Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification: What Employees Need to Know
In this guide
Quick answer: Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the form every US employer must complete for every new hire, citizens and non-citizens alike. You fill in Section 1 and show your employer acceptable documents that prove your identity and work authorization. Your employer checks them and completes Section 2. The form is not filed with USCIS.
The first day of a US job comes with a surprising amount of paperwork, and Form I-9 is the one that confuses newcomers most. It is not a tax form and it is not an immigration application. It is a record that your employer checked who you are and that you may work. This guide explains who does what, based on the USCIS pages for employers and employees.
Who has to complete Form I-9?
USCIS says all US employers must properly complete Form I-9 for every individual they hire for employment in the United States, which includes both citizens and non-citizens. Both the employee and the employer, or an authorized representative of the employer, must complete the form.
What do you do, and what does your employer do?
| Part of the form | Who completes it | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Section 1 | You, the employee | You attest to your employment authorization |
| Documents | You | You present acceptable documents showing identity and work authorization |
| Section 2 | Employer | The employer examines the documents, decides whether they reasonably appear genuine and relate to you, and records the document details |
| Supplement A | Preparer or translator | Needed only if someone helped you complete Section 1 |
| Supplement B | Employer | Used for reverification of work authorization or to document a rehire |
The form includes a page with the Lists of Acceptable Documents. USCIS says employers must give employees this list, either on paper or as a link, along with the instructions. You choose which acceptable documents to present. If you hold an employment authorization document or a green card, either can serve as your proof.
Can the documents be checked remotely?
USCIS says certain employers who choose to examine documents remotely under a DHS-authorized alternative procedure, instead of in person, must check a box on the form to show they did so. Ask your employer which procedure applies.
What happens to the form afterwards?
USCIS is clear that employers must not file Form I-9 with USCIS or ICE. Employers must:
- Have a completed form on file for each person on payroll who must complete it.
- Keep it for three years after the date of hire, or one year after employment ends, whichever is later.
- Make it available if authorized officials from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor or Department of Justice ask to inspect it.
What if your work authorization is about to expire?
Supplement B is the page employers use when an employee needs reverification. If your card is expiring, file for renewal early. For green card holders, see how to renew a green card, where USCIS explains that the I-90 receipt notice with an expired card can be presented, and gives a phone line for I-9 questions at 888-897-7781.
Common mistakes
- Waiting to complete Section 1. It is the employee’s part and must be done on time.
- Assuming you must show a specific document. You choose from the acceptable lists.
- Mailing the form to USCIS. Employers keep it on file, they do not send it in.
- Not telling the employer someone helped you. A preparer or translator completes Supplement A.
FAQ
Do US citizens fill in Form I-9 too?
Yes. USCIS says employers must complete it for every individual they hire, citizens and non-citizens.
Is there a Spanish version of the form?
USCIS says only employers in Puerto Rico may complete the Spanish version instead of the English one. Anyone may use the Spanish form and instructions as a translation tool.
Where can employees get information on their rights?
USCIS’s I-9 Central includes information on employee rights and preventing discrimination in the workplace.
Key takeaways
- Every new hire in the US completes Form I-9, citizen or not.
- You complete Section 1 and present your documents, and the employer completes Section 2.
- Employers keep the form for three years after hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later, and do not send it to USCIS.
Related guides
- Employment authorization document (EAD)
- How to renew a green card
- Form W-4 for nonresident alien employees
- SSN vs ITIN
This page is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements on the official USCIS I-9 Central pages. Last updated: October 2026.
Sources
USCIS: Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification; USCIS: I-9 Central; USCIS: Replace Your Green Card.