Immigration Services
USDHS Updates its “Handbook for Employers--Instructions for Completing Form I-9”
March 19, 2009
US Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) has recently published its “Handbook for Employers—Instructions for Completing Form I-9” on its website found at www.uscis.gov. This handbook also integrates USDHS’ interim final rule on “Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification,” which is effective April 3, 2009. In conjunction with the interim final rule and the updated handbook, USDHS has also published a revised Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Employers are required to use this revised Form I-9, with the revision date of 2/2/2009, for individuals hired on or after April 3, 2009.
What is the difference between the revised Form I-9 and the old one?
Pursuant to the interim final rule, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) narrows the list of acceptable identity documents and further specifies that expired documents are not considered acceptable forms of identification. Other than several technical updates, the biggest difference between the revised Form I-9 and the old one is that several documents have been added to List A. These are:
- U.S. passport card;
- A temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa in addition to the foreign passport and the temporary I-551 stamp;
- A passport from the Federated States of Micronesia or the Republic of the Marshal Islands.
In addition, three documents were removed from List A as USCIS no longer issues these cards:
- Form I-688, Temporary Resident Card;
- Form I-688A, Employment Authorization Card; and
- Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Card.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.