May 13, 2011

New Online Resource Provides Enhanced, Easy-to-Access Guidance for Employers and Employees

WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) today launched I-9 Central, a new online resource center dedicated to the most frequently accessed form on USCIS.gov: Form I-9, Employee Eligibility Verification. This free, easy-to-use website builds on recent employment-related enhancements by providing employers and employees simple one-click access to resources, tips and guidance to properly complete Form I-9 and better understand the Form I-9 process.

“I-9 Central is the latest in our ongoing efforts to better serve the 7.5 million employers who use Form I-9 every time they hire an employee,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “It provides critical information for all employers – whether they hire a single employee or hundreds – in an accessible, intuitive and comprehensive online format.”

The launch of I-9 Central follows the introduction of other important USCIS employment-related resources. These resources include E-Verify Self Check, a service launched in March that allows workers and job seekers in the United States to check their own employment eligibility status online, and an updated “Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9 (M-274)” published earlier this year.

I-9 Central includes sections about employer and employee rights and responsibilities, step-by-step instructions for completing the form, and information on acceptable documents for establishing identity and employment authorization. I-9 Central also includes a discussion of common mistakes to avoid when completing the form, guidance on how to correct errors, and answers to employers’ recent questions about the Form I-9 process.

I-9 Central complements existing Form I-9 resources including the current Form I-9 Web page, the form instructions, and the above-referenced “Handbook for Employers.” USCIS also offers free webinars on completing Form I-9.

By law, U.S. employers must verify the identity and employment authorization for every worker they hire after Nov. 6, 1986, regardless of the employee’s immigration status. To comply with the law, employers must complete Form I-9.

Visit or link to I-9 Central at www.uscis.gov/I-9central.

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