Section 3 in addition to providing the rehire date. If the
previously executed Form I-9 is not the current version of the form, you must complete Section 3 on the current
version of the form.
If you already used Section 3 of the employee’s previously executed Form I-9, but are rehiring the employee within
three years of the original execution of Form I-9, you may complete Section 3 on a new Form I-9 and attach it to the
previously executed form.
 

Employees rehired after three years of original execution of the Form I-9 must complete a new Form I-9.
Complete each block in Section 3 as follows:

Block A - New Name: If an employee who is being reverified or rehired has also changed his or her name since originally
completing Section 1 of this form, complete this block with the employee’s new name. Enter only the part of the name that has
changed, for example: if the employee changed only his or her last name, enter the last name in the Last Name field in this Block,
then enter N/A in the First Name and Middle Initial fields. If the employee has not changed his or her name, enter N/A in each
field of Block A.
 

Block B - Date of Rehire: Complete this block if you are rehiring an employee within three years of the date Form I-9 was
originally executed. Enter the date of rehire in this field. Enter N/A in this field if the employee is not being rehired.
 

Block C - Complete this block if you are reverifying expiring or expired employment authorization or employment
authorization documentation of a current or rehired employee. Enter the information from the List A or List C document(s) (or
receipt) that the employee presented to reverify his or her employment authorization. All documents must be unexpired.
 

Document Title: Enter the title of the List A or C document (or receipt) the employee has presented to show continuing
employment authorization in this field.
 

Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the document you entered in the Document Title field
exactly as it appears on the document. Enter N/A if the document does not have a number.
 

Expiration Date (if any) (mm/dd/yyyy): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the document you entered in the
Document Title field as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). If the document does not contain an
expiration date, enter N/A in this field.
 

Signature of Employer or Authorized Representative: The person who completes Section 3 must sign in this field. If you
used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print Section 3 of the form to sign your name in this field. By signing
Section 3, you attest under penalty of perjury (28 U.S.C. §1746) that you have examined the documents presented by the
employee, that the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee named, that to the best of your
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 13 of 15

 
knowledge the employee is authorized to work in the United States, that the information you entered in Section 3 is complete,
true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you are aware that you may face severe penalties provided by law and
may be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly and willfully making false statements or knowingly accepting false
documentation when completing this form.

 
Today's Date: The person who completes Section 3 must enter the date Section 3 was completed and signed in this field. Do
not backdate this field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print Section 3 of the form to enter the
date in this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8,
2014 as 01/08/2014.
 

Name of Employer or Authorized Representative: The person who completed, signed and dated Section 3 must enter his
or her name in this field.
 

What is the Filing Fee?
 

There is no fee for completing Form I-9. This form is not filed with USCIS or any government agency. Form I-9 must be
retained by the employer and made available for inspection by U.S. Government officials as specified in the “USCIS DHS
Privacy Act StatementNotice” below.
 

USCIS Forms and Information
 

For additional guidance about Form I-9, employers and employees should refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for
Completing Form I-9 (M-274) or USCIS’ Form I-9 website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central.

 

You can also obtain information about Form I-9 by e-mailing USCIS at [email protected], or by calling 1-888-464-4218 or
1-877-875-6028 (TTY).
 

You may download and obtain the English and Spanish versions of Form I-9, the Handbook for Employers, or the instructions
to Form I-9 from the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. To complete Form I-9 on a computer, you will need the latest
version of Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. You may order USCIS paper forms
at https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-by-mail by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-870-3676. You may also obtain forms
and informationor by contacting the USCIS National Customer ServiceContact Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833
(TTY).
 

Information about E-Verify, a fast, free, internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their
employees to work in the United States, can be obtained from the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify, by e-mailing
USCIS at [email protected] or by calling 1-888-464-4218 or 1-877-875-6028 (TTY).
 

Employees with questions about Form I-9 and/or E-Verify can reach the USCIS employee hotline by calling 1-888-897-7781 or
1-877-875-6028 (TTY).
 

Photocopying Blank and Completed Forms I-9 and Retaining Completed Forms I-9
 

Employers may photocopy or print blank Forms I-9 for future use. All pages of the instructions and Lists of Acceptable
Documents must be available, either in print or electronically, to all employees completing this form. Employers must retain
each employee's completed Form I-9 for as long as the individual works for the employer and for a specified period after
employment has ended. Employers are required to retain the pages of the form on which the employee and employer entered
data. If copies of documentation presented by the employee are made, those copies must also be retained with the completed
Form I-9. Once the individual's employment ends, the employer must retain this form and attachments for either 3 years after the
date of hire (i.e., first day of work for pay) or 1 year after the date employment ended, whichever is later. In the case of
recruiters or referrers for a fee (only applicable to those that are agricultural associations, agricultural employers, or farm labor
contractors), the retention period is 3 years after the date of hire (i.e., first day of work for pay).

 

Forms I-9 obtained from the USCIS website that are not printed and signed manually (by hand) are not considered complete. In
the event of an inspection, retaining incomplete forms may make you subject to fines and penalties associated with incomplete
forms.
 

Employers should ensure that information employees provide on Form I-9 is used only for Form I-9 purposes. Completed
Forms I-9 and all accompanying documents should be stored in a safe, secure location.
 

Form I-9 may be generated, signed, and retained electronically, in compliance with Department of Homeland Security
regulations at 8 CFR 274a.2.

 
 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 14 of 15

 

USCIS Privacy Act Statement DHS Privacy Notice
 

AUTHORITIES: The information requested on this form, and the associated documents, are collected under the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-603 (8 USC 1324a). The authority for collecting this information is the Immigration
Reform and Control Act of 1986, Public
Law 99-603 (8 USC § 1324a).
 

PURPOSE: The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this form is for employers to verify your identity
and employment authorization. Consistent with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986,
employers use the Form I-9 to document the verification of the identity and employment authorization for new employees to
prevent the unlawful hiring, or recruiting or referring for a fee, of aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States.
This form is completed by both the employer and employee, and is ultimately retained by the employer. This information is
collected by employers to comply with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. This law requires
that employers verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals they hire for employment to preclude the
unlawful hiring, or recruiting or referring for a fee, of aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States.
 

DISCLOSURE: The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information, including
your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may result in termination of employment. Failure of
the employer to ensure proper completion of this form may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties against the
employer. In addition, knowingly employing individuals who are not unauthorized to work in the United States may subject
the employer to civil and/or criminal penalties.. Providing the information collected by this form is voluntary. However an
employer should not continue to employ an individual without a completed form. Failure of the employer to prepare and/or
ensure proper completion of this form for each employee hired in the United States after November 6, 1986 or in the
Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands after November 27, 2011, may subject the employer to civil and/or criminal penalties.
In addition, employing individuals knowing that they are unauthorized to work in the United States may subject the employer
to civil and/or criminal penalties.

 

ROUTINE USES: This information will be used by employers as a record of their basis for determining eligibility of an
individual to work in the United States. The employer must retain this completed form and make it available for inspection by
authorized officials of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and Department of Justice, Civil Rights
Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate, for law enforcement
purposes or in the interest of national security.This information will be used by employers as a record of their basis for
determining eligibility of an employee to work in the United States. The employer must retain this form for the required period
and make it available for inspection by authorized officials of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor and
the Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section.
 

Paperwork Reduction Act
 

An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection and a person is not required to respond to a collection of
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The public reporting burden for this collection of
information is estimated at 35 minutes per response, when completing the form manually, and 26 minutes per response when
using a computer to aid in completion of the form, including the time for reviewing instructions and completing and retaining
the form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden, to: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office
of Policy and Strategy, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140; OMB No. 1615-0047. Do not mail your
completed Form I-9 to this address.

 

Form I-9 Instructions XX/XX/XXXX N

Page 15 of 15


File Typeapplication/pdf
File TitleMicrosoft Word - Form I-9 instructions mockup with new PN 042319
Authorkepowers
File Modified2019-05-16
File Created2019-05-16

© 2024 OMB.report | Privacy Policy