On March 27, 2012, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a rule revising an existing information collection and requesting comments on a new Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Comments will be accepted until May 29, 2012.

Although the proposed draft Form I-9 has not been substantively altered, USCIS has made textual additions and clarifying comments in:

Copies of the draft Form and related documents may be found at the rule's docket summary.

Although Form I-9 is not submitted to any government agency, its completion and retention is required for every employee hired by every employer after November 6, 1986. The public comment period allows all stakeholders an opportunity to comment on the suggested changes to the Form.

Update: On August 22, 2012, the USCIS announced that it would extend the public comment period on Form I-9 by an additional 30 days until September 21, 2012. USCIS previously stated that employers should continue using the current Form I-9 after it expires on August 31, 2012 (see Legal Update, Employers Should Continue Using Current Version of Form I-9 Even After It Expires on August 31, 2012: USCIS).

Update: On September 14, 2012, the USCIS announced that it would again extend the public comment period on Form I-9 until October 15, 2012, to give the public sufficient opportunity to comment on the proposed information collection. When submitting public comments to DHS via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal Web site, comments should be submitted under e-Docket ID number USCIS–2006–0068 and not USCIS–2006–2008 as was previously (incorrectly) stated by the USCIS.