USCIS hears suggestions and feedback on I-9 Central

by John Fayon August 9, 2011

On Tuesday, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Verification Division held a listening session to gather feedback on the usability and functionality of the I-9 Central web portal, which is designed to be a one-stop resource for employers and workers seeking the latest guidance on how to complete the Form I-9 employment eligibility verification form. As usual, there were several immigration attorneys in attendance, representing their clients (companies, universities, non-profits, etc.) who have been feeling the pressure to get their I-9 house(s) in order. The meeting consisted primarily of questions/comments from the attendees regarding the usability of the I-9 Central resource and whether it could/should be approved. In case you missed today’s session, you can view the agenda items here as well as very quick USCIS PowerPoint with some I-9 Central screenshots here.

In addition, I’ve summarized the major points discussed (including the highlights from USCIS) below for your further reading enjoyment.

USCIS listens to prior feedback

In November of last year, the USCIS held an I-9 listening session, which gave various stakeholders the opportunity to voice their concerns and wish lists in relation to the Form I-9 in general (including each section of the form, the list of acceptable documents, the I-9 verification process as a whole, and educational resources). Based upon that meeting, the agency has made a concerted effort to make the I-9 instructions and other materials clearer – from both the employer and employee perspective. In particular, USCIS has implemented the following in direct relation to those comments:
â—¦More directions regarding how to examine the section 2 (identity and work authorization) documents
â—¦Sample document images, most of which are also available on the M-274 I-9 Employer Handbook.
â—¦A document matrix which shows which documents are valid for a particular employee status (citizen, non-citizen national, legal permanent resident, or alien authorized to work)

I-9 Central Home Page and “What’s Newâ€