Fill Out USCIS Form I-9 Online
Employment Eligibility Verification
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Verifies the identity and employment authorization of every person hired to work in the United States.
Reviewed July 2026
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Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, is the document every employer in the United States uses to confirm that a new hire is legally authorized to work. The employee completes one part, the employer completes another, and the finished form stays in the employer's records rather than being mailed anywhere.
You can fill out Form I-9 directly in the Universal PDF editor. Type into each field, review the entries for both sections, and download the completed PDF for signing and secure storage in your personnel records.
What is Form I-9 used for
Form I-9 documents that an employer has verified two things about a new employee: who they are, and that they are authorized to work in the United States. It applies to citizens and noncitizens alike, and federal law requires it for every person hired to work in the US.
A key point that surprises many people: the I-9 is never filed with USCIS or any other agency. The employer keeps the completed form on file and produces it only if an authorized government officer asks to inspect it.
Who files Form I-9
Every US employer must complete an I-9 for each employee hired to perform work in the United States, regardless of company size. Both parties have a role:
- The employee completes Section 1, attesting to their citizenship or immigration status.
- The employer (or an authorized representative) completes Section 2 after physically examining the employee's documents.
- A preparer or translator who helps the employee fill out Section 1 completes the supplement for preparers and translators.
- Employers use the reverification and rehire supplement when work authorization expires or an employee is rehired.
How to fill out Form I-9
In Section 1, the employee enters their legal name, address, date of birth, and attestation of status, then signs and dates the form. Employees present documents from the official Lists of Acceptable Documents: one List A document that proves both identity and work authorization, or one document from List B (identity) plus one from List C (work authorization).
In Section 2, the employer records the document title, issuing authority, number, and expiration date for each document examined, then enters the employee's first day of employment and signs the certification. Employers cannot tell employees which specific documents to present, as long as the documents come from the acceptable lists.
Deadlines and retention rules
Timing on the I-9 is strict. The employee must complete Section 1 no later than their first day of employment. The employer must complete Section 2 within three business days of the employee's first day of work for pay.
Employers must retain each I-9 for three years after the date of hire or one year after employment ends, whichever is later. Forms can be stored on paper or electronically, and many employers keep them separate from general personnel files so they are easy to produce during an inspection.
Frequently asked questions
No. The completed I-9 is retained by the employer, not mailed to USCIS or any agency. It only needs to be produced if an authorized government officer requests it during an inspection.
The employee completes Section 1 by their first day of employment. The employer completes Section 2 within three business days of the employee's first day of work for pay.
Three years after the date of hire or one year after the employment relationship ends, whichever is later.
Either one List A document that shows both identity and work authorization, such as a US passport, or a combination of one List B identity document and one List C work authorization document. The employee chooses which acceptable documents to present.
Yes. Every employee hired to work in the United States completes an I-9, including US citizens. The form verifies identity and work authorization for everyone, not just noncitizens.
Yes, employers may complete and store I-9 forms electronically as long as the system meets federal recordkeeping standards. You can fill out the PDF online, download it, and route it for the required signatures.
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