March 30, 2009

USCIS Releases Updated Handbook for Employers

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released its updated Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form (M-274). The Handbook should be used only on and after April 3, 2009. The Handbook include directions on how to complete the Form I-9, reviews penalties for unlawful practices, and provides an overview of E-Verify. The new Handbook contains the new Form I-9, which includes the rule change that only unexpired documents are acceptable for I-9 purposes. It also includes a list of temporary employment authorization documents, although without accompanying instructions as to how to complete the Form I-9 when temporary employment authorization documents are presented. Please contact your GT attorney with any questions regarding your I-9 requirements.

The new Handbook is available at http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/m-274_3apr09.pdf.