Immigration Update
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has delayed the effective date of its interim final rule ``Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification,'' for 60 days, from February 2, 2009 to April 3, 2009. Employers do not need to use the revised I-9 form until April 3, 2009. The previous version with a revision date of 6/5/07 will continue to be acceptable for new hires and reverifications until April 3, 2009.
CIS recently revised Form I-9 in an effort to streamline the Employment Eligibility Verification process. The newly revised Form I-9 was published and was initially effective beginning February 2, 2009. Implementation of this new rule has been delayed and the effective date has been postponed for 60 days to provide CIS with an opportunity for further consideration of this rule.
Employers must complete Form I-9 for all newly hired employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the United States. The interim final rule will amend regulations governing the types of acceptable identity and employment authorization documents employees may present to their employers for completion of the Form I-9. Under the interim rule, employers will no longer be able to accept expired documents to verify employment authorization on the Form I-9 after April 2009 and employers will be required to use the revised form for all new hires and reverifications completed after April 3, 2009.
If you have any questions regarding the delay of the new I-9 form please call or email your MVA Immigration Team contact.