New Form I-9 Released—But No Action Needed Just Yet

On April 2, 2025, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) released a new version of Form I-9. While updates have been made, there’s no need for employers to rush into action. Previous editions are still valid for use. 

What’s New?

The updated Form I-9 includes a few terminology changes:

• “Noncitizen” has been changed to “alien” 
• “Gender” has been updated to “sex” 
• The new edition date is 01/20/25 

The revised Form I-9 Instructions reflect the same language updates, along with an updated Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Privacy Notice. These changes were also implemented in the E-Verify system as of April 3, 2025. 

What Employers Need to Know

Here’s the key takeaway: use of the updated Form I-9 is optional for now. Employers can continue using the versions dated 08/01/2023, both of which remain valid until their respective expiration dates in 2026 and 2027. 

However, if your organization uses E-Verify and continues with the 08/01/23 version of the form, be aware of a small—but important—language mismatch. If an employee selects “a noncitizen authorized to work” on the I-9, you’ll need to select “an alien authorized to work” in E-Verify to align with the system’s updated terminology. 

Stay Informed

There’s no immediate change required, but it’s important to stay current. We recommend reviewing the USCIS announcement and familiarizing yourself with the new Form I-9 and Instructions. 

As always, if you have questions about how these updates impact your hiring and onboarding processes, our compliance experts are here to help!