Fill Form I-9 Online — Free, No Upload
Employment Eligibility Verification — required for every new hire in the United States. Employees complete Section 1; employers verify documents and complete Section 2. Fill it in your browser and keep it on file.
Official source: uscis.gov — Form I-9
How to Fill Out Form I-9 Online for Free
1. Employee Completes Section 1
The new hire fills Section 1 on or before their first day of work: legal name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number, and citizenship/immigration status. They sign and date the attestation.
2. Employee Presents Documents
Within 3 business days of the start date, the employee presents original, unexpired documents from List A (identity + work authorization) or a combination of List B (identity) and List C (work authorization). Copies are not acceptable.
3. Employer Completes Section 2
The employer or authorized representative physically examines the original documents, then fills Section 2 with document titles, issuing authorities, document numbers, and expiration dates. They sign the employer certification.
4. Retain the Completed Form
Click Save to download the completed I-9. Store it separately from the personnel file. Retain for 3 years from hire date or 1 year after last day of employment, whichever is later. Do not submit to USCIS.
The I-9 Completion Timeline
Every new hire in the U.S. triggers this exact sequence. Missing the 3-day deadline is a compliance violation.
Frequently Asked Questions — Form I-9
What is Form I-9?
Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification) is a USCIS form required for every employee hired to work in the United States after November 6, 1986. It verifies two things: the employee's identity, and their legal authorization to work. Employers must complete an I-9 for every new hire, including U.S. citizens.
Who must complete Form I-9?
Every employer in the United States — with very few exceptions — must complete an I-9 for every person they hire. This applies to U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike. Independent contractors are not employees and do not require an I-9, though misclassifying employees as contractors to avoid I-9 compliance is itself a violation.
What documents are acceptable for Form I-9?
List A documents establish both identity and work authorization (e.g., U.S. Passport, Permanent Resident Card, Employment Authorization Document with photo). Employees present either one List A document, or one List B document (identity only — e.g., driver's license) plus one List C document (work authorization only — e.g., Social Security card, birth certificate). Employers may not specify which documents an employee must present.
How long must I keep Form I-9?
Employers must retain I-9 forms for 3 years from the hire date OR 1 year after the employee's last day, whichever is later. Forms must be stored separately from the personnel file and produced within 3 business days if inspected by ICE, the Department of Justice, or the Department of Labor.
Do I need to re-verify I-9 for employees with expiring work authorization?
Yes. When a non-citizen employee's work authorization document expires, the employer must re-verify using Section 3 of the I-9 (or a new I-9). Re-verification is NOT required for U.S. citizens or permanent residents — their status doesn't expire. U.S. Passports and Permanent Resident Cards should not be rejected based on expiration alone for initial verification purposes, but re-verification applies to other time-limited work authorization documents.
What is E-Verify and is it required?
E-Verify is an online DHS system that electronically compares I-9 information against government databases to verify employment eligibility. It is separate from the I-9 but often completed alongside it. Federal contractors and subcontractors are required to use E-Verify. Some states require it for public employers or all employers. Private employers not subject to those mandates may use it voluntarily.
Can I-9 be completed remotely?
Employers must physically examine original documents — traditionally in person. However, DHS introduced a remote document examination option in 2023 for employers enrolled in E-Verify who follow specific remote examination procedures. Employers who are not E-Verify enrolled must still examine documents in person, though they may now use authorized representatives to do so on their behalf.
Is this the official USCIS Form I-9?
Yes. PDF Edit loads the I-9 PDF published by USCIS. We do not recreate or modify the form. Always confirm you have the current version — USCIS periodically revises the I-9, and using an outdated version can result in violations.
About Form I-9
Three Sections
Section 1 — Employee: Filled by the new hire on or before their first day. Section 2 — Employer: Filled by the employer within 3 business days after reviewing original identity documents. Section 3 — Re-verification: Used when employment authorization expires or the employee is rehired within 3 years.
The 3-Day Rule
Employers have 3 business days from the first day of employment to complete Section 2 and review documents. If the employee is hired for fewer than 3 days, Section 2 must be completed on or before the first day. Starting Section 2 before the employee's start date is prohibited.
Document Examination Rules
Employers may not request specific documents from employees — they may only specify which list (A, or B+C). Requesting a particular document (e.g., "I need a passport") is a violation. Expired documents are not acceptable. Employers must accept any valid document from the lists.
Who Is Exempt
Independent contractors (not employees) do not require an I-9. Employees hired before November 7, 1986 are grandfathered. Employees who work entirely outside the United States are also exempt. Household employees hired by private individuals may be exempt in certain circumstances.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Civil paperwork violations range from $272 to $2,701 per form. Knowingly hiring unauthorized workers triggers $676 to $27,018 per worker, rising sharply with repeat offenses. Criminal penalties apply for pattern and practice violations.
Official Source
Form I-9 is published by USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services). PDF Edit loads this document directly from USCIS — we do not recreate or modify it. The I-9 is updated periodically; always verify you have the current version at uscis.gov/i-9-central.
PDF Edit vs I-9 Software, Tracker I-9, and Paper
| Feature | PDF Edit | I-9 Software (Tracker, etc.) | Paper form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data uploaded to server? | No — 100% local | Yes | No |
| Account required? | Never | Yes (subscription) | No |
| Official USCIS form? | Yes | Proprietary UI over same data | Yes |
| Good for small employers? | Yes — ideal | Overkill for under 50 hires/yr | Yes |
| Audit trail / reminders? | Manual | Built-in | Manual |
| Free? | Yes, always | No (subscription) | Free |
PDF Edit is the right choice for small employers with infrequent hires who don't need automated compliance reminders. For companies onboarding dozens of employees monthly, an I-9 management platform that automates re-verification alerts is worth the subscription cost.
Who Uses PDF Edit for Form I-9?
Small Business Owners
Restaurants, retail shops, and service businesses that hire a handful of employees per year. No need for a compliance software subscription when hiring is infrequent.
Seasonal Employers
Farms, resorts, and retailers with concentrated hiring seasons. Fill I-9s quickly for a batch of seasonal workers without paying year-round software costs.
HR Coordinators
HR professionals at mid-size companies who handle onboarding documentation and need a fast, no-friction way to open and fill a current I-9 for new hires.
New Employees
Employees who want to review Section 1 before their first day, understand what information they'll need to provide, and know what documents to bring.
Attorneys and Paralegals
Immigration attorneys who help clients understand the I-9 process, review completed forms for accuracy, and prepare corrected forms.
Nonprofit Organizations
Nonprofits with limited budgets that need to stay I-9 compliant for their employees without licensing I-9 management software.
Why Fill Form I-9 on PDF Edit?
Employee Data Stays Local
Form I-9 contains Social Security Numbers, passport numbers, and immigration document details. PDF Edit processes everything in the browser — none of that data is uploaded to external servers.
Always Free, No Subscription
I-9 compliance software costs hundreds to thousands of dollars per year. For small employers, PDF Edit covers the entire workflow for free.
Official USCIS Form
You're filling the same PDF USCIS publishes — every field and attestation exactly as required. No recreated templates or proprietary formats.
No Account Required
No signup, no email, no password. Open the editor, fill the form, save a clean PDF for your records. Done in minutes.
Works on Any Device
Windows, Mac, Chromebook, iPad, iPhone, Android — any device with a modern browser. Useful for employers who need to complete I-9s in the field or at a job site.
Full PDF Editor Included
Annotate, correct, and save a clean PDF. Useful for reviewing completed I-9s and noting corrections with date and initials as required by USCIS correction procedures.
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