The US Customs and Immigration Service has released a new version of Form I-9 which employers use to verify the identity and employment authorization of their employees. The new version is dated August 1, 2023. The existing I-9 form, which has a version date of October 21, 2019, may be used through October 31, 2023. Effective November 1, 2023, only the new form may be used.
The two most significant changes incorporated into the new version are simplification of the form itself and the inclusion of an approved means to remotely verify an applicant’s documents. The remote verification was first authorized as a temporary measure during the COVID emergency, but still required employers to conduct a review of the actual documents at a later date. The new process authorizes for employers participating and in good standing with E-Verify to use the remote review as a stand-alone process, eliminating the requirement for the in-person secondary review.