You probably know that all employers need to complete a Form I-9 for all newly hired employees to verify their identities and authorization to work in the United States. There have been multiple versions of the Form since it was introduced in 1987. You and other employers may have been on the watch for the latest Form since the agency tasked with maintaining the Form, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), instructed employers to continue using a previous version of the form (Form I-9 07/17/17 N) past its stated expiration date of August 31, 2019.
The wait is over! The USCIS recently announced the next version of the Form is ready for employers to use. Download the latest version of the Form I-9 here ››
According to a statement from the USCIS, the agency published the Form I-9 Register Notice on January 31, 2020, announcing a new version of Form I-9. The Form I-9 Register Notice states there have been a few changes to the previous version, as well as changes to the instructions for the Form. For example, in the new form instructions, USCIS clarified who can act as an authorized representative on behalf of an employer and updated the USCIS website addresses, among other changes.
Along with the statement, the USCIS released some additional key information to help employers make sure they’re using the correct version of the Form:
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- The latest, and current, version is titled “Form I-9 10/21/2019” and expires on October 31, 2022.
- Employers should begin using the latest version (Form I -9 10/21/2019) on January 31, 2020.
- There is a grace period. Employers can continue to use the previous version of the Form (Form I-9 07/17/2017 N) until April 30, 2020.
- After April 30, 2020, employers can only use the latest version (Form I -9 10/21/2019).
The latest version of the Form, as well as instructions to use the latest version, have been posted on the USCIS website. For other information on the Form, as well as the latest announcements from the USCIS, Verified Credentials suggests that you visit USCIS’ official “I-9 Central” resource.
Even though I-9 Central provides great updates for employers, making any changes to your employment forms and documents should always be done with the advice of your legal counsel to ensure that you stay compliant.
