Online I-9 Central Now Available in Spanish

On October 4, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a Spanish-language version of I-9 Central, an online resource center designed to provide information and assistance related to the most frequently accessed form on USCIS.gov: Form I-9, Employee Eligibility Verification. This free, easy-to-use website provides employers and employees simple one-click access to resources, tips and guidance to properly complete Form I-9 and better understand the Form I-9 process.

"The release of the Spanish I-9 Central reflects our continued commitment to provide vital, accessible information to our multilingual customers,” said USCIS Director Alejandro Mayorkas. “Since its launch last year, I-9 Central has provided the public with a much needed resource to help them navigate the employment eligibility verification process.”

The launch of the Spanish I-9 Central is the most recent in a series of resource guides related to USCIS employment-related forms and processes. These resources include E-Verify Self Check, a service that allows workers and job seekers in the United States to check their own employment eligibility status online, and an updated “Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9.". Both are also offered in Spanish.

I-9 Central includes sections about employer and employee rights and responsibilities, step-by-step instructions for completing the form, and information on acceptable documents for establishing identity and employment authorization. I-9 Central also includes a discussion of common mistakes to avoid when completing the form, guidance on how to correct errors, and answers to employers’ recent questions about the Form I-9 process.

By law, U.S. employers must verify the identity and employment authorization for every worker hired after Nov. 6, 1986, regardless of the employee’s immigration status. To comply with the law, employers must complete and retain Form I-9.

I-9 Central en Espanol

USCIS Creates Multilingual Resource Center; 22 Languages Available

On July 27, 2012, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched its online Multilingual Resource Center, a new feature on www.uscis.gov. The center provides a central location for USCIS resources in a variety of languages, to include - Haitian Creole, Polish and Vietnamese.

Offering certain immigration application information in other languages helps ensure USCIS communicates across many cultures and reaches a broader audience, while also ensuring that customers obtain information directly from USCIS, and not from unofficial - and possibly unscrupulous - sources. Materials are available in up to 22 languages, covering information on USCIS application processes as well as frequently asked questions. 

"Our Multilingual Resource Center is our most recent step in increasing customer access to important and accurate immigration information," said Director Alejandro Mayorkas. "By providing immigration information to our customers in their native languages, we improve our customers’ experience and enhance their ability to navigate our nation’s legal immigration system."    

One of the highlights of the Multilingual Resource Center is the inclusion of a new Spanish translation of The Handbook for Employers: Instructions for Completing Form I-9 (M-274). Over the past two decades, employers have been using this resource to better understand the employment eligibility verification requirements and how to complete Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. The Handbook provides step-by-step guidance, clarifies the law, and answers frequently asked questions on completion of this form. The Spanish translation of the M-274 also will be included on the I-9 Central and E-Verify websites.  

Another feature of the new Multilingual Resource Center is the introduction of a collection of 13 newly translated How Do I… guides in Chinese. The English versions of these guides have been very useful to those needing help understanding immigration requirements and USCIS services. Now, sponsors, family members and friends can print out and provide these materials to the native Chinese speaker they are helping. These guides, already available in English and Spanish, are very useful for people who need help understanding immigration requirements and USCIS services. 

The Multilingual Resource Center can be found at www.uscis.gov/multilingual.