What Do I Need to Fill Out I9 Form?

To fill out the I-9 form, which verifies an employee’s eligibility to work in the United States, you need to complete specific sections of the form and provide documentation that establishes both your identity and employment authorization. Here’s what you need:

Table of Contents

1. Section 1: Employee Information and Attestation

As an employee, you must complete Section 1 of the I-9 form no later than your first day of employment. This section requires the following:

Personal Information: Full legal name, address, date of birth, and optional fields for your email address and telephone number.
Citizenship or Immigration Status: You will select one of the following options:
1. U.S. Citizen
2. Noncitizen national of the U.S.
3. Lawful permanent resident (providing your Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number)
4. Alien authorized to work in the U.S. (providing the expiration date of your employment authorization and your Alien Registration Number/USCIS Number or I-94 Admission Number, along with your foreign passport number if applicable)
Signature and Date: You must sign and date the form, confirming that the information you provided is true and correct.
Preparer/Translator Certification (if applicable): If someone helps you fill out the form, they must complete this section.

2. Section 2: Employer Review and Verification

Your employer must complete Section 2 within three business days of your start date. For this section, you’ll need to provide documents that prove both your identity and your work authorization. You can choose one of the following options:

Option 1: Provide One Document from List A

These documents establish both your identity and your employment authorization. Examples include:

U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with a photograph (Form I-766)
Foreign passport with a temporary I-551 stamp or I-551 notation

Option 2: Provide One Document from List B and One Document from List C

List B Documents (establish identity only):
- Driver’s license or ID card issued by a U.S. state or outlying possession
- School ID card with a photograph
- U.S. Military card or draft record
List C Documents (establish employment authorization only):
- Social Security card (unless it is marked “Not Valid for Employment”)
- Birth certificate issued by a U.S. state or territory
- Native American tribal document

3. Original Documents Required

You must present original documents (not photocopies) for your employer to review. The documents must be unexpired unless otherwise specified.
Your employer will examine the documents to ensure they are genuine and relate to you, the employee.

4. Employer’s Signature and Certification

Once your employer has reviewed your documents, they will fill out the appropriate fields in Section 2, including the document titles, issuing authorities, document numbers, and expiration dates (if applicable).
The employer will then sign and date Section 2 to certify that they have reviewed the documents.

5. Section 3: Reverification and Rehires (if applicable)

If your work authorization expires, your employer will need to complete Section 3 to reverify your eligibility to work.
This section is also used if you are rehired within three years of the original I-9 completion.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your I-9 form is completed accurately and that you meet the legal requirements for employment verification in the United States.