Final regulations for filing Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification to become effective August 23, 2010
Source: 75 Federal Register 42575
Section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (INA), see 8 U.S.C. 1324a, requires all U.S. employers, agricultural associations, agricultural employers, farm labor contractors, or persons or other entities that recruit or refer persons for employment for a fee, to verify the employment authorization and identity of all employees hired to work in the United States after November 6, 1986.
To comply with the law, an employer is responsible for the completion of a Form I-9, the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9), for each new employee, including United States citizens.
The Department of Homeland Security has issued final regulations to provide that employers who are required to complete and retain the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification may sign the form electronically and retain the form in an electronic format.
The final rule is effective August 23, 2010 and essentially requires that employers complete the required Form I-9 within three business days. The employer may use paper, electronic systems, or a combination of paper and electronic systems for this purpose.
The Form I-9, available to the public in numerous paper and electronic forms, since 1986, is now available online at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Web site as a Portable Document Format (.pdf) fillable and printable form. The form is posted on the Internet at http://uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf.
In addition, the Handbook for Employers published by the Department of Homeland Security setting out instructions for completing the Form I-9 (a.k.a. the Employment Eligibility Verification Form) is posted on the Internet at:
http://www.bipc.com/images/newsletters/M-274_I-9_Handbook.pdf
The text of the Department of Homeland Security's Final Regulation is posted on the Internet at: http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/07/22/2010-17806/electronic-signature-and-storage-of-form-i9-employment-eligibility-verification
.