Changes to the I-9 Form

The I-9 form is a federal form required for all employers in the United States to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees with original, supported documents.

Because the I-9 must be completed within 3 days of a new employee’s start date, it is typically included in employee onboarding.

Failure to have the I-9 form completed, may result in fines and penalties.

History of the I-9 Form

The I-9 form was introduced on November 6, 1986 in the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA).

Employers must have all employees verify their employment eligibility, regardless of their workforce size.

The employees who are exempt from filling out an I-9 had to have been hired with their current employer prior to November 7, 1986. This is because of their grandfather status that they will lose if they are lawfully terminated or they quit.

Recent Revisions of the I-9 Form

The U.S. government occasionally makes updates to the I-9 form. Recently, on August 1, 2023, the new I-9 form became available.

Below are the major changes and enhancements made to improve, and ensure compliance:

• The structure of the form has reduced sections 1 and 2 to a single-sided sheet, alongside clearer instructions on how to accurately complete the form
• Forms can now be digitally filled out from a tablet or mobile device to reduce paperwork
• Acceptable documents are now more understandable for employees to know which documents are needed
• The form now reflects the latest change of law to allow Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card with the E-Verify Case Number as a new acceptable document

You can find the full list of revisions listed on the USCIS website here. 

MegaPay encourages you to begin using the updated I-9 form for all new hires (access here) to avoid any penalties.