An updated Handbook for Employers has also been released by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Handbook provides instructions to employers on the completion of the new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form. The Handbook should be used after April 3, 2009. A copy of the Handbook is available here.

As background, all U.S. employers must complete and retain a Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States, whether they are citizens or noncitizens. On the form, the employer must examine the employment eligibility and identity document(s) an employee presents to determine whether the document(s) reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the individual, record the document information on the I-9 and retain it for the periods required by law.