USCIS Delays Rule Changing List Of Documents Acceptable To Verify Employment Eligibility
We recently reported that, effective February 2, 2009, all employers are required to use the new mandatory Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification (02/02/09 version).
Under this interim rule, employers would no longer be allowed to accept expired documents to verify employment eligibility on the Form I-9. This rule also added a new document to the list of acceptable documents that establish both identity and employment eligibility and makes several technical corrections and updates.
Late Friday evening on January 30, 2009, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) announced that it was delaying by 60 days, until April 3, 2009, the implementation of an interim final rule entitled “Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification.”
The delay will provide DHS with an opportunity for further consideration of the rule and also allows the public additional time to submit comments. A notice announcing the delay was transmitted to the Federal Register on January 30, 2009. USCIS has also reopened the public comment period for 30 days until March 4, 2009.
Please note that the 06/05/07 version may only be used BEFORE April 3, 2009. The 02/02/09 version may only be used ON or AFTER April 3, 2009.