The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) soon will require employers to use a newly revised Employment Eligibility Verification Form I-9 when confirming that employees are eligible to work in the United States.

USCIS released the revised Form I-9 this month and set a May 7, 2013, deadline for employers to begin using the new form. Employers may use either the new form or earlier versions until then.

The revisions do not significantly change the verification process in which employers must examine identification and employment authorization documents. Rather, USCIS says that the revisions aim to reduce errors and provide clearer instructions to both employees and employers. Key differences include:

• longer instructions for employees and employers
• a new section for re-verifying employment eligibility
• optional sections for e-mail addresses and telephone numbers of employees
• clearer instructions and expanded sections for employers to record the titles and numbers of documents examined

Employers who want to schedule employment-verification training, discuss I-9 compliance audits, or receive more information are invited to contact Sarah Crippen (612.341.9733, scrippen@bestlaw.com).