Update: The Form I-9s – They Are A Changin’ (Again)

While turkeys were seeped in brine last week the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was busy issuing proposed regulations relating to changes they intend to make to the Form I-9. Over the past few years DHS has implemented several changes to the form making it easier to read, complete, and save and access electronically. The proposed changes seek more of the same.

Based on the information published in the federal register by DHS, they are proposing the following changes:

• Check of certain fields to ensure information is entered correctly;

• Providing additional spaces to enter multiple preparers and translators;

• Providing instructions on the screen that users can access to complete each field (Personal Note: this intrigues me the most!);

• Includes buttons that will allow users to access the instructions electronically, print the form and clear the form to start over;

• Provides a dedicated area to enter additional information that employers are currently required to notate in the margins of the form; * Matrix bar codes, or QR codes, once the form is printed that can be used to streamline the audit process;

• Streamlining the certification in Section 1 for certain foreign nationals; and

• Requiring employers to provide only other last names used in Section 1, rather than all other names used.

Comments on the proposed changes are being accepted through January 25, 2016. If you desire to comment on these changes you are invited to do so by going to www.regulations.gov and entering USCIS-2006-0068.   

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