U.S. employers are required to verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States. All U.S. employers must properly complete Form I-9 for each individual they hire for employment in the United States. This includes citizens and noncitizens. Both employees and employers (or authorized representatives of the employer) must complete the form.

On the form, an employee must attest to their employment authorization. The employee must also present their employer with acceptable documents as evidence of identity and employment authorization. The employer must examine these documents to determine whether they reasonably appear to be genuine and relate to the employee, then record the document information on the employee’s Form I-9. Employers must retain Form I-9 for a designated period and make it available for inspection by authorized government officers.

The purpose of Form I-9 is to ensure that all employees hired to work in the United States are authorized to do so and to prevent discrimination against individuals based on their citizenship or immigration status. Employers who fail to comply with Form I-9 requirements may be subject to fines, penalties, and legal action.