Form I-9 - Employment Eligibility Verification

What Form I-9 is

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) form employers use to verify the identity and work authorization of every person they hire in the United States. This template is the fillable 01/20/25 edition (OMB expiration 05/31/2027), which is the current edition listed on the USCIS Form I-9 page as of October 3, 2026. USCIS also still allows the 08/01/23 edition that carries the 05/31/2027 expiration date.

Despite how it is often searched, the I-9 is not a tax form. It is never sent to the IRS, USCIS, or ICE. The employer keeps it on file.

Who uses it

Two people complete the form: the new employee fills in and signs Section 1, and the employer or an authorized representative completes Section 2 after examining the employee's documents. A preparer or translator who helps the employee with Section 1 completes Supplement A, and the employer uses Supplement B for later reverification or rehire.

What to have ready

• For the employee: full legal name, other last names used, home address, date of birth, and, depending on the status box selected, an A-Number, USCIS Number, Form I-94 admission number, or foreign passport number and country of issuance.
• For the employer: the original documents the employee chooses to present, either one document from List A, or one from List B plus one from List C. The lists are on page 2 of the form.
• The employee's first day of employment and the employer's business name and address.

How to fill out the I-9 with PDF Editify

Click "Fill Template Now", type into the form fields, then download and print. USCIS says this fillable PDF does not meet DHS standards for electronic I-9 systems, so employers and employees must print it and sign it by hand rather than typing or adding an electronic signature. The Supplement A signature field states the same: print and sign in ink.

Section 1. Employee Information and Attestation (page 1)

• Name and address: Last Name (Family Name), First Name (Given Name), Middle Initial, Other Last Names Used, street address, apartment number, city or town, state (drop-down list), and ZIP code.
• Date of Birth, U.S. Social Security Number, Employee's E-mail Address, and Employee's Telephone Number. The instructions say entering an SSN is voluntary unless the employer participates in E-Verify.
• Attestation: select exactly one box: a citizen of the United States, a noncitizen national, a lawful permanent resident (enter the A-Number or USCIS Number), or a noncitizen authorized to work until an expiration date (enter one of: USCIS/A-Number, Form I-94 Admission Number, or Foreign Passport Number and Country of Issuance).
• Signature of Employee and Today's Date, signed by hand after printing.

Section 2. Employer Review and Verification (page 1)

• Up to three List A entries, or one List B and one List C entry, each with Document Title, Issuing Authority, Document Number, and Expiration Date (if any).
• Additional Information and the checkbox for an alternative procedure authorized by DHS to examine documents, which applies only to employers using that procedure.
• First Day of Employment, the name and title of the employer or authorized representative, signature, date, and the business name and address.

Supplement A and Supplement B (pages 3-4)

Supplement A records the employee's name from Section 1 and each preparer or translator's name, address, signature, and date. Supplement B (formerly Section 3) records a rehire date, a new name if applicable, and the document title, number, and expiration date for reverification. You only need to print these pages when they apply.

Deadlines and record keeping

According to the Form I-9 instructions:

• The employee completes and signs Section 1 no later than the first day of employment, and not before accepting the job offer.
• The employer completes Section 2 within three business days after the employee's first day of employment. If the job lasts less than three business days, Section 2 is due by the first day.
• The employer keeps each Form I-9 for three years after the date of hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later, and makes it available for inspection. Page 2 (the Lists of Acceptable Documents) does not need to be retained.

There is no USCIS filing fee because the form is not filed. The Handbook for Employers (M-274) has detailed guidance for employers.

Common mistakes

• Typing or pasting a signature into the fillable PDF instead of printing and signing in ink.
• Selecting more than one status box in Section 1, or leaving the expiration date blank for a noncitizen authorized to work when one applies.
• Asking for specific documents. The employee chooses which acceptable documents to present.
• Recording List A and List B/C documents together, or missing the three business day deadline for Section 2.
• Using an outdated edition. Check the edition date at the bottom of each page against uscis.gov/i-9.

For hiring remote employees, see our guide on filling out the I-9 for remote hires, and browse related U.S. government forms.