A federally required employment document used to confirm a personās identity and authorization to work in the United States. Form I-9 is completed for every new hire and serves as a key compliance step in the onboarding process for U.S. employers.
Key Features:
- Federal compliance requirement: Legally mandated to ensure all employees are properly verified as eligible to work.
- Two-part structure: Section 1 is filled out by the employee to attest to work eligibility, while Section 2 is completed by the employer after reviewing supporting documents.
- Identity and work authorization check: Requires presentation of valid, unexpired documents such as a U.S. passport, Permanent Resident Card, or a combination of approved identification documents.
- Retention rules: Employers must securely store the completed form for the duration of employment and for a specified period after termination.
How a Fake Form I-9 or False Documents Are Misused:
- Illegal employment eligibility claims: Fraudulent forms or documents may be used to gain employment without legal work authorization.
- Identity deception: Fake documentation can be used to assume another identity during hiring.
- Employer compliance fraud: Some attempts involve misleading employers during the verification process to bypass federal requirements.
- Document substitution schemes: False or altered identity documents may be presented instead of valid government-issued records.
