USCIS Extends Approval for Form I-9, No Changes to Employment Checks
The government is keeping the Form I-9, which checks if people can work in the U.S., the same for now.
Affects: All immigrants · Source: Federal Register
What happened
The U.S. government agency USCIS made an announcement. They said they are extending the approval for a form called I-9. This form is used to check if people can legally work in the United States.
"Extending without change" means the Form I-9 will stay exactly the same. There are no new rules or different ways to fill it out. This is not a change to the form itself.
The public can share their thoughts about this extension. They have until September 18, 2026, to send in their comments.
By the numbers
- 30 — days for public comments
The bigger picture
Before this announcement, employers already used Form I-9 for all new hires. This form helps make sure that everyone working in the U.S. has the legal right to do so. It has been a standard part of starting a new job for many years.
Government agencies like USCIS must regularly review and renew their official forms. This is a normal process to keep things up to date. USCIS is doing this now to keep the current system for checking work eligibility running smoothly.
What this means for you
All immigrants
No direct change for you. You will continue to use the same Form I-9 when starting a new job. The process for proving your work eligibility remains the same.
Employers
No direct change for you. You will continue to use the current Form I-9 for all new employees. The rules for checking work eligibility have not changed.
Green card applicants
No direct change for you. This announcement does not affect your green card application process. It only relates to the form used for employment verification.
F1 students
No direct change for you. When you get a job, you will still fill out the same Form I-9. Your student visa rules for working are not affected by this.
What you should do
- Nothing right now — just good to know that Form I-9 is staying the same. If you want to share your thoughts, you can submit a public comment by September 18, 2026.
Key dates
- 2026-08-19: Announcement published in Federal Register
- 2026-09-18: Last day to submit public comments
Words explained
- Form I-9
- A paper form that all new employees and their bosses must fill out to prove they can legally work in the United States.
- USCIS
- This stands for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which is the government agency that handles immigration matters.
- Federal Register
- This is like an official daily newspaper where the U.S. government announces new rules and changes.
- Extension
- This means making something last longer, like renewing a library book or a government form's approval.
- Public Comment Period
- A time when anyone can tell the government what they think about a new rule or change before it becomes final.
Common questions
Is Form I-9 changing?
No, the government is just extending its approval for the current Form I-9. The form itself and how you fill it out are staying the same.
Do I need to do anything because of this announcement?
No, you do not need to do anything right now. This announcement just means the government is keeping the current form active.
When will the Form I-9 change?
This announcement says the form is staying "without change." The government has not announced any future changes to Form I-9 at this time.
Can I tell the government what I think about Form I-9?
Yes, there is a public comment period. You can share your thoughts with the government until September 18, 2026.
This is a plain-English explanation, not legal advice. Confirm with the official source or a licensed immigration attorney.