Download 1-9 Form Online: The Easiest Way to Verify Employment Eligibility
Download 1-9 Form: A Complete Guide for Employers and Employees
If you are an employer or an employee in the United States, you need to know about Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. This form is used to verify the identity and work authorization of every person hired for employment in the U.S. after November 6, 1986. It is a legal requirement that both employers and employees must comply with, or face penalties and fines.
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In this article, we will explain what Form I-9 is, why it is important, how to download it from the USCIS website, how to fill it out correctly and avoid common mistakes, and how to store it securely and comply with retention rules. By following this guide, you will be able to complete and manage Form I-9 with ease and confidence.
What is Form I-9 and Why is it Important?
Form I-9, officially the Employment Eligibility Verification, is a United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form. It was mandated by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), which aimed to prevent the hiring of unauthorized workers in the U.S. The purpose of Form I-9 is to ensure that employers only hire individuals who are legally authorized to work in the U.S., either as citizens, noncitizen nationals, lawful permanent residents, or aliens authorized to work.
Form I-9 is important for both employers and employees because it helps them comply with federal law and avoid civil or criminal penalties. Employers who fail to complete or retain Form I-9 properly may face fines ranging from $230 to $23,331 per violation, depending on the type and severity of the violation. Employees who provide false or fraudulent information or documents on Form I-9 may face prosecution for perjury, identity theft, document fraud, or other crimes.
Form I-9 Requirements for Employers
As an employer, you are responsible for completing and retaining Form I-9 for each individual you hire for employment in the U.S., regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. This includes full-time, part-time, temporary, seasonal, or contract workers. You must also make Form I-9 available for inspection by authorized government officers from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Labor (DOL), or the Department of Justice (DOJ).
To complete Form I-9, you must follow these steps:
Provide each new hire with a copy of Form I-9 and its instructions no later than their first day of work.
Review Section 1 of Form I-9 completed by the employee and ensure that it is accurate and complete.
Examine the original documents presented by the employee as evidence of their identity and employment authorization. You must accept any document or combination of documents from List A (which shows both identity and employment authorization), or one document from List B (which shows identity) and one document from List C (which shows employment authorization). You cannot specify which documents you prefer or require.
Complete Section 2 of Form I-9 by recording the document information, signing and dating the form. You must complete Section 2 within three business days of the employee's first day of work.
If applicable, complete Section 3 of Form I-9 if you rehire an employee within three years of the date of their original Form I-9, or if you need to update or reverify their employment authorization.
You must retain Form I-9 for as long as the employee works for you, and for a certain period after their employment ends, depending on the date of hire and termination. You must also keep copies of the documents presented by the employee, either in paper or electronic format. You must store Form I-9 and its supporting documents securely and confidentially, and protect them from unauthorized access, alteration, or destruction.
How to download 1-9 form from USCIS website
Download 1-9 form PDF for employment eligibility verification
Download 1-9 form in Spanish for Puerto Rico employers
Download 1-9 form supplement for preparer and/or translator certification
Download 1-9 form instructions and guidance
Download 1-9 form basic version for mobile devices
Where to download 1-9 form and other related forms
Download 1-9 form and e-verify online
Download 1-9 form and retain it for inspection
Download 1-9 form and complete it electronically
Download 1-9 form and update it for rehires
Download 1-9 form and correct errors or missing information
Download 1-9 form and submit it to E-Verify
Download 1-9 form and store it securely
Download 1-9 form and dispose of it properly
Download 1-9 form and avoid common mistakes
Download 1-9 form and comply with anti-discrimination laws
Download 1-9 form and review acceptable documents
Download 1-9 form and check expiration dates
Download 1-9 form and verify identity and employment authorization
Form I-9 Requirements for Employees
As an employee, you are responsible for completing Section 1 of Form I-9 and presenting acceptable documents to your employer as evidence of your identity and employment authorization. You must complete Section 1 no later than your first day of work, and you must present your documents within three business days of your first day of work. If you are unable to present your documents within this time frame, you must provide a receipt showing that you have applied for replacement documents, and present the actual documents within 90 days.
To complete Section 1 of Form I-9, you must follow these steps:
Enter your full name, date of birth, address, email address (optional), and phone number (optional).
Select your citizenship or immigration status from the four options: U.S. citizen, noncitizen national of the U.S., lawful permanent resident, or alien authorized to work. If you select the last option, you must enter your alien number or admission number, and the expiration date of your employment authorization (if any).
Sign and date the form. If you need assistance from a preparer or translator, they must also sign and date the form.
You must present original documents to your employer that show your identity and employment authorization. You can choose any document or combination of documents from List A (which shows both identity and employment authorization), or one document from List B (which shows identity) and one document from List C (which shows employment authorization). Some examples of acceptable documents are:
List AList BList C
U.S. passport or passport cardDriver's license or ID card issued by a state or territorySocial Security card
Permanent resident card or alien registration receipt card (Form I-551)School ID card with a photographCertification of birth abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545)
Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visaVoter's registration cardOriginal or certified copy of a birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or territory of the U.S.
Employment authorization document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)U.S. military card or draft recordNative American tribal document
Foreign passport with Form I-94 or Form I-94A bearing the same name as the passport and containing an endorsement of the alien's nonimmigrant status, if that status authorizes the alien to work for the employerMilitary dependent's ID cardU.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating nonimmigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association Between the U.S. and the FSM or RMIU.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner CardIdentification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the U.S. (Form I-179)
Native American tribal documentEmployment authorization document issued by DHS (other than those listed under List A)
Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority
For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above: school record or report card; clinic, doctor, or hospital record; or day-care or nursery school record
You must present original documents to your employer, not photocopies or digital images. However, you may present a certified copy of a birth certificate. You must also ensure that your documents are valid and not expired, unless otherwise specified. You cannot present documents that are damaged, altered, or illegible.
How to Download Form I-9 from the USCIS Website
If you need to download Form I-9, you can do so from the USCIS website for free. You can choose to download the form in PDF or fillable PDF format, and in English or Spanish. However, only employers in Puerto Rico can use the Spanish version of Form I-9. Employers in the 50 states and other U.S. territories must use the English version of Form I-9, even if their employees complete Section 1 in Spanish.
To download Form I-9 from the USCIS website, follow these steps:
Step 1: Go to the USCIS Forms Page
Visit the USCIS forms page at . This page contains links to all the forms that USCIS provides, including Form I-9.
Step 2: Find Form I-9 and Click on the Link
Scroll down the page until you find Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. You can also us