On July 17, 2017, United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) released a new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The new Form I-9 contains minor changes to the instructions and list of acceptable documents. More specifically, the instructions now reflect the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment practice’s new name, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER). Furthermore, the list of acceptable documents now includes the Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240), lists all certifications of birth issued by the Department of State in one selection, and re-numbers List C documents.
Employers can begin using the new Form I-9 as soon as possible, but still may use the previous version of Form I-9 (revision date 11/14/2016N) through Sept. 17, 2017. Beginning Sept. 18, 2017, only the new Form I-9 (revision date 07/17/2017) will be permitted.
In connection with the new Form I-9, USCIS has also released a new M-274 Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9, which reflects the changes to the instructions and list of acceptable documents.