New I-9 Form and Procedures Take Effect April 3, 2009

The Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Interim Final Rule regarding the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, known as Form I-9 (originally published in the Federal Register on December 17, 2008) is set to become effective this Friday, April 3, 2009. The Interim Final Rule is meant to improve the security of the I-9 process by making it easier for employers to verify acceptable documents and identify fraudulent documents.

All U.S. employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for every employee hired in order to verify that the individual is authorized for employment in the United States under the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA). Beginning on April 3, employers' must use the new version of the Form (which contains new Lists of Acceptable Documents and some procedural changes) for all new hires and for re-verifying current employees with expiring employment authorization documentation. Employers should not complete new Forms for existing