Form I-9. Employment Eligibility Verification

Form I-9, also known as Employment Eligibility Verification, is a form used by employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees. The main purpose of this form is to ensure that the employer is hiring employees who are authorized to work in the United States.

The form consists of three parts. The first part is to be completed by the employee, who must provide their full legal name, date of birth, social security number, and contact information. The second part is to be completed by the employer, who must review the employee's identity and employment eligibility documents, and attest to their validity. The third part is to be completed by the employer in case of re-verification or updating.

Important fields on the form include the employee's full legal name, date of birth, social security number, and citizenship or immigration status. The employer must also provide their business name, address, and employer identification number (EIN).

Both the employee and employer are parties to the form. It is important for both parties to ensure that the form is filled out accurately and completely. The employee must provide valid and unexpired identification and employment eligibility documents, such as a passport or permanent resident card. The employer must review these documents and attest to their validity by signing the form.

The strength of this form is that it helps employers to comply with federal law and avoid penalties for hiring unauthorized workers. A weakness of this form is that it may not catch all instances of fraud or identity theft. An opportunity for improvement could be to make the form more user-friendly and accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Alternative forms include the E-Verify system, which is an online system that allows employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their employees. The main difference between the two is that Form I-9 is a paper-based system, while E-Verify is an electronic system.

To fill and submit the form, the employee must complete the first part of the form and provide valid identification and employment eligibility documents to the employer. The employer must review and verify the documents, complete the second part of the form, and sign and date the form. The completed form must be stored by the employer for at least three years after the date of hire or one year after the date of termination, whichever is later.

Overall, Form I-9 is an important tool for employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of their employees and comply with federal law.