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2020 I9: What You Need To Know About The New I9 form.

A new 2020 I-9 version of the employment eligibility verification form has been issued. The new version is dated 10/21/2019 but will not become mandatory until May 1.


Employers can choose to use the previous edition dated 07/17/2017 or the new 2020 I9 edition. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) publishes a paper I9 Form and an electronic I-9 Form through April 30th. The new 2020 I9 version of the paper form has no changes from the prior version. The 2020 I9 changes only impact the electronic form.


The form is used to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete the Form I9 for each person they hire for employment in the U.S., including both citizens and non-citizens. New hires and employers, or their authorized representatives, must complete the form. Employers must retain the completed forms for a designated period and make them available for inspection when called to do so.


Only employers and employees in Puerto Rico can complete the Spanish version of the 2020 I-9 Form. Spanish-speaking employers and employees in the 50 states and other U.S. territories may print this for their reference, but must complete the form in English to meet employment eligibility verification requirements.

To download the 2020 I9 form, click here.


2020 I9 Form Changes

The new edition of the form lists additional countries in the Country of Issuance field in Section 1, among other minor changes visible only when completing the electronic version of the form, including the following:


  • Clarification on who can act as an authorized representative of an employer. Employers may designate anyone to be an authorized representative to complete Section 2, but the employer is still liable for any violations committed by the designated person. 


  • Clarifications pertaining to acceptable documents. Writing N/A in the identity document columns is no longer necessary. When entering document information in the List A column (or alternatively in the List B and C columns), you will not need to enter "N/A" in the columns which are not being used. "The requirement to enter N/A in certain portions of the form could be burdensome and unclear," Fay said. "Now for example, if you have an employee present a U.S. passport which is recorded in the List A column, you do not need to write N/A in all of the fields in the List B and C columns."


  • The new form also clarifies that the form's List C documents establishing employment authorization does not include a worker's Employment Authorization Document (EAD) that contains a photograph. The List C documents include items like a Social Security card and birth certificate, while the EAD (Form I-766) that contains a photograph providing temporary employment authorization to work in the United States is a List A document.


For the electronic 2020 I9 Form, click here.


Have employees complete their 2020 I9 electronically using our Employee Onboarding feature, part of our easy, affordable, online payroll system.

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