FELS.net

Beginning May 16, employers will be required to comply with a rule issued by the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services that modifies the list of identity and employment authorization documents necessary to complete the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification process.

The new rule, which finalizes a 2008 interim rule, mandates that employers accept from applicants only unexpired documents in connection with employment eligibility verification. It eliminates the use of temporary resident cards and older versions of employment authorization cards.

The rule also now recognizes the following additional documents as forms of employment eligibility verification sufficient to satisfy List A, including the new U.S. Passport Card and the temporary Form I-551 "permanent resident card," which contains a machine-readable immigration visa.

Employers should review the new policies and ensure hiring managers are properly trained on documentation and Form I-9 compliance.

(Source: Jim Bogart at the Grower Shipper Association)