You must retain a completed and signed Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) for every employee.
Ay-yi-yi! Let’s talk about I-9s.
Form I-9 from the U.S. Customs and Immigration Service (USCIS) helps you confirm an employee’s identity and authorization to work in the United States. Form I-9s must be completed for every new employee, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens.
Here’s how it works:
- Section I: Employee Information and Attestation. New employees must complete and sign Section 1 of the I-9 no later than the first day of work.
- Section II: Employer or Authorized Representative Review and Verification. You, the employer must complete and sign Section II no later than three days after the employee’s first day of work.
- Section III: Reverification and Rehires. Complete this section when an employee’s verification expires or when you rehire an employee within three years of the date the original I-9 was completed.
Very Smart Tips:
- Always use the most current I-9, which can be found on PaySmart’s website.
- Retain all I-9s in one file. We recommend keeping them in alphabetical order for easy reference.
- Keep the I-9s for terminated employees in another folder in order of termination date for quick retrieval.
- Destroy the I-9s of terminated employees one year after the date of termination or three years from the date of hire – whichever is longer.
For more information, visit USCIS I-9 Central, where you can download an employer handbook, grab a desktop widget, and find answers to FAQs.