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

Failure to Complete Section 1 selection from List C. If an employee presents a List A
document, do not ask or require the employee to present
You must ensure that all parts of Form I-9 are properly List B or List C documents. If an employee presents
completed; otherwise, you may be subject to penalties List B and List C documents, do not ask or require the
under federal law. Section 1 must be completed no later employee to present a List A document.
than the end of the employee’s first day of employment.
You may not ask an individual who has not accepted You must accept any document(s) from the Lists of
a job offer to complete Section 1. Before completing Acceptable Documents that reasonably appear on their
Section 2, you should review Section 1 to ensure the face to be genuine and relate to the person presenting
employee completed it properly. If you find any errors them. You may not specify which document(s) the
in Section 1, have the employee make any necessary employee must present. Enter the document title, issuing
corrections and initial and date them. authority, number, and expiration date (if any) in Section
2 from original documents supplied by employee. If you
Completing Section 2 choose to make copies of the documents, do so for all
employees, regardless of national origin or citizenship
Within three business days of the date employment status, or you may be in violation of anti-discrimination
begins, the employee must present to you an original laws. Return the original documents to your employee.
document or documents that show their identity and
employment authorization. For example, if an employee Fill in the date employment begins and information in
begins employment on Monday, you must review the the certification block. Sign and date Form I-9.
employee’s documentation and complete Section 2 on
or before Thursday of that week. However, if you hire NOTE: If you participate in E-Verify, you may only accept
an individual for less than three business days, you must List B documents that bear a photograph. For more
complete Section 2 no later than the end of the first information, visit uscis.gov/e-verify.
day of employment. The employee must be allowed to
choose which document(s) they will present from the You may designate or contract with someone such
Form I-9 Lists of Acceptable Documents. You cannot as a personnel officer, foreman, agent, or anyone else
specify which document(s) an employee will present acting on your behalf, including a notary public,
from the list. to complete Section 2. Note that anyone else who
completes Form I-9 on your behalf must carry out full
Physically examine each original document the Form I-9 responsibilities. It is not acceptable for the
employee presents to determine if the document designated person to physically examine the employee’s
reasonably appears to be genuine and relates to the employment authorization and identity documents,
person presenting it. Make sure the person who and leave Section 2 for you to complete. You are liable
examines the documents is the same person who attests for any violations in connection with the form or the
and signs Section 2. verification process, including any violations of the
employer sanctions laws committed by the person
The employee must be physically present with the designated to act on your behalf.
document examiner. Examine one selection from List A
or a combination of one selection from List B and one

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