What is Form I-9?
Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the US form employers use to verify the identity and work authorization of every person they hire, citizen or not. The employee completes Section 1, and the employer examines original documents and completes Section 2. Employers must keep each form for three years after hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later.
Example
A new hire presents a passport, or a driver's license with a Social Security card, and the employer records the document details in Section 2. The employer keeps the form and does not send it to USCIS unless asked.
Related
Related terms and guides
Sources
- USCIS, Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification), https://www.uscis.gov/i-9, live official page, linked for readers; link checked 2026-10-31
- USCIS, Handbook for Employers (M-274), https://www.uscis.gov/handbook-for-employers-m-274, live official page, linked for readers; link checked 2026-10-31
This is general information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Rules change and your situation may differ. Consult a licensed attorney or qualified adviser.