John Valdez’s Legal Blog

It is critical that employers keep up-to-date on changes in immigration laws.  For example, employers should know that the USCIS just released a new Form I-9.  The new form should be used beginning on February 2, 2009.  The Form I-9 is an employment verification document mandated by the Immigration Control and Reform Act, enacted in 1986.  It is meant to reduce the unlawful employment of non-citizens.  The following documents have been added to List A of the form as documents that establish both identity and work authorization:

• Foreign passports containing an I-551 notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa;
• The new U.S. Passport Card; and
• Passports and certain other documents for Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of the Marshall Islands citizens.

Documents that may no longer be used on list A include Forms I-688, I-688A, and I-688B.  Also, no expired documents may be used for I-9 purposes (previously some expired documents were permitted).

Again, all of these changes occur beginning on February 2, 2009.  The new form can be found at www.uscis.gov/i-9. 

If you have any questions about immigration laws, nonimmigrant visas, employment-based immigration, or any other immigration subject, contact the Long Beach immigration attorneys at Smith & Garg, PC.