The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS; Department of Homeland Security) requires all employers to verify the employment eligibility and identity of employees (citizens and non-citizens) hired after November 6, 1986. This is accomplished via completion of the I-9 form. The form is to be completed by both the employee and the employer (or authorized representative). As part of the process, the employee must present documents verifying his or her eligibility to work in the U.S., and the employer (or authorized representative) must physically examine these documents. According to the
USCIS M-274 Handbook for Employers, employers may designate someone to fill out form I-9 on their behalf, such as a notary public.
For more information: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central FAQ's: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/questions-and-answers
Request Form I-9 services for your employees quickly and efficiently!
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~*~ Contact us to request Form I-9 services for one or more of your employees. Both traditional and electronic services are available for your convenience!
~*~ Once terms and conditions are confirmed, email a contract letterhead​ designating
Sound Signings, LLC as the Authorized Representative to complete the form on your
company or organization's behalf.
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~*~ An agent will contact the listed employees to establish and/or confirm appointment dates, times, and location and ensure they bring the required ORIGINAL, UNEXPIRED identification documents of choice. Options are listed below.
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~*~ Once completed, the company, organization, or representative will be notified.
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** For additional questions, reference the FAQ section and "How To" video below.
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Set up your appointments TODAY!
Employees may present ONE selection from List A or a combination of one selection from List B and one selection from List C.
LIST A
Documents that establish both identity and employment authorization. An employee need only present ONE of the following forms to satisfy the document requirement:
1. U.S. Passport or U.S. Passport Card
2. Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card (Form I-551)
3. Foreign passport that contains a temporary I-551 stamp or temporary I-551 printed notation on a machine-readable immigrant visa
4. Employment Authorization Document that contains a photograph (Form I-766)
5. For a nonimmigrant alien authorized to work for a specific employer because of his or her status:
a. Foreign passport; and
b. Form I-94 or Form I-94A that has the following:
(1) The same name as the passport; and
(2) An endorsement of the alien's nonimmigrant status as long as that period of endorsement has not yet expired and the proposed employment is not in conflict with any restrictions or limitations identified on the form.
6. Passport from the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) or the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) with Form I-94 or Form I-94A indicating non-immigrant admission under the Compact of Free Association between the United States and the FSM or RMI
OR
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LIST B
Documents that establish identity:
1. Driver's license or ID card issued by a State or outlying possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
2. ID card issued by federal, state or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
3. School ID card with a photograph
4. Voter's registration card
5. U.S. Military card or draft record
6. Military dependent's ID card
7. U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
8. Native American tribal document
9. Driver's license issued by a Canadian government authority
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For persons under age 18 who are unable to present a document listed above:
10. School record or report card
11. Clinic, doctor, or hospital record
12. Daycare or nursery school record
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LIST C
Documents that establish employment authorization:
1. A Social Security Account Number card, unless the card includes one of the following restrictions:
(1) NOT VALID FOR EMPLOYMENT
(2) VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH INS AUTHORIZATION
(3) VALID FOR WORK ONLY WITH DHS AUTHORIZATION
2. Certification of report of birth issued by the Department of State (Forms DS-1350, FS-545, FS-240)
3. Original or certified copy of birth certificate issued by a State, county, municipal authority, or territory of the United States bearing an official seal
4. Native American tribal document
5. U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
6. Identification Card for Use of Resident Citizen in the United States (Form I-179)
7. Employment authorization document issued by the Department of Homeland Security
FAQ
What is the Form I-9?
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS; Department of Homeland Security) requires all employers to verify the employment eligibility and identity of employees (citizens and non-citizens) hired after November 6, 1986. Form I-9, Employment Eligibility and Verification, is utilized for this purpose. In this form, the employee provides certain personal information and attests to his/her eligibility to work. The verifying employer certifies performance of an in-person examination of the employee’s identification documents. The employer also certifies that the employee began work on a particular day and that “to the best of my knowledge” the employee is authorized to work in the United States.
What is/Who Can Be An Employer’s Authorized Representative?
Often, and for a variety of reasons, the employer and employee are not able to meet in-person for execution of the Form I-9. When necessary, an employer may authorize a third party to act as its Authorized Representative. This third party must perform all actions required of the employer in the Form I-9 process, and complete Section 2 of the form—the Employer’s Review and Verification, and Certification statement. An employer may designate anyone it chooses to be an Authorized Representative for execution of a Form I-9. Given their broad availability and experience in satisfactorily identifying their clients, notaries are among those seen as a logical choice to serve in this capacity.
Is it possible to use an eNotary (electronic notary) on the Form I-9?
There is no prohibition in the laws governing the I-9 that would preclude a Notary, acting as the employer's Authorized Representative, from using an eNotary to sign the form as long as all of the form requirements are met. The notary would need to physically examine the documents the employee presents to establish identity and work authorization and determine whether the documents presented reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the individual. The employee must be physically present with the examiner of the documents during the examination. The person who examines the documents must be the same person who completes and signs Section 2. In addition, if a Form I-9 is completed electronically, the form and process used must be in compliance with 8 CFR 274a.2(e)-(i). Online audio-video conference technology is not an acceptable method of examining documents for the purpose of the form.
I hire my employees remotely.
How do I complete Form I-9?
You may designate an Authorized Representative to fill out Form I-9 on behalf of your company such as a notary public. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not require the Authorized Representative to have specific agreements or other documentation for Form I-9 purposes. If an Authorized Representative fills out Form I-9 on your behalf, you are still liable for any violations in connection with the form or the verification process. When completing Form I-9, you or an Authorized Representative must PHYSICALLY examine each document presented to determine if it reasonably appears to be genuine and relates to the employee presenting it. REVIEWING OR EXAMINING DOCUMENTS VIA WEBCAM IS NOT PERMISSIBLE. If the Authorized Representative refuses to complete Form
I-9 (including providing a signature) another Authorized Representative may be selected. If you hire a notary public, they are acting as an Authorized Representative of you, NOT AS A NOTARY. They must perform the same required actions as an Authorized Representative. When acting as such, THE NOTARY PUBLIC SHOULD NOT PROVIDE A NOTARY SEAL ON FORM I-9.
If I am self-employed, do I have to fill out a Form I-9 on myself?
A self-employed person does not need to complete a Form I-9 on his or her own behalf unless the person is an employee of a separate business entity, such as a corporation or partnership. If the person is an employee of a separate business entity, he or she, and any other employees, will have to complete Form I-9.
Am I required to complete Form I-9 for employees who will work only one day?
Yes. Unless the individual engages in casual domestic employment, you must complete Form I-9 for each employee hired to work in the United States, even if your employee works only one day.
Is my employee required to complete Form I-9 if he/she is attending training in the United States before starting his/her job in a foreign country?
If your company is paying for training that is required for the job, Form I-9 should be completed. You must complete Form I-9 in this situation even if your employee will be attending the training in the United States only for one day.
How far in advance can Form I-9 be completed?
Form I-9 may be completed as soon as the employer has offered the individual a job and the individual has accepted the offer. Each newly hired employee must complete and sign Section 1 of Form I-9 no later than his or her first day of employment.
As an employer, may I use a signature stamp to sign Section 2?
No. Both the employer's and the employee's handwritten (or electronic signature, if applicable) signatures are required to complete Form I-9.
Is it acceptable to have both typed and handwritten information on the Form I-9?
It is acceptable to have both typed and handwritten information on the Form I-9.