Effective May 7, 2013, all employers were required to begin using the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' (USCIS) new, revised version of the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. In order to confirm that your business is using the proper version of the Form I-9, please refer to the lower left corner of the form. The proper version will contain a revision date of 03/08/13 in the lower left corner.

According the USCIS, the new form "makes several improvements designed to minimize the errors in form completion." These include:

• Adding new data fields, including room for the employee's telephone number and email address, as well as foreign passport information;
• Clarifying the form's instructions; and
• Revising the layout of the form and expanding it from one to two pages (not including the form's instructions and List of Acceptable Documents).

All employers are required to keep a Form I-9 for each employee hired to work in the United States; however, it is not necessary to complete a new Form I-9 for existing employees, if a properly completed Form I-9 is already on file.

Failure to use the revised form may result in penalties. Access the revised I-9 forms online at www.uscis.gov/I-9.

For more information on Form I-9, or any employment immigration-related issues, contact Matthew J. LaMourie or any of Preti's Employment Law attorneys.