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What do employers do with i9?

Author

Olivia House

Published Mar 09, 2026

What do employers do with i9?

The employer is required to retain the page of the form on which the employer and the employee entered data. If copies of documents presented by your employees were made, they should be kept with the corresponding Form I-9. You may also retain the instructions and Lists of Acceptable Documents pages.

Herein, what Does employer do with i 9?

Use Form I-9 to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. Employers must retain Form I-9 for a designated period and make it available for inspection by authorized government officers.

Likewise, who can verify an i9? The Form I-9 Authorized Representative

The employer may authorize anyone (except the new hire himself) to review the I-9 form and identification documents; describe the documents on the form; and complete the Section 2 Certification.

In this regard, can an employer fill out your i9?

Employers must complete and sign Section 2 of Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, within 3 business days of the date of hire of their employee (the hire date means the first day of work for pay). If the job lasts less than 3 days, you must complete Section 2 no later than the first day of work for pay.

What triggers an I 9 audit?

An I-9 audit can be triggered for a number of reasons, including random samples and reporting by disgruntled employees (or ex-employees). Certain business sectors, for example food production, are especially susceptible to I-9 audits, and "silent raids" by ICE.

Can you work without i9?

An incomplete I-9 form does not affect an employer's ability or obligation to pay an employee. The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) requires employers to pay an employee who performs work, even if the employee is found to be unauthorized to work in the U.S. or quits employment prior to completing the I-9 form.

What if an employee never completed an i9?

Failure to comply with I-9 verification and document retention requirements could result in a penalty. The minimum penalty for a first offense is $110; the maximum penalty is $1,100. Penalties are assessed based on several factors, including: The size of the employer.

Is i 9 required by law?

You are required to complete and retain a Form I-9 for every employee you hire for employment in the United States, except for: Individuals hired on or before Nov. 6, 1986, who are continuing in their employment and have a reasonable expectation of employment at all times. (Some limitations to this exception apply.)

Can you accept copies of documents for I 9?

May I accept a copy of a document from an employee? No. Employees must present original documents. The only exception is that an employee may present a certified copy of a birth certificate.

What happens if i9 is not completed in 3 days?

If the new hire does not present acceptable identification documents by the end of three business days after the first day of work for pay, you may terminate the employee for failing to complete the I-9 form.

Is Passport enough for i9?

For badging purposes—Two forms of identification (such as a state driver's license, state identification card, U.S. Passport, military ID card, birth certificate, or Social Security card). For I-9 purposes—You must choose from the List of Acceptable Documents : One document from List A, or.

Do employers need to keep original i9?

Storing the Original Paper Form I-9

Employers who choose to keep paper copies of the documents their employees present may store them with the employee's Form I-9 or with the employees' records. However, USCIS recommends that employers keep Form I-9 separate from personnel records to facilitate an inspection request.

Do employees have to fill out a new i9 every year?

A: Employers must retain I-9 forms for at least three years, or for one year following the employee's separation from the company, whichever is later. It is a best practice to store all I-9 forms together in one file since they must be produced promptly following an official government request.

What is the penalty for not having i 9?

Penalties for substantive violations, which includes failing to produce a Form I-9, range from $230 to $2,292 per violation.

What are the fines for I 9 violations?

The minimum fine per individual for paperwork or technical violations increased from $230 to $234, while the maximum fine increased from $2,292 to $2,332. Fines for knowingly hiring or continuing to employ unauthorized workers went up as well. The range for a first offense went from $573-$4,586 to $583-$4,667.

What happens if you lie on a i9 form?

In their eagerness to get a job, many foreign-born, often undocumented persons simply check the box for either “citizen” or “national” on Form I-9. For example, if you have lied about being a U.S. citizen to work, vote, or receive public benefits, you are probably inadmissible and ineligible for a green card.

What is the penalty for hiring illegal immigrants?

If you engage in a pattern of hiring undocumented immigrants, you could face criminal fines of up to $3,000 per unauthorized worker and up to 6 months in jail.

What i9 documents do I need?

Driver's License
  • ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color and address.
  • School ID card with a photograph.
  • Voter registration card.
  • U.S.military card or draft record.

How do I get my i9?

To download the form from the Chrome web browser:
  1. Click the link to the Form I-9 you wish to download.
  2. Click the arrow that displays in the PDF file download box that will appear in the bottom left-hand corner.
  3. Select "Show in folder" from the drop-down that appears.
  4. Open the form that appears in your Download folder.

How long does an employee have to provide i 9 documents?

If an employee has presented a receipt for a document, he or she must produce the actual document within 90 days of the date employment begins.

Can you complete an I 9 prior to start date?

The short answer is that yes, a Form I-9 can be completed prior to the start date of an employee.

How do employers verify i 9?

E-Verify employers verify the identity and employment eligibility of newly hired employees by electronically matching information provided by employees on the Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, against records available to the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS

Can you fill out an i9 online?

Who Can Certify I-9? The form has to be filled out no later than the first day of employment. The superior need only upload a file, invite the recipient to sign i9 online and indicate where to create a signature. The recipient may place a mark by typing, drawing or uploading it from any internet-connected device.

Does I 9 address have to match driver's license?

In section 1 of the I-9 form you have to fill in your address. Additionally, you have to provide at least one of the qualifying documents from List A (must be current and not expired), or 1 document each from both List B and List C (also current and not expired.)

Is e verify the same as I 9?

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the core of E-Verify. E-Verify is an internet-based system that compares information from Form I-9 to government records to confirm that an employee is authorized to work in the U.S. Employees with questions about E-Verify may call 888-897-7781.

How common are i9 audits?

Audits of I-9 records quadrupled in 2018 over the prior year (the federal fiscal year). That means nearly 6,000 employers were audited, which led to several dozen civil and criminal convictions. With a quick review of basic I-9 employment eligibility verification requirements and common errors.

What happens during an I 9 audit?

During the audits, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) inspectors review businesses' documentation regarding work authorization for their foreign employees. If you're not sure you're prepared for a Form I-9 audit, you'll want to play it safe and review your current employees' documentation.

Why do you need an i9?

You must complete Form I-9 each time you hire any person to perform labor or services in the United States in return for wages or other remuneration. Remuneration is anything of value given in exchange for labor or services, including food and lodging.