PDF document
- 1 -
                                 Instructions for Form I-9, 
                                                                                                                 USCIS 
                                 Employment Eligibility Verification                                                        
                                                                                                  Form I-9 
                                 Department of Homeland Security                                  OMB No. 1615-0047
                                 U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services                        Expires 10/31/2022

Anti-Discrimination Notice. It is illegal to discriminate against work-authorized individuals in hiring, firing, recruitment or 
referral for a fee, or in the employment eligibility verification (Form I-9 and E-Verify) process based on that individual's 
citizenship status, immigration status or national origin. Employers CANNOT specify which document(s) the employee may 
present to establish employment authorization. The employer must allow the employee to choose the documents to be presented 
from the Lists of Acceptable Documents, found on the last page of Form I-9. The refusal to hire or continue to employ an 
individual because the documentation presented has a future expiration date may also constitute illegal discrimination. For more 
information, contact the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) in the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division at 
https://www.justice.gov/ier. 

What is the Purpose of This Form?

Employers must complete Form I-9 to document verification of the identity and employment authorization of each new 
employee (both citizen and noncitizen) hired after November 6, 1986, to work in the United States. In the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), employers must complete Form I-9 to document verification of the identity and employment 
authorization of each new employee (both citizen and noncitizen) hired after November 27, 2011.   

General Instructions

Both employers and employees are responsible for completing their respective sections of Form I-9. For the purpose of 
completing this form, the term “employer” means all employers, including those recruiters and referrers for a fee who are 
agricultural associations, agricultural employers, or farm labor contractors, as defined in section 3 of the Migrant and Seasonal 
Agricultural Worker Protection Act, Public Law 97-470 (29 U.S.C. 1802). An “employee” is a person who performs labor or 
services in the United States for an employer in return for wages or other remuneration. The term “Employee” does not include 
those who do not receive any form of remuneration (volunteers), independent contractors or those engaged in certain casual 
domestic employment. Form I-9 has three sections. Employees complete Section 1. Employers complete Section 2 and, when 
applicable, Section 3. Employers may be fined if the form is not properly completed. See 8 USC § 1324a and 8 CFR § 274a.10. 
Individuals may be prosecuted for knowingly and willfully entering false information on the form. Employers are responsible for 
retaining completed forms. Do not mail completed forms to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) or 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).  
These instructions will assist you in properly completing Form I-9. The employer must ensure that all pages of the instructions 
and Lists of Acceptable Documents are available, either in print or electronically, to all employees completing this form. When 
completing the form on a computer, the English version of the form includes specific instructions for each field and drop-down 
lists for universally used abbreviations and acceptable documents. To access these instructions, move the cursor over each field 
or click on the question mark symbol (     ) within the field. Employers and employees can also access this full set of 
instructions at any time by clicking the Instructions button at the top of each page when completing the form on a computer that 
is connected to the Internet. 
Employers and employees may choose to complete any or all sections of the form on paper or using a computer, or a 
combination of both. Forms I-9 obtained from the USCIS website are not considered electronic Forms I-9 under DHS 
regulations and, therefore, cannot be electronically signed. Therefore, regardless of the method you used to enter information 
into each field, you must print a hard copy of the form, then sign and date the hard copy by hand where required.  
Employers can obtain a blank copy of Form I-9 from the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. This form is in portable 
document format (.pdf) that is fillable and savable. That means that you may download it, or simply print out a blank copy to 
enter information by hand. You may also request paper Forms I-9 from USCIS. 
Certain features of Form I-9 that allow for data entry on personal computers may make the form appear to be more than two 
pages. When using a computer, Form I-9 has been designed to print as two pages. Using more than one preparer and/or 
translator will add an additional page to the form, regardless of your method of completion. You are not required to print, retain 
or store the page containing the Lists of Acceptable Documents. 

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                        Page 1 of 15



- 2 -
The form will also populate certain fields with N/A when certain user choices ensure that particular fields will not be 
completed. The Print button located at the top of each page that will print any number of pages the user selects. Also, the Start 
Over button located at the top of each page will clear all the fields on the form. 
The Spanish version of Form I-9 does not include the additional instructions and drop-down lists described above. Employers 
in Puerto Rico may use either the Spanish or English version of the form. Employers outside of Puerto Rico must retain the 
English version of the form for their records, but may use the Spanish form as a translation tool. Additional guidance to 
complete the form may be found in the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) and on USCIS ’
Form I-9 website, I-9 Central. 

Completing Section I: Employee Information and Attestation

You, the employee, must complete each field in Section 1 as described below. Newly hired employees must complete and sign 
Section 1 no later than the first day of employment. Section 1 should never be completed before you have accepted a job offer.  

Entering Your Employee Information

Last Name (Family Name): Enter your full legal last name. Your last name is your family name or surname. If you have two 
last names or a hyphenated last name, include both names in the Last Name field. Examples of correctly entered last names 
include:De La Cruz, O’Neill, Garcia Lopez, Smith-Johnson, Nguyen. If you only have one name, enter it in this field, then 
enter “Unknown” in the First Name field. You may not enter “Unknown” in both the Last Name field and the First Name field. 

First Name (Given Name): Enter your full legal first name. Your first name is your given name. Some examples of correctly 
entered first names include:Jessica, John-Paul, Tae Young, D’Shaun, Mai . If you only have one name, enter it in the Last 
Name field, then enter “Unknown” in this field. You may not enter “Unknown” in both the First Name field and the Last Name 
field. 
Middle Initial: Your middle initial is the first letter of your second given name, or the first letter of your middle name, if any. 
If you have more than one middle name, enter the first letter of your first middle name. If you do not have a middle name, enter 
N/A in this field.  
Other Last Names Used: Provide all other last names used, if any (e.g., maiden name). Enter N/A if you have not used other 
last names. For example, if you legally changed your last name from Smith to Jones, you should enter the name Smith in this 
field.  
Address (Street Name and Number): Enter the street name and number of the current address of your residence. If you are a 
border commuter from Canada or Mexico, you may enter your Canada or Mexico address in this field. If your residence does 
not have a physical address, enter a description of the location of your residence, such as “3 miles southwest of Anytown post 
office near water tower.”  
Apartment: Enter the number(s) or letter(s) that identify(ies) your apartment. If you do not live in an apartment, enter N/A.  
City or Town: Enter your city, town or village in this field. If your residence is not located in a city, town or village, enter your 
county, township, reservation, etc., in this field. If you are a border commuter from Canada, enter your city and province in this 
field. If you are a border commuter from Mexico, enter your city and state in this field. 
State: Enter the abbreviation of your state or territory in this field. If you are a border commuter from Canada or Mexico, enter 
your country abbreviation in this field.   
ZIP Code: Enter your 5-digit ZIP code. If you are a border commuter from Canada or Mexico, enter your 
5- or 6-digit postal code in this field.  
Date of Birth (mm/dd/yyyy): Enter your date of birth as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For 
example, enter January 8, 1980 as 01/08/1980. 
U.S. Social Security Number: Providing your 9-digit Social Security number is voluntary on Form I-9 unless your employer 
participates in E-Verify. If your employer participates in E-Verify and:

        1. You have been issued a Social Security number, you must provide it in this field; or
        2. You have applied for, but have not yet received a Social Security number, leave this field blank until you receive 
            a Social Security number.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                 Page 2 of 15



- 3 -
Employee’s E-mail Address (Optional): Providing your e-mail address is optional on Form I-9, but the field cannot be left 
blank. To enter your e-mail address, use this format: name@site.domain. One reason Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 
may e-mail you is if your employer uses E-Verify and DHS learns of a potential mismatch between the information provided and 
the information in government records. This e-mail would contain information on how to begin to resolve the potential mismatch. 
You may use either your personal or work e-mail address in this field. Enter N/A if you do not enter your e-mail address. 

Employee’s Telephone Number (Optional): Providing your telephone number is optional on Form I-9, but the field 
cannot be left blank. If you enter your area code and telephone number, use this format: 000-000-0000. Enter N/A if you do 
not enter your telephone number. 

 Attesting to Your Citizenship or Immigration Status 

You must select one box to attest to your citizenship or immigration status.  
 1.       Acitizen of the United States.

 2.    A noncitizen national of the United States:  An individual born in American Samoa, certain former citizens of the 
       former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and certain children of noncitizen nationals born abroad.  
 3.     A lawful permanent resident:  An individual who is not a U.S. citizen and who resides in the United States under legally 
       recognized and lawfully recorded permanent residence as an immigrant. This term includes conditional residents. Asylees and 
       refugees should not select this status, but should instead select "An Alien authorized to work" below. 
         If you select “lawful permanent resident,” enter your 7- to 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number), including the 
       “A,” or USCIS Number in the space provided. When completing this field using a computer, use the dropdown provided 
       to indicate whether you have entered an Alien Number or a USCIS Number. At this time, the USCIS Number is the same 
       as the A-Number without the “A” prefix. 
 4.    An alien authorized to work  : An individual who is not a citizen or national of the United States, or a lawful permanent 
       resident, but is authorized to work in the United States. 
         If you select this box, enter the date that your employment authorization expires, if any, in the space provided. In most cases, 
       your employment authorization expiration date is found on the document(s) evidencing your employment authorization. 
       Refugees, asylees and certain citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or Palau, 
       and other aliens whose employment authorization does not have an expiration date should enter N/A in the Expiration Date 
       field. In some cases, such as if you have Temporary Protected Status, your employment authorization may have been 
       automatically extended; in these cases, you should enter the expiration date of the automatic extension in this space.

       Aliens authorized to work must enter one of the following to complete Section 1:
          1. Alien Registration Number (A-Number)/USCIS Number; or
          2. Form I-94 Admission Number; or 
          3. Foreign Passport Number and the Country of Issuance.
       Your employer may not ask you to present the document from which you supplied this information.
       Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number: Enter your 7- to 9-digit Alien Registration Number (A-Number), 
       including the “A,” or your USCIS Number in this field. At this time, the USCIS Number is the same as your 
       A-Number without the “A” prefix. When completing this field using a computer, use the dropdown provided to indicate 
       whether you have entered an Alien Number or a USCIS Number. If you do not provide an A-Number or USCIS Number, 
       enter N/A in this field then enter either a Form I-94 Admission Number, or a Foreign Passport and Country of Issuance in 
       the fields provided. 
       Form I-94 Admission Number: Enter your 11-digit I-94 Admission Number in this field. If you do not provide an I-94 
       Admission Number, enter N/A in this field, then enter either an Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number or a Foreign 
       Passport Number and Country of Issuance in the fields provided. 
       Foreign Passport Number: Enter your Foreign Passport Number in this field. If you do not provide a Foreign Passport 
       Number, enter N/A in this field, then enter either an Alien Number/USCIS Number or a I-94 Admission Number in the 
       fields provided. 
       Country of Issuance: If you entered your Foreign Passport Number, enter your Foreign Passport’s Country of Issuance. If 
       you did not enter your Foreign Passport Number, enter N/A.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                          Page 3 of 15



- 4 -
Signature of Employee: After completing Section 1, sign your name in this field. If you used a form obtained from the 
USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this field. By signing this form, you attest under penalty of 
perjury (28 U.S.C. § 1746) that the information you provided, along with the citizenship or immigration status you selected, 
and all information and documentation you provide to your employer, is complete, true and correct, and you are aware that you 
may face severe penalties provided by law and may be subject to criminal prosecution for  knowingly and willfully making 
false statements or using false documentation when completing this form. Further, falsely attesting to U.S. citizenship may 
subject employees to penalties, removal proceedings and may adversely affect an employee's ability to seek future immigration 
benefits. If you cannot sign your name, you may place a mark in this field to indicate your signature. Employees who use a 
preparer or translator to help them complete the form must still sign or place a mark in the Signature of Employee field on the 
printed form. 
If you used a preparer, translator, and other individual to assist you in completing Form I-9:  
·  Both you and your preparer(s) and/or translator(s) must complete the appropriate areas of Section 1, and then sign 
Section 1. If Section 1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS website, the form must be printed to sign 
these fields. You and your preparer(s) and/or translator(s) also should review the instructions for Completing the 
Preparer and/or Translator Certification below. 
·  If the employee is a minor (individual under 18) who cannot present an identity document, the employee's parent or 
legal guardian can complete Section 1 for the employee and enter “minor under age 18” in the signature field. If Section 
1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS website, the form must be printed to enter this information. The 
minor's parent or legal guardian should review the instructions for Completing the Preparer and/or Translator 
Certification below. Refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more 
guidance on completion of Form I-9 for minors. If the minor's employer participates in E-Verify, the employee must 
present a list B identity document with a photograph to complete Form I-9.
·  If the employee is a person with a disability (who is placed in employment by a nonprofit organization, association or as 
part of a rehabilitation program) who cannot present an identity document, the employee's parent, legal guardian or a 
representative of the nonprofit organization, association or rehabilitation program can complete Section 1 for the 
employee and enter “Special Placement” in this field. If Section 1 was completed on a form obtained from the USCIS 
website, the form must be printed to enter this information. The parent, legal guardian or representative of the nonprofit 
organization, association or rehabilitation program completing Section 1 for the employee should review the 
instructions for Completing the Preparer and/or Translator Certification below. Refer to the Handbook for Employers: 
Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on completion of Form I-9 for certain employees with 
disabilities.

Today's Date: Enter the date you signed Section 1 in this field. Do not backdate this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month, 
2-digit day and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014. A preparer or translator who 
assists the employee in completing Section 1 may enter the date the employee signed or made a mark to sign Section 1 in this 
field. Parents or legal guardians assisting minors (individuals under age 18) and parents, legal guardians or representatives of a 
nonprofit organization, association or rehabilitation program assisting certain employees with disabilities must enter the date 
they completed Section 1 for the employee.

Completing the Preparer and/or Translator Certification

If you did not use a preparer or translator to assist you in completing Section 1, you, the employee, must check the box marked  
I did not use a Preparer or Translator. If you check this box, leave the rest of the fields in this area blank. 
If one or more preparers and/or translators assist the employee in completing the form using a computer, the preparer and/or 
translator must check the box marked “A preparer(s) and/or translator(s) assisted the employee in completing Section 1”,
then select the number of Certification areas needed from the dropdown provided. Any additional Certification areas generated 
will result in an additional page. The Form I-9 Supplement, Section 1 Preparer and/or Translator Certification, can be separately 
downloaded from the USCIS Form I-9 webpage, which provides additional Certification areas for those completing Form I-9 
using a computer who need more Certification areas than the 5 provided or those who are completing Form I-9 on paper. The 
first preparer and/or translator must complete all the fields in the Certification area on the same page the employee has signed. 
There is no limit to the number of preparers and/or translators an employee can use, but each additional preparer and/or 
translator must complete and sign a separate Certification area. Ensure the employee's last name, first name and middle initial 
are entered at the top of any additional pages. The employer must ensure that any additional pages are retained with the 
employee's completed Form I-9. 

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                Page 4 of 15



- 5 -
Signature of Preparer or Translator: Any person who helped to prepare or translate Section 1of Form I-9 must sign his or 
her name in this field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this 
field. The Preparer and/or Translator Certification must also be completed if “Individual under Age 18” or “Special Placement” 
is entered in lieu of the employee’s signature in Section 1.

Today's Date: The person who signs the Preparer and/or Translator Certification must enter the date he or she signs in this 
field on the printed form. Do not backdate this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/
yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014.  
Last Name (Family Name): Enter the full legal last name of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating 
Section 1 in this field. The last name is also the family name or surname. If the preparer or translator has two last names or a 
hyphenated last name, include both names in this field. 
First Name (Given Name): Enterthe full legal first name of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating 
Section 1 in this field. The first name is also the given name. 
Address (Street Name and Number): Enterthe           street name and number of the current address of the residence of the person 
who helped the employee in preparing or translating Section 1 in this field. Addresses for residences in Canada or Mexico may 
be entered in this field. If the residence does not have a physical address, enter a description of the location of the residence, 
such as “3 miles southwest of Anytown post office near water tower.” If the residence is an apartment, enter the apartment 
number in this field. 
City or Town:  Enter the city, town or village of the residence of the person who helped the employee in preparing or 
translating Section 1 in this field. If the residence is not located in a city, town or village, enter the name of the  county, 
township, reservation, etc., in this field. If the residence is in Canada, enter the city and province in this field. If the residence is 
in Mexico, enter the city and state in this field.   
State:  Enter the abbreviation of the state, territory or country of the preparer or translator’s residence in this field. 
ZIP Code:  Enter the 5-digit ZIP code of the residence of the person who helped the employee in preparing or translating 
Section 1 in this field. If the preparer or translator's residence is in Canada or Mexico, enter the 5- or 6-digit postal code.

Presenting Form I-9 Documents

Within 3 business days of starting work for pay, you must present to your employer documentation that establishes your 
identity and employment authorization. For example, if you begin employment on Monday, you must present documentation 
on or before Thursday of that week. However, if you were hired to work for less than 3 business days, you must present 
documentation no later than the first day of employment. 
Choose which unexpired document(s) to present to your employer from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. An employer 
cannot specify which document(s) you may present from the Lists of Acceptable Documents. You may present either one 
selection from List A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C. Some List A documents, 
which show both identity and employment authorization, are combination documents that must be presented together to be 
considered a List A document: for example, the foreign passport together with a Form I-94 containing an endorsement of the 
alien’s nonimmigrant status and employment authorization with a specific employer incident to such status. List B documents 
show identity only and List C documents show employment authorization only. If your employer participates in E-Verify and 
you present a List B document, the document must contain a photograph. If you present acceptable List A documentation, you 
should not be asked to present, nor should you provide, List B and List C documentation. If you present acceptable List B and 
List C documentation, you should not be asked to present, nor should you provide, List A documentation. If you are unable to 
present a document(s) from these lists, you may be able to present an acceptable receipt. Refer to the Receipts section below. 
Your employer must review the document(s) you present to complete Form I-9. If your document(s) reasonably appears to be 
genuine and to relate to you, your employer must accept the documents. If your document(s) does not reasonably appear to be 
genuine or to relate to you, your employer must reject it and provide you with an opportunity to present other documents from 
the Lists of Acceptable Documents. Your employer may choose to make copies of your document(s), but must return the 
original(s) to you. Your employer must review your documents in your physical presence.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                           Page 5 of 15



- 6 -
Your employer will complete the other parts of this form, as well as review your entries in Section 1. Your employer may ask 
you to correct any errors found. Your employer is responsible for ensuring all parts of Form I-9 are properly completed and is 
subject to penalties under federal law if the form is not completed correctly. 
Minors (individuals under age 18) and certain employees with disabilities whose parent, legal guardian or representative 
completed Section 1 for the employee are only required to present an employment authorization document from List C. Refer to 
the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on minors and certain individuals 
with disabilities. 
Receipts
If you do not have unexpired documentation from the Lists of Acceptable Documents, you may be able to present a receipt(s) in 
lieu of an acceptable document(s). New employees who choose to present a receipt(s) must do so within three business days of 
their first day of employment. If your employer is reverifying your employment authorization, and you choose to present a 
receipt for reverification, you must present the receipt by the date your employment authorization expires. Receipts are not 
acceptable if employment lasts fewer than three business days.
There are three types of acceptable receipts: 
1   .A receipt showing that you have applied to replace a document that was lost, stolen or damaged. You must present the 
     actual document within 90 days from the date of hire or, in the case of reverification, within 90 days from the date your 
     original employment authorization expires. 
2.   The arrival portion of Form I-94/I-94A containing a temporary I-551 stamp and a photograph of the individual. You must 
     present the actual Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) by the expiration date of the temporary I-551 stamp, or, if there is 
     no expiration date, within 1 year from the date of admission. 
3.   The departure portion of Form I-94/I-94A with a refugee admission stamp. You must present an unexpired Employment 
     Authorization Document (Form I-766) or a combination of a List B document and an unrestricted Social Security Card 
     within 90 days from the date of hire or, in the case of reverification, within 90 days from the date your original employment 
     authorization expires. 

Receipts showing that you have applied for an initial grant of employment authorization, or for renewal of your expiring or 
expired employment authorization, are not acceptable. 

Completing Section 2: Employer or Authorized Representative Review and Verification
You, the employer, must ensure that all parts of Form I-9 are properly completed and may be subject to penalties under federal 
law if the form is not completed correctly. Section 1 must be completed no later than the employee’s first day of employment. 
You may not ask an individual to complete Section 1 before he or she has accepted a job offer. Before completing Section 2, 
you should review Section 1 to ensure the employee completed it properly. If you find any errors in Section 1, have the 
employee make corrections, as necessary and initial and date any corrections made.  
You may designate an authorized representative to act on your behalf to complete Section 2. An authorized representative can 
be any person you designate to complete and sign Form I-9 on your behalf. You are liable for any violations in connection with 
the form or the verification process, including any violations of the employer sanctions laws committed by the person 
designated to act on your behalf. 
You or your authorized representative must complete Section 2 by examining evidence of identity and employment 
authorization within 3 business days of the employee’s first day of employment. For example, if an employee begins 
employment on Monday, you must review the employee's documentation and complete Section 2 on or before Thursday of that 
week. However, if you hire an individual for less than 3 business days, Section 2 must be completed no later than the first day 
of employment.  

Entering Employee Information from Section 1

This area, titled, “Employee Info from Section 1” contains fields to enter the employee's last name, first name, middle initial 
exactly as he or she entered them in Section 1. This area also includes a Citizenship/Immigration Status field to enter the 
number of the citizenship or immigration status checkbox the employee selected in Section 1. These fields help to ensure that 
the two pages of an employee's Form I-9 remain together. When completing Section 2 using a computer, the number entered in 
the Citizenship/Immigration Status field provides drop-downs that directly relate to the employee's selected citizenship or 
immigration status. 

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                   Page 6 of 15



- 7 -
Entering Documents the Employee Presents
You, the employer or authorized representative, must physically examine, in the employee's physical presence, the unexpired 
document(s) the employee presents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents to complete the Document fields in Section 2.   
You cannot specify which document(s) an employee may present from these lists. If you discriminate in the Form I-9 process 
based on an individual's citizenship status, immigration status, or national origin, you may be in violation of the law and subject 
to sanctions such as civil penalties and be required to pay back pay to discrimination victims. A document is acceptable as long 
as it reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the person presenting it. Employees must present one selection from List 
A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C. 
List A documents show both identity and employment authorization. Some List A documents are combination documents that 
must be presented together to be considered a List A document, such as a foreign passport together with a Form I-94 containing 
an endorsement of the alien’s nonimmigrant status.  
List B documents show identity only, and List C documents show employment authorization only. If an employee presents a List 
A document, do not ask or require the employee to present List B and List C documents, and vice versa. If an employer 
participates in E-Verify and the employee presents a List B document, the List B document must include a photograph.   
If an employee presents a receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged document, the employee must present 
the replacement document to you within 90 days of the first day of work for pay, or in the case of reverification, within 90 days 
of the date the employee's employment authorization expired. Enter the word “Receipt” followed by the title of the receipt in 
Section 2 under the list that relates to the receipt. 
When your employee presents the replacement document, draw a line through the receipt, then enter the information from the 
new document into Section 2. Other receipts may be valid for longer or shorter periods, such as the arrival portion of Form I-94/
I-94A containing a temporary I-551 stamp and a photograph of the individual, which is valid until the expiration date of the 
temporary I-551 stamp or, if there is no expiration date, valid for one year from the date of admission.  
Ensure that each document is an unexpired, original (no photocopies, except for certified copies of birth certificates) document. 
Certain employees may present an expired employment authorization document, which may be considered unexpired, if the 
employee's employment authorization has been extended by regulation or a Federal Register Notice. Refer to the Handbook for 
Employers: Guidance for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) or I-9 Central for more guidance on these special situations. 
Refer to the M-274for guidance on how to handle special situations, such as students (who may present additional documents 
not specified on the Lists) and H-1B and H-2A nonimmigrants changing employers. 
Minors (individuals under age 18) and certain employees with disabilities whose parent, legal guardian or representative 
completed Section 1 for the employee are only required to present an employment authorization document from List C. Refer to 
the M-274 for more guidance on minors and certain persons with disabilities. If the minor's employer participates in E-Verify, 
the minor employee also must present a List B identity document with a photograph to complete Form I-9. 
You must return original document(s) to the employee, but may make photocopies of the document(s) reviewed. Photocopying 
documents is voluntary unless you participate in E-Verify. E-Verify employers are only required to photocopy certain 
documents. If you are an E-Verify employer who chooses to photocopy documents other than those you are required to 
photocopy, you should apply this policy consistently with respect to Form I-9 completion for all employees. For more 
information on the types of documents that an employer must photocopy if the employer uses E-Verify, visit E-Verify’s website 
at www.everify.gov. For non-E-Verify employers, if photocopies are made, they should be made consistently for ALL new 
hires and reverified employees. 
Photocopies must be retained and presented with Form I-9 in case of an inspection by DHS or another federal government 
agency. You must always complete Section 2 by reviewing original documentation, even if you photocopy an employee’s 
document(s) after reviewing the documentation. Making photocopies of an employee’s document(s) cannot take the place of 
completing Form I-9. You are still responsible for completing and retaining Form I-9.  

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                      Page 7 of 15



- 8 -
List A - Identity and Employment Authorization: If the employee presented an acceptable document(s) from List A or an 
acceptable receipt for a List A document, enter the document(s) information in this column. If the employee presented a List A 
document that consists of a combination of documents, enter information from each document in that combination in a separate 
area under List A as described below. All documents must be unexpired. If you enter document information in the List A 
column, you should not enter document information or N/A in the List B or List C columns. If you complete Section 2 using a 
computer, a selection in List A will fill all the fields in the Lists B and C columns with N/A.

Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List A, enter the title of the List A document or receipt in 
this field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When 
completing the form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviation to enter the 
document title or issuing authority. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third 
Document Title fields as necessary.

              Full name of List A Document                                                     Abbreviations
U.S. Passport                                                           U.S. Passport
U.S. Passport Card                                                      U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)                                    Perm. Resident Card (Form I-551)
Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)                            Alien Reg. Receipt Card (Form I-551)
                                                                        1. Foreign Passport 
Foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 stamp
                                                                        2. Temporary I-551 Stamp
Foreign passport containing a temporary I-551 printed notation on a     1. Foreign Passport 
machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV)                                  2. Machine-readable immigrant visa (MRIV)
Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)                          Employment Auth. Document (Form I-766)
For a nonimmigrant alien authorized to work for a specific employer     1. Foreign Passport, work-authorized non-immigrant 
because of his or her status, a foreign passport                        2. Form I-94/I94A 
with Form I/94/I-94A that contains an endorsement of the alien's        3. Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 
nonimmigrant status
                                                                        Note: In limited circumstances, certain J-1 students 
                                                                        may be required to present a letter from their 
                                                                        Responsible Officer in order to work. Enter the 
                                                                        document title, issuing authority, document number 
                                                                        and expiration date from this document in the 
                                                                        Additional Information field.
Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM)                  1. FSM Passport with Form I-94 
with Form I-94/I-94A                                                    2. Form I-94/I94A
Passport from the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI)                1. RMI Passport with Form I-94 
with Form I-94/I94A                                                     2. Form I-94/I94A
Receipt: The arrival portion of Form I-94/I-94A containing a temporary 
                                                                        Receipt: Form I-94/I-94A w/I-551 stamp, photo 
I-551 stamp and photograph
Receipt: The departure portion of Form I-94/I-94A  
                                                                        Receipt: Form I-94/I-94A w/refugee stamp
with an unexpired refugee admission stamp
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged         Receipt replacement Perm. Res. Card  
Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551)                                    (Form I-551)
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged 
                                                                        Receipt replacement EAD (Form I-766)
Employment Authorization Document (Form I-766)
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged foreign 1. Receipt: Replacement Foreign Passport, 
passport with Form I-94/I-94A that contains an endorsement of the           work-authorized nonimmigrant 
alien's nonimmigrant status                                             2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A 
                                                                        3. Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (if presented)
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged         1. Receipt: Replacement FSM Passport with Form I-94 
passport from the Federated States of Micronesia with Form I-94/I-94A 2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A
Receipt for an application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged 
                                                                        1. Receipt: Replacement RMI Passport with Form I-94 
passport from the Republic of the Marshall Islands with Form I-94/
                                                                        2. Receipt: Replacement Form I-94/I-94A
I-94A

Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List A document or receipt. The issuing authority is the specific 
entity that issued the document. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third Issuing 
Authority fields as necessary.  

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                   Page 8 of 15



- 9 -
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List A document or receipt presented. If the document 
does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second 
and third Document Number fields as necessary. If the document presented was a Form I-20 or DS-2019, enter the 
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) number in the third Document Number field exactly as it 
appears on the Form I-20 or the DS-2019.   
Expiration Date (if any)mm/dd/yyyy( ): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List A document. The document is not 
acceptable if it has already expired. If the document does not contain an expiration date, enter N/A in this field. If the 
document uses text rather than a date to indicate when it expires, enter the text as shown on the document, such as 
“D/S” (which means, “duration of status”). For a receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as 
described above. If the employee presented a combination of documents, use the second and third Expiration Date fields 
as necessary. If the document presented was a Form I-20 or DS-2019, enter the program end date here. 

List B - Identity: If the employee presented an acceptable document from List B or an acceptable receipt for the application to 
replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed List B document, enter the document information in this column. If a parent or legal guardian 
attested to the identity of an employee who is an individual under age 18 or certain employees with disabilities in Section 1, 
enter either "Individual under age 18" or "Special Placement" in this field.  Refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance 
for Completing Form I-9 (M-274) for more guidance on individuals under age 18 and certain person with disabilities. 
If you enter document information in the List B column, you must also enter document information in the List C column. If an 
employee presents acceptable List B and List C documents, do not ask the employees to present a List A document. If you enter 
document information in List B, you should not enter document information or N/A in List A. If you complete Section 2 using a 
computer, a selection in List B will fill all the fields in the List A column with N/A.
Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List B, enter the title of the List B document or receipt in this 
field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When completing the 
form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviations to document the document title or 
issuing authority.

                  Full name of List B Document                                               Abbreviations
Driver's license issued by a State or outlying possession of the United 
                                                                           Driver's license issued by state/territory
States
ID card issued by a State or outlying possession of the 
                                                                           ID card issued by state/territory
United States
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or 
entities (Note: This selection does not include the driver's license or ID 
                                                                           Government ID
card issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States as 
described in B1 of the List of Acceptable Documents.)
School ID card with photograph                                             School ID
Voter's registration card                                                  Voter registration card
U.S. Military card                                                         U.S. Military card
U.S. Military draft record                                                 U.S. Military draft record
Military dependent's ID card                                               Military dependent's ID card
U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card                                     USCG Merchant Mariner card
Native American tribal document                                            Native American tribal document
Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority                 Canadian driver's license
School record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                           School record (under age 18)
document listed above)
Report card (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                           Report card (under age 18)
document listed above)
Clinic record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                           Clinic record (under age 18)
document listed above)
Doctor record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                           Doctor record (under age 18)
document listed above)
Hospital record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                           Hospital record (under age 18)
document listed above)
Day-care record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present 
                                                                           Day-care record (under age 18)
a document listed above)
Nursery school record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to 
                                                                           Nursery school record (under age 18)
present a document listed above)

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                     Page 9 of 15



- 10 -
                 Full name of List B Document                                                   Abbreviations
Individual under age 18 endorsement by parent or guardian                   Individual under Age 18
Special placement endorsement for persons with disabilities                 Special Placement
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Driver's 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement driver's license 
License issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged ID card 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement ID card 
issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States

Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged ID card 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Gov't ID
issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged School 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement School ID
ID card with photograph
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Voter's 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Voter reg. card
registration card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged U.S. 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement U.S. Military card
Military card 
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Military 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement U.S. Military dep. card
dependent's ID card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged U.S.       Receipt: Replacement Military draft 
Military draft record                                                       record
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged U.S. 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Merchant Mariner card
Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Driver's 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Canadian DL
license issued by a Canadian government authority
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Native  Receipt: Replacement Native American 
American tribal document                                                    tribal doc
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged School 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement School record  
record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                            (under age 18)
document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Report 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Report card  
card (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document 
                                                                            (under age 18)
listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Clinic 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Clinic record 
record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                            (under age 18)
document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Doctor 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Doctor record 
record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                            (under age 18)
document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Hospital record  
Hospital record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to present a 
                                                                            (under age 18)
document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Day-
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Day-care record  
care record (for persons under age 18 who 
                                                                            (under age 18)
are unable to present a document listed above)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged 
                                                                            Receipt: Replacement Nursery school record (under 
Nursery school record (for persons under age 18 who are unable to 
                                                                            age 18)
present a document listed above)
Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List B document or receipt. The issuing authority is the entity that 
issued the document.If           the employee presented a document that is issued by a state agency, include the state as part of 
the issuing authority. 
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List B document or receipt exactly as it appears on the 
document.  If the document does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field.  
Expiration Date (if any)mm/dd/yyyy(           ): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List B document. The document is not 
acceptable if it has already expired. If the document does not contain an expiration date, enter N/A in this field. For a 
receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as described in the Receipt section above. 

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                       Page 10 of 15



- 11 -
List C - Employment Authorization: If the employee presented an acceptable document from List C, or an acceptable 
receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen, or destroyed List C document, enter the document information in this 
column. If you enter document information in the List C column, you must also enter document information in the List B 
column. If an employee presents acceptable List B and List C documents, do not ask the employee to present a list A document. 
If you enter document information in List C, you should not enter document information or N/A in List A. If you complete 
Section 2 using a computer, a selection in List C will fill all the fields in the List A column with N/A.
Document Title: If the employee presented a document from List C, enter the title of the List C document or receipt in 
this field. The abbreviations provided are available in the dropdown when the form is completed on a computer. When 
completing the form on paper, you may choose to use these abbreviations or any other common abbreviations to document 
the document title or issuing authority. If you are completing the form on a computer, and you select an Employment 
authorization document issued by DHS, the field will populate with List C #7 and provide a space for you to enter a 
description of the documentation the employee presented. Refer to the M-274 for guidance on entering List C #7 
documentation. 
                    Full name of List C Document                                                 Abbreviations
Social Security Account Number card without restrictions                        (Unrestricted) Social Security Card
Certification of Birth Abroad (Form FS-545)                                     Form FS-545
Certification of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350)                                 Form DS-1350
Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240)                                   Form FS-240
Original or certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate bearing an official seal Birth Certificate
Native American tribal document                                                 Native American tribal document
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)                                               Form I-197
Identification Card for use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form 
                                                                                Form I-179
I-179)
Employment  authorization document issued by DHS (List C #7) (Note: This 
selection does not include the Employment Authorization Document (Form          Employment Auth. document (DHS) List C #7
I-766) from List A.)
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Social 
                                                                                Receipt: Replacement Unrestricted SS Card
Security Account Number Card without restrictions
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Original or 
                                                                                Receipt: Replacement Birth Certificate
certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate bearing an official seal
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Native 
                                                                                Receipt: Replacement Native American Tribal Doc.
American Tribal Document
Receipt for the application to replace a lost, stolen or damaged Employment 
                                                                                Receipt: Replacement Employment Auth. Doc. (DHS)
Authorization Document issued by DHS

Issuing Authority: Enter the issuing authority of the List C document or receipt. The issuing authority is the entity that 
issued the document.  
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the List C document or receipt exactly as it appears on the 
document. If the document does not contain a number, enter N/A in this field.  
Expiration Date (if any)mm/dd/yyyy( ): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the List C document. The document is not 
acceptable if it has already expired, unless USCIS has extended the expiration date on the document. For instance, if a 
conditional resident presents a Form I-797 extending his or her conditional resident status with the employee's expired Form 
I-551, enter the future expiration date as indicated on the Form I-797. If the document has no expiration date, enter N/A in 
this field. For a receipt, enter the expiration date of the receipt validity period as described in the Receipt section above. 
Additional Information: Use this space to notate any additional information required for Form I-9 such as:
·  Employment authorization extensions for Temporary Protected Status beneficiaries, F-1 OPT STEM students, CAP-
GAP, H-1B and H-2A employees continuing employment with the same employer or changing employers, andother 
nonimmigrant categories that may receive extensions of stay
·  Additional document(s) that certain nonimmigrant employees may present
·  Discrepancies that E-Verify employers must notate when participating in the IMAGE program
·  Employee termination dates and form retention dates
·  E-Verify case number, which may also be entered in the margin or attached as a separate sheet per E-Verify 
requirements and your chosen business process
·  Any other comments or notations necessary for the employer's business process
You may leave this field blank if the employee's circumstances do not require additional notations.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                      Page 11 of 15



- 12 -
Entering Information in the Employer Certification
Employee's First Day of Employment: Enter the employee's first day of employment as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day and 
4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). 
Signature of Employer or Authorized Representative: Review the form for accuracy and completeness. The person who 
physically examines the employee's original document(s) and completes Section 2 must sign his or her name in this field. If you 
used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to sign your name in this field. By signing Section 2, 
you attest under penalty of perjury (28 U.S.C. § 1746)  that you have physically examined the documents presented by the 
employee, the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee named, that to the best of your 
knowledge the employee is authorized to work in the United States, that the information you entered in Section 2 is complete, 
true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you are aware that you may face severe penalties provided by law and 
may be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly and willfully making false statements or knowingly accepting false 
documentation when completing this form.
Today's Date: The person who signs Section 2 must enter the date he or she signed Section 2 in this field. Do not backdate this 
field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print the form to write the date in this field. Enter the date 
as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 2014 as 01/08/2014. 
Title of Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the title, position or role of the person who physically examines the 
employee's original document(s), completes and signs Section 2.  
Last Name of the Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the full legal last name of the person who physically 
examines the employee’s original documents, completes and signs Section 2. Last name refers to family name or surname. If 
the person has two last names or a hyphenated last name, include both names in this field. 
First Name of the Employer or Authorized Representative: Enter the full legal first name of the person who physically 
examines the employee’s original documents, completes, and signs Section 2. First name refers to the given name. 
Employer’s Business or Organization Name: Enter the name of the employer’s business or organization in this field. 
Employer’s Business or Organization Address (Street Name and Number): Enter an actual, physical address of the 
employer. If your company has multiple locations, use the most appropriate address that identifies the location of the employer. 
Do not provide a P.O. Box address. 
City or Town: Enter the city or town for the employer’s business or organization address. If the location is not a city or town, 
you may enter the name of the village, county, township, reservation, etc, that applies. 
State: Enter the two-character abbreviation of the state for the employer’s business or organization address.  
ZIP Code: Enter the 5-digit ZIP code for the employer’s business or organization address.

Completing Section 3: Reverification and Rehires

Section 3 applies to both reverification and rehires. When completing this section, you must also complete the Last Name, First 
Name and Middle Initial fields in the Employee Info from Section 1 area at the top of Section 2, leaving the Citizenship/
Immigration Status field blank. When completing Section 3 in either a reverification or rehire situation, if the employee’s name 
has changed, record the new name in Block A.  
Reverification  
Reverification inSection 3 must be completed prior to the earlier of: 
·  The expiration date, if any, of the employment authorization stated in Section 1, or 
·  The expiration date, if any, of the List A or List C employment authorization document recorded in Section 2 
       (with some exceptions listed below). 
Some employees may have entered “N/A” in the expiration date field in Section 1 if they are aliens whose employment 
authorization does not expire, e.g. asylees, refugees, certain citizens of the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the 
Marshall Islands, or Palau. Reverification does not apply for such employees unless they choose to present evidence of 
employment authorization in Section 2 that contains an expiration date and requires reverification, such as Form I-766, 
Employment Authorization Document.  
You should not reverify U.S. citizens and noncitizen nationals, or lawful permanent residents (including conditional residents) 
who presented a Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551). Reverification does not apply to List B documents.
Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                 Page 12 of 15



- 13 -
For reverification, an employee must present an unexpired document(s) (or a receipt) from either List A or List C showing he or 
she is still authorized to work. You CANNOT require the employee to present a particular document from List A or List C. The 
employee is also not required to show the same type of document that he or she presented previously. See specific instructions 
on how to complete Section 3 below.
Rehires
If you rehire an employee within three years from the date that the Form I-9 was previously executed, you may either rely on 
the employee’s previously executed Form I-9 or complete a new Form I-9. 
If you choose to rely on a previously completed Form I-9, follow these guidelines.
·  If the employee remains employment authorized as indicated on the previously executed Form I-9, the employee does 
not need to provide any additional documentation. Provide in Section 3 the employee’s rehire date, any name changes if 
applicable, and sign and date the form.  
·  If the previously executed Form I-9 indicates that the employee’s employment authorization from Section 1 or 
        employment authorization documentation from Section 2 that is subject to reverification has expired, then 
        reverification of employment authorization is required in Section 3 in addition to providing the rehire date. If the 
        previously executed Form I-9 is not the current version of the form, you must complete Section 3 on the current 
        version of the form.
·  If you already used Section 3 of the employee’s previously executed Form I-9, but are rehiring the employee within 
        three years of the original execution of Form I-9, you may complete Section 3 on a new Form I-9 and attach it to the 
        previously executed form. 

Employees rehired after three years of original execution of the Form I-9 must complete a new Form I-9. 
Complete each block in Section 3 as follows:  
Block A - New Name: If an employee who is being reverified or rehired has also changed his or her name since originally 
completing Section 1 of this form, complete this block with the employee’s new name. Enter only the part of the name that has 
changed, for example: if the employee changed only his or her last name, enter the last name in the Last Name field in this 
Block, then enter N/A in the First Name and Middle Initial fields. If the employee has not changed his or her name, enter N/A in 
each field of Block A. 
Block B - Date of Rehire: Complete this block if you are rehiring an employee within three years of the date Form I-9 was 
originally executed. Enter the date of rehire in this field. Enter N/A in this field if the employee is not being rehired. 
Block C - Complete this block if you are reverifying expiring or expired employment authorization or employment 
authorization documentation of a current or rehired employee. Enter the information from the List A or List C document(s) (or 
receipt) that the employee presented to reverify his or her employment authorization. All documents must be unexpired. 

Document Title: Enter the title of the List A or C document (or receipt) the employee has presented to show continuing 
employment authorization in this field.  
Document Number: Enter the document number, if any, of the document you entered in the Document Title field 
exactly as it appears on the document. Enter N/A if the document does not have a number.  
Expiration Date (if any)mm/dd/yyyy(            ): Enter the expiration date, if any, of the document you entered in the Document 
Title field as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). If the document does not contain an expiration 
date, enter N/A in this field.  
Signature of Employer or Authorized Representative: The person who completes Section 3 must sign in this field. If you 
used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print Section 3 of the form to sign your name in this field. By signing 
Section 3, you attest under penalty of perjury (28 U.S.C. §1746) that you have examined the documents presented by the 
employee, that the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee named, that to the best of your 
knowledge the employee is authorized to work in the United States, that the information you entered in Section 3 is complete, 
true and correct to the best of your knowledge, and that you are aware that you may face severe penalties provided by law and 
may be subject to criminal prosecution for knowingly and willfully making false statements or knowingly accepting false 
documentation when completing this form.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                           Page 13 of 15



- 14 -
Today's Date: The person who completes Section 3 must enter the date Section 3 was completed and signed in this field. Do 
not backdate this field. If you used a form obtained from the USCIS website, you must print Section 3 of the form to enter the 
date in this field. Enter the date as a 2-digit month, 2-digit day, and 4-digit year (mm/dd/yyyy). For example, enter January 8, 
2014 as 01/08/2014.
Name of Employer or Authorized Representative: The person who completed, signed and dated Section 3 must enter his 
or her name in this field. 

What is the Filing Fee?
There is no fee for completing Form I-9. This form is not filed with USCIS or any government agency. Form I-9 must be 
retained by the employer and made available for inspection by U.S. Government officials as specified in the “DHS Privacy 
Notice” below.

USCIS Forms and Information

For additional guidance about Form I-9, employers and employees should refer to the Handbook for Employers: Guidance for 
Completing Form I-9 (M-274) or USCIS’ Form I-9 website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central.   
You can also obtain information about Form I-9 by e-mailing USCIS at I-9Central@dhs.gov, or by calling 1-888-464-4218 or 
1-877-875-6028 (TTY).  
You may download and obtain the English and Spanish versions of Form I-9, the Handbook for Employers, or the instructions 
to Form I-9 from the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9. To complete Form I-9 on a computer, you will need the latest 
version of Adobe Reader, which can be downloaded for free at http://get.adobe.com/reader/. You may order paper forms at 
https://www.uscis.gov/forms/forms-by-mail or by contacting the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 or 1-800-767-1833 
(TTY). 
Information about E-Verify, a web-based system that allows employers to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the 
United States, can be obtained at https://www.e-verify.gov or by contacting E-Verify at https://www.e-verify.gov/contact-us. 
Employees with questions about Form I-9 and/or E-Verify can reach the USCIS employee hotline by calling 1-888-897-7781 or 
1-877-875-6028 (TTY).

Photocopying Blank and Completed Forms I-9 and Retaining Completed Forms I-9
Employers may photocopy or print blank Forms I-9 for future use. All pages of the instructions and Lists of Acceptable 
Documents must be available, either in print or electronically, to all employees completing this form. Employers must retain 
each employee's completed Form I-9 for as long as the individual works for the employer and for a specified period after 
employment has ended. Employers are required to retain the pages of the form on which the employee and employer entered 
data. If copies of documentation presented by the employee are made, those copies must also be retained. Once the individual's 
employment ends, the employer must retain this form and attachments for either 3 years after the date of hire (i.e., first day of 
work for pay) or 1 year after the date employment ended, whichever is later. In the case of recruiters or referrers for a fee (only 
applicable to those that are agricultural associations, agricultural employers, or farm labor contractors), the retention period is 3 
years after the date of hire (i.e., first day of work for pay). 
Forms I-9 obtained from the USCIS website that are not printed and signed manually (by hand) are not considered complete. In 
the event of an inspection, retaining incomplete forms may make you subject to fines and penalties associated with incomplete 
forms. 
Employers should ensure that information employees provide on Form I-9 is used only for Form I-9 purposes. Completed 
Forms I-9 and all accompanying documents should be stored in a safe, secure location. 
Form I-9 may be generated, signed, and retained electronically, in compliance with Department of Homeland Security 
regulations at 8 CFR 274a.2.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                                Page 14 of 15



- 15 -
DHS Privacy Notice

AUTHORITIES:  The information requested on this form, and the associated documents, are collected under the Immigration 
Reform and Control Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-603 (8 USC 1324a).  
PURPOSE:  The primary purpose for providing the requested information on this form is for employers to verify your identity 
and employment authorization. Consistent with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, 
employers use the Form I-9 to document the verification of the identity and employment authorization for new employees to 
prevent the unlawful hiring, or recruiting or referring for a fee, of aliens who are not authorized to work in the United States. 
This form is completed by both the employer and employee, and is ultimately retained by the employer. 
DISCLOSURE:  The information you provide is voluntary. However, failure to provide the requested information, including 
your Social Security number (if applicable), and any requested evidence, may result in termination of employment. Failure of 
the employer to ensure proper completion of this form may result in the imposition of civil or criminal penalties against the 
employer. In addition, knowingly employing individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States may subject the 
employer to civil and/or criminal penalties. 
ROUTINE USES:  This information will be used by employers as a record of their basis for determining eligibility of an 
individual to work in the United States. The employer must retain this completed form and make it available for inspection by 
authorized officials of the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, and Department of Justice, Civil Rights 
Division, Immigrant and Employee Rights Section. DHS may also share this information, as appropriate, for law enforcement 
purposes or in the interest of national security.

Paperwork Reduction Act
An agency may not conduct or sponsor an information collection and a person is not required to respond to a collection of 
information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.  The public reporting burden for this collection of 
information is estimated at 35 minutes per response, when completing the form manually, and 26 minutes per response when 
using a computer to aid in completion of the form, including the time for reviewing instructions and completing and retaining 
the form.  Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including 
suggestions for reducing this burden, to:  U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory 
Coordination Division, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Mail Stop Number #2140, Camp Springs, MD 20588-0009; OMB No. 
1615-0047.  Do not mail your completed Form I-9 to this address.

Form I-9 Instructions 10/21/2019                                                                      Page 15 of 15






PDF file checksum: 202795619

(Plugin #1/8.13/12.0)