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Official form guide
Form I-9: Employment Eligibility Verification
USCIS Form I-9 is used to document verification of identity and employment authorization for new employees hired after November 6, 1986. Employers must complete this form.
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USCIS Form I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification
USCIS Form I-9 is used to document verification of identity and employment authorization for new employees hired after November 6, 1986. Employers must complete this form.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Do not back-date the signature date in Section 1; it must reflect the actual day the employee signs.
- 2Asking employees for documentation not listed in Section 1 (e.g., USCIS Number).
- 3Accepting documentation past its expiration date without issue.
- 4Failing to have the employee sign and enter the date on Section 1.
- 5Not allowing the employee to choose which acceptable documentation they present.
Plain English
This form proves that a person has the right to work in the United States legally. Both the employer and the employee fill out sections to verify who the worker is and what documents prove their eligibility. This documentation process applies to all new hires, regardless of whether they are U.S. citizens or aliens.
Submission Date
- Filing date: The employee must complete Section 1 no later than the first day of employment. Within three business days after the first day of employment, the employee must present acceptable documentation to the employer.
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when documenting verification of identity and employment authorization for a new employee (U.S. citizen or alien) hired after November 6, 1986 (or after November 27, 2011 in the CNMI).
- Do not use Form I-9 to prove an employee's citizenship, immigration status, or national origin when establishing employment authorization; those proofs are documented elsewhere.
- Check Form G-1055 instead when needing specific information about applicable filing fees for this form.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Reverifying an employee's work authorization
Use this supplement page to document required updates.
✓ Ensure you use a new section of the supplement for each instance.
Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire (formerly Section 3)
Documenting an employee's rehire status
Employers may choose to document a rehire on this supplement as well.
✓ Record any name change in the 'New Name' field at the top of the supplement page.
Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire (formerly Section 3)
Filing Fee Information
This form provides specific details regarding fees applicable to Form I-9.
✓ Verify that the fee listed matches the current filing requirements.
Deadline or filing window
The trigger event is the start of employment, requiring the employee to complete Section 1 on or before that first day. The hard deadline for presenting documentation is within three business days after the first day of employment. Not stated in the official source if an extension exists beyond the 3-day window.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Section 1
Employee's personal information · Form I-9 (Section 1)
List A or List C documentation
Document proving employment authorization · Section 2
Employee Signature/Date
Employee attestation of identity and work authority · Section 1 signature area
Employer Certification/Signature
Employer attestation of physical examination and verification · Section 2 & Supplement B (if used)
Supplement B Usage
Evidence requiring future updates or rehire status · Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire
Before you submit
- 1Confirm the revision date on Form I-9 reads 01/20/25.
- 2Ensure the employee has signed Section 1 of Form I-9.
- 3Verify that the employer has completed and dated all applicable fields in Section 2.
- 4If reverification is needed, confirm Supplement B is attached and correctly filled out.
- 5Check that the List A or List C expiration date recorded in Section 2 is correct for verification deadlines.
- 6Confirm that the employee's name is entered at the top of every supplement page used.
- 7Verify that the employer has attested under penalty of perjury by signing Sections 2 and (if applicable) Supplement B.
How to file this form
- 1Complete Section 1 with the new employee's personal information, ensuring accuracy.
- 2Present acceptable documentation to the employee and complete Section 2 by recording the document type and expiration date.
- 3If necessary, use Supplement B, Reverification and Rehire, creating a new section for each required update or rehire instance.
- 4Sign and date all applicable sections (Section 1 by the employee; Section 2/Supplement B by the employer).
- 5Retain a copy of the completed Form I-9 and any attached Supplement B pages.
Known limitations
- 1The form applies to new employees hired after November 6, 1986, to work in the United States.
- 2In the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), employers must complete Form I-9 for new employees hired after November 27, 2011.
- 3Employers do not need to prove their citizenship, immigration status, or national origin when establishing employment authorization using Form I-9.
- 4Employers are not required to retain or store the page(s) containing the Lists of Acceptable Documents or the instructions for Form I-9, though they must retain completed forms.
- 5If an employee presents acceptable List A documentation, the employer does not need to ask them to present List B and List C documentation.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Section 1 (Employee)
5 items
Last name, first name, middle initial. Use legal name — not nickname.
MM/DD/YYYY format. Used for identity verification.
Required if employer uses E-Verify. Otherwise voluntary.
Check one: U.S. Citizen, Noncitizen National, Lawful Permanent Resident, or Alien authorized to work.
Employee must sign and date on first day of employment.
Section 2 (Employer)
6 items
List A document (proves both identity and work authorization) OR List B + List C documents.
Who issued the document (e.g., U.S. Department of State, USCIS).
Number as printed on the document.
Date document expires. Do not accept expired documents.
First day of work. Section 2 must be completed within 3 business days of start date.
Employer or authorized representative certifies documents were examined.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The current edition of USCIS Form I-9 is dated 01/20/25, and the instructions indicate this revision date applies to the form.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm the revision date reads 01/20/25.
- Fee — check Form G-1055 for specific applicable fees.
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source (verify on the agency site).
- Signature — ensure both employer and employee sign where indicated, attesting under penalty of perjury.
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1The employer must retain the completed Form I-9.
- 2Employers should allow all employees to choose which acceptable documentation to present for Form I-9.
- 3If an employee presents List B and List C documentation, the employer must enter the required information from that documentation under each corresponding column on Form I-9.
- 4The employer must ensure the employee completes Section 1 no later than their first day of employment.
- 5Employers should review standards for electronic signature, indexing, security, and documentation if creating or storing Form I-9 electronically.
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — Employers and employees must complete their respective sections of Form I-9.
- SRCInstructions p.1 — The form is used to document verification of identity and employment authorization for new employees hired after November 6, 1986.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — Section 2 must be completed within three business days after the employee's first day of employment (or no later than the first day if hired for less than three business days).
- SRCInstructions p.2 — Employees must complete Section 1 no later than the first day of employment.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — If an employee presents List A documentation, do not ask them to present List B and List C documentation.
- SRCInstructions p.8 — The physical mailing address for USCIS is 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop Number 2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009.
Common confusion points
Who needs to fill out Form I-9?
Employers and employees must complete their respective sections of Form I-9.
→ Check the form header for the designated signature/completion areas.
When does an employee need to complete Section 1 of Form I-9?
An employee must complete Section 1 no later than the first day of employment.
→ Verify the date you are signing in Section 1 matches or precedes your start date.
What if my employer asks for documentation beyond what's required for Section 1 on Form I-9?
Employers cannot ask employees for documentation to verify information entered in Section 1, nor can they specify which acceptable documentation employees must present for Section 2 or Supplement B.
→ Check the instructions to confirm the employer is not asking for unnecessary proof.
What if an employee presents List A documentation on Form I-9?
If an employee presents acceptable List A documentation, the employer should not ask the employee to present List B and List C documentation.
→ Confirm that only one set of documents (List A OR List B + List C) is presented by the employee.
How long does an employee have after starting work to show proof of identity/authorization?
Within three business days after your first day of employment, you, the employee, must present original, acceptable, and unexpired documentation.
→ If you start Monday, ensure you provide documents on or before the Thursday of that week.
Can an employer reject my required document because it expires soon?
Employers should not reject acceptable documentation due to a future expiration date.
→ Ensure the document presented is listed as acceptable in the official lists.
What must an employee do if they only have one name (e.g., just 'Maria') when filling out Section 1 of Form I-9?
If you only have one name, enter it in the Last Name field and then enter “Unknown” in the First Name field.
→ Check your entry against the instructions for single names.
Is providing a Social Security Number (SSN) on Form I-9 always required?
Providing your 9-digit Social Security number in the Social Security number field is voluntary, unless your employer participates in E-Verify.
→ Confirm whether your employer uses E-Verify to determine if the SSN entry is mandatory.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
Often used with
Questions about USCIS Form I-9
What is USCIS Form I-9 used for?
This form proves that a person has the right to work in the United States legally. Both the employer and the employee fill out sections to verify who the worker is and what documents prove their eligibility. This documentation process applies to all new hires, regardless of whether they are U.S. citizens or aliens.
Who must file USCIS Form I-9?
Employers must complete their respective sections of Form I-9 for every new employee hired in the United States.
What information does USCIS Form I-9 require?
Form I-9 collects information across Section 1 (Employee Information and Attestation) and Section 2, which documents the verification process. The form captures details like the employee's name, address, date of birth, and their documentation numbers.
When is USCIS Form I-9 due?
The employee must complete Section 1 no later than the first day of employment. Within three business days after the first day of employment, the employee must present acceptable documentation to the employer.
Where do I file USCIS Form I-9?
Completed Form I-9s should not be mailed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The address for USCIS is 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop Number 2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009.
How do I complete USCIS Form I-9?
The employee first completes Section 1, providing personal details. Then, within three business days of starting, the employee presents acceptable documentation to the employer who fills out Section 2. Finally, the employee must sign and enter the date they signed Section 1.
What happens if USCIS Form I-9 is filed incorrectly?
Employers are liable for any statutory and regulatory violations made in connection with Form I-9 or the verification process, including those committed by designated representatives.
Who needs to fill out Form I-9?
Employers and employees must complete their respective sections of Form I-9. Check the form header for the designated signature/completion areas.
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