I-9 Handbook - Handbook for Employers - Guidance for Completing Form I-9

Sep 17, 2026

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Employers are guided on how to verify new employees’ identity and employment authorization using Form I-9 under U.S. immigration law. The handbook outlines employer obligations established through the employer sanctions provisions added by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and later amended by subsequent laws. It explains completing Sections 1–3, handling special situations such as minors, disabilities, and reverification, and requirements for photocopying and retention, inspection, and compliance to avoid unlawful discrimination and penalties.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryForms

FormatPDF

Pages70

Reading Time25 min

AccessFree to download

Obtaining Forms and Updates

Part One—Why Employers Must Verify Employment Authorization and Identity of New Employees

The Homeland Security Act

Part Two—Completing Form I-9

Completing Section 1

Completing Section 2

Completing Section 3

Part Three—Photocopying and Retaining Form I-9

Paper Retention of Forms I-9

Microform Retention of Forms I-9

Electronic Forms I-9

Part Four—Unlawful Discrimination and Penalties for Prohibited Practices

Unlawful Discrimination

Penalties for Prohibited Practices

Part Five—Instructions for Recruiters and Referrers for a Fee

Part Six—E-Verify: The Web-based Verification Companion to Form I-9

Federal Contractors

Part Seven—Some Questions You May Have About Form I-9

Questions about the Verification Process

Questions about Documents

Part Eight—Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity

List A—Documents that Establish Both Employment Authorization and Identity

List B—Documents that Establish Identity Only

List C—Documents that Establish Employment Authorization Only

Handbook for Employers Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification Form) M-274 (Rev. 03/08/13) N Obtaining Forms and Updates You may obtain electronic copies of English and Spanish versions of Form I-9 from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website [at www.uscis.gov. To order](at www.uscis.gov. To order) Forms I-9 or a print copy of this Handbook by telephone, call the USCIS Forms Request Line toll-free at 1-800-870 3676. Because immigration law and employment eligibility verification regulations can change over time, we encourage you to periodically check I-9 Central at [www.uscis.gov](www.uscis.gov) for updated Form I-9 information. Table of Contents Obtaining Forms and Updates ................................. Inside cover Part One—Why Employers Must Verify Employment Authorization and Identity of New Employees ........................ 1 The Homeland Security Act ....................................... 1 Part Two—Completing Form I-9 ................................... 3 Completing Section 1 ............................................. 3 Completing Section 2 ........................................... 5 Minors (Individuals under Age 18) ................................... 8 Employees with Disabilities (Special Placement) ......................... 10 Future Expiration Dates ............................................ 12 Reverifying Employment Authorization for Current Employees .............. 12 Reverification and Evidence of Status for Certain Categories ................ 12 Completing Section 3 ............................................. 23 Leaves of Absence, Layoffs, Corporate Mergers and Other Interruptions of Employment .................................................. 25 Part Three—Photocopying and Retaining Form I-9 .................... 27 Paper Retention of Forms I-9 ....................................... 27 Microform Retention of Forms I-9 ................................... 27 Electronic Forms I-9 .............................................. 28 Security ....................................................... 29 Retaining Copies of Form I-9 Documentation ........................... 29 Inspection ...................................................... 29 Part Four—Unlawful Discrimination and Penalties for Prohibited Practices ......................................... 31 Unlawful Discrimination .......................................... 31 Penalties for Prohibited Practices ..................................... 33 Part Five—Instructions for Recruiters and Referrers for a Fee ...................................................... 37 Part Six—E-Verify: The Web-based Verification Companion to Form I-9 ................................................... 39 Federal Contractors ............................................... 39 Part Seven—Some Questions You May Have About Form I-9 ............. 41 Questions about the Verification Process ............................... 41 Questions about Documents ........................................ 42 Questions about Completing and Retaining Form I-9 ..................... 47 Questions about Avoiding Discrimination .............................. 50 Questions about Employees Hired on or before Nov . 6, 1986 ............... 51 Questions about Different Versions of Form I-9 .......................... 51 Questions about Military IDs ....................................... 51 (Continued) Part Eight—Acceptable Documents for Verifying Employment Authorization and Identity ............................. 53 List A—Documents that Establish Both Employment Authorization and Identity ............................... 55 List B—Documents that Establish Identity Only ......................... 61 List C—Documents that Establish Employment Authorization Only ........... 62 Part One Why Employers Must Verify Employment Auth

FAQs

When must employers complete Form I-9 for new employees?

Employers must complete a Form I-9 for every new employee they hire after November 6, 1986.

What is the purpose of the employer sanctions law related to Form I-9?

The purpose is to require employers to hire only individuals who may legally work in the United States and to verify each person’s identity and employment authorization while completing and retaining Form I-9.

What document groups are listed for verifying identity and employment authorization?

Acceptable documents are organized into List A (both identity and employment authorization), List B (identity only), and List C (employment authorization only).

Sep 17, 2026

Upload by Blaney