I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification Process

Completing the I-9 Form for New Employees

The University is required by federal law to verify the eligibility of an employee to legally work in the United States and at GW. For every employee hired by the University after November 6, 1986, Section I of the Employment Eligibility Verification Form, commonly called the I-9 Form, must be completed on or before the date of hire. Section 2 must be completed within 3 work days of the start of employment. Section 2 requires an employee to present, to a University Authorized I-9 Representative, original documentation that establishes identity and employment eligibility. The complete list of acceptable documents for proving identity and employment eligibility can be found on the back of the I-9 Form.

There are three available locations at which to complete the I-9 Form with a University Authorized I-9 Representative:

Division of Human Resources	2033 K Street NW Ste 220 (202) 994-9641 or Academic Center 801 22nd St NW Ste T101 (202) 994-9606
Career Center (Student Employees Only)	1922 F Street NW
New Employee Orientation - Benefit Eligible Employees

All departments must ensure that their new employees are notified, prior to their first day of work, of the need to complete the I-9 Form in a timely manner. Upon completion of the I-9 Form, Human Resource (or the Career Center) will provide a receipt to the employee. Faculty, research and temporary (student and wage) new hire paperwork requires the attachment of the I-9 receipt.

Updating and Reverifying the I-9 Form

For employees whose work authorization documentation expires, the I-9 form must be reverified in Human Resource. It is the employee's responsibility to present updated work authorization documentation to Human Resource on or before the date the current authorization expires. The Bureau of US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) recommends that employees apply, through the appropriate agency, for new work authorization at least 90 days before the expiration date. For employees who are being rehired, the I-9 form must be updated or reverified in Human Resources or by a department authorized by HR to complete reverifications.

If an employee has been rehired after a lapse of one year, a new form may need to be completed as I-9 forms are only kept on file for one year from the date of termination or three years from the original date of employment, whichever is greater. Human Resources may be contacted at (202) 994-9606 to verify that a completed I-9 is still on file.