New I-9 to Enter Final 30-day Comment Period
On March 28, 2016, USCIS published a 30-day notice in the Federal Register inviting final comments on the proposed changes to the Form I-9. This comment period runs until April 27th, at which point further changes to the form may be made. Once the comments have been reviewed and approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), USCIS will post the form and instructions for use by the public.
Employers should continue to use the current version of the I-9 until OMB approves the new form and USCIS posts it on their website.
USCIS states that further changes to the form have been made, based on comments received in the initial comment period. Thus far, the laundry list of changes made includes the following:
- Validations on certain fields to ensure information is entered correctly
- Additional spaces to enter multiple preparers and translators
- Drop-down lists and calendars
- Embedded instructions for completing each field
- Buttons that will allow users to access the instructions electronically, print the form, and clear the form to start over
- A dedicated area to enter additional information that employers are currently required to notate in the form margins
- A quick-response matrix barcode generates once the form is printed and can be used to streamline audit processes
- Requirement for employees to provide only other last names used in Section 1, rather than all other names used
- Removal of the requirement that aliens authorized to work must provide both their Form I-94 number and foreign passport information in Section 1
- Separate instructions from the form, in keeping with USCIS practice
- Addition of a Supplement in cases where more than one preparer or translator is used to complete Section 1
To View the latest version of the Form I-9, employers may visit https://www.regulations.gov/ , and enter 1615-0047 in the search box, then sort the information from newer-older. Those wishing to make comments may click on the Comment Now button to have their comments considered during this period.
Equifax Workforce Solutions will continue to monitor this situation and provide an update when further developments occur.
Related post: Form I-9 Upcoming Expiration Date
Bottom Line
Employers should continuously monitor the compliance landscape to keep abreast of regulations and enforcement positions that could affect their I-9 processes. Equifax Workforce Solutions can help simplify your best practices approach to the I-9 process through an easily-managed technology platform that helps employers manage compliance. For clients using the I-9 Management solution from Equifax Workforce Solutions, updates to Form I-9 will be applied to the system to coincide with Form I-9 extension dates and/or changes to the overall Form I-9.
Contact us to receive more information on how Equifax Workforce Solutions can assist your company in creating a strong culture of compliance with your I-9 processes
Related content: I-9 Management Knowledge Center | legislative updates, best practices, and tools
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