The Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification is a standard industry document for employers throughout the U.S. Used to verify an employee’s identity and employment authorization, this form is required of all employers and their employees by federal law. The current Form I-9 has been utilized since 2013 to determine identity and eligibility, but a recent announcement from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) noted that revisions are coming soon.

On August 25, 2016, the USCIS Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved a revised Form I-9. The revised Form I-9 includes updates specifically-designed to reduce confusion and limit form errors that could lead to improper management fines for employers.

Additionally, the revised Form I-9 is a smart document that can be completed electronically; with updates including electronic field validations, embedded completion instructions and buttons that will allow users to print and/or clear the form. The electronic nature of the updated document is intended to simplify the process for both employees and employers.

However, like the current Form I-9, the form can also be completed as a hard copy, as updates including the addition of designated areas for required information (Temporary Protected Status, Optional Practical Training Extensions, etc.) and the removal of previously-required immigrant information have also been made.

While the new form will be available on November 22, 2016, employers may continue to utilize the current version until January 21, 2017, affording them sufficient time to effectively transition from one to the other. After January 21, however, the old version of the form will become invalid, making its use a violation of federal law with the potential to lead to various fines and/or civil/criminal penalties.

Employers should visit www.acheckglobal.com/Solutions and/or contact A-Check Global at 877-345-2021 for more information regarding Form I-9 Solutions.