USCIS has reminded employers about important changes to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification — the document every U.S. employer must complete for each new hire, including foreign nationals working on H-1B, OPT, and green-card-based authorization. A revised edition is now in circulation, and there is a hard deadline approaching for companies that complete the form electronically.
What changed:
- The current Form I-9 carries an edition date of 01/20/25 and an expiration date of 05/31/2027, and is available for download from the USCIS website.
- Prior editions remain usable for now: the 08/01/23 edition continues to be valid, with versions expiring on 07/31/2026 and 05/31/2027 depending on the printing.
- A key nuance: an employer may keep using a prior paper edition until it expires as long as the form’s edition date has not changed. If the form is shortened or the edition is retired, employers must move to the latest version.
The deadline that matters: Employers who use an electronic Form I-9 system must update it to the version showing the 05/31/2027 expiration date by July 31, 2026. Missing this update can leave a company out of compliance even if its day-to-day process looks unchanged.
Why this matters for immigrants and their sponsors: Form I-9 is where work authorization is documented and re-verified, including when an employment authorization document or status is extended. Errors or outdated forms can create problems during audits and at status-change milestones. Employees should make sure their employer is using a current edition and re-verifies authorization on time, while employers — especially those sponsoring foreign talent — should confirm their HR or electronic onboarding systems are updated before the July 31, 2026 deadline.
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Source: LinkedIn - USCIS