USCIS has just announced that it will delay the implementation of its new I-9 requirement rule for sixty days, until April 3, 2009. The interim rule, titled ‘Documents Acceptable for Employment Eligibility Verification, was originally published in the Federal Register in mid-December 2008. The rule streamlined the process for employers to verify the employment eligibility of new employees. In addition to extending the implementation of the new rule, USCIS is reopening the public comment period for an additional thirty days, until March 4, 2009, to give concerned members of the public more time to share their thoughts on the bill.
Employers are required to complete a Form I-9 for every newly hired employee to verify their identity and confirm their authorization to work in the U.S. The interim final rule will, when implemented, amend regulations regarding the types of acceptable ID and employment authorization documents that employees can present to their new employers. Employers will no longer be able to accept documents that have expired as part of the I-9 verification process.
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