Don Dressler Consulting

At a time of year when you are busy with many other concerns, the day after Christmas you need to make sure you start using the new I-9 form issued by the US Citizenship and Immigration Service.

After being drafted in June of 2007, and officially announced on Nov. 7th, the first business day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 26th the US Department of Homeland Security finally published in the Federal Register a new version of the I-9 form which all employers must complete on all newly hired employees. Based on a prior announcement, all employers must stop using old versions of the I-9 form, which has been in use since the 1986 Federal immigration reform, and must start using the new form no later than Dec. 26th. Seasons Greetings from your government.

I have reviewed the I-9 forms of dozens of small and large employers in Southern California this year and not found any that have all of their forms properly completed. Employers get in a hurry, or don't train their employees, or often don't know themselves what is required to complete the forms correctly. Homeland Security has produced a new Handbook for Employers, # M-274 which goes into detail on use of the form. The Handbook can be accessed at: http://www.uscis.gov/files/nativedocuments/m-274.pdf.

The new Form I-9 can be accessed at http://www.uscis.gov/i-9

The best protection for small employers is to have someone audit their I-9s and show them how to keep them in compliance. Then have two of your own staff involved: one to work with new employees to fill out I-9s and a second employee to double check all I-9s and correct any errors right away.

By the way, I audit I-9s for employers, 25 I-9s for $25 - with the forms sent to my office - (minimum of $25), and I refund the $25 if there are no errors. So far I have never made a refund.

If you would like me to audit your I-9’s, just call 949-533-3742, or email info@dondressler.com.

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