Frequent news stories about employers penalized and fined for hiring undocumented workers highlight the vital importance of a small but critical part of the hiring process — the Employment Eligibility Verification form, more commonly known by its number, the I-9. This valuable form proves both employment eligibility and verification of an individual's identity, making it useful in hiring citizens and non-citizens alike.

Issued by the federal government's office of Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the I-9 form is a declaration that an individual is legally eligible to work in the United States. In addition to a worker's contact information and signed attestation of eligibility, it specifies the type (citizen, non-citizen, lawful permanent resident, or alien authorized to work) of employment eligibility along with details of the proof of eligibility presented. Official documentation, such as a passport, Permanent Resident Card, Social Security card, driver's license, and others must be presented as proof. Virtually all employees must have a properly completed I-9 form on file. 

Fully completing an I-9 form for every employee is an easy, legally required, addition to your hiring process. Beyond damage to your business reputation, the consequences of incomplete or missing I-9 forms can include hefty fines assessed per violation and other penalties as the result of an Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) audit. 

Our electronic entry, processing, and checking system for managing I-9 documentation offers a convenient, efficient, integrated electronic solution for recording, authenticating, and archiving I-9 paperwork, so you have the confidence of knowing employee documentation is complete and verified. 

At Employers Reference Source, Inc., our goal is to provide effective, powerful employee screening and verification to help ensure you have a safe, reliable, legal workforce. Contact us today to learn more about our full array of screening services.