On Aug. 1, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published a revised version of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification.
Among the changes to the form is the addition of a checkbox that E-Verify-enrolled employers can use to indicate that they remotely examined identity and employment authorization documents using a DHS-approved alternative procedure.
The revised document allows certain employers to examine Form I-9 documents remotely, as opposed to the current requirement to examine documents in person. To participate in the DHS-authorized alternative procedure for the remote examination of Form I-9 documents, employers must be enrolled in E-Verify, examine and retain copies of all documents, conduct a live video interaction with the employee, and create an E-Verify case if the employee is a new hire.
Employers who participated in E-Verify and created cases for employees whose documents were examined during the COVID-19 flexibility period (March 20, 2020, to July 31, 2023) have the option to use the new alternative procedure beginning August 1, 2023 to satisfy the physical document examination requirement by August 30, 2023.
Employers who were not enrolled in E-Verify during the COVID-19 flexibility period are required to conduct a physical examination in person by August 30, 2023.
The revised Form I-9 includes the following:
* Reduces Sections 1 and 2 to a single-sided sheet;
* Is designed to be fillable on tablets and mobile devices;
* Moves the Section 1 Preparer/Translator Certification area to a standalone supplement that employers can provide to employees when necessary;
* Moves Section 3, Reverification and Rehire, to a standalone supplement that employers can print if or when rehire occurs or reverification is required;
* Revises the Lists of Acceptable Documents page.
Employers may continue to utilize the previous form through October 31, 2023.
Here is the revised Form I-9 (edition date: 08/01/23): USCIS Form I-9
Sources: https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/alerts/uscis-to-publish-revised-form-i-9
