Form I-9 Instructions for Employees

Group	Form I-9 Importance	Process of Filling Outthe I-9 Form
Employees	The I-9 form, also known as the Employment Eligibility Verification form, is a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) document that is mandatory for employers to ensure a newly hired employee's eligibility to work in the U.S. It requires necessary proof that the employee is legally allowed to work within the country.	For employees, both you and your employer will fill out this form. You should complete the first section on or before your first day of work, while your employer fills out the second part within three business days of your start date. You must provide your employer with acceptable original documents that prove your identity and work authorization. It could be a passport, driver’s license, or birth certificate.
Contractors	Independent contractors in the United States are not considered employees, so they aren't obliged to fill out the I-9 form. However, businesses hiring them should be sure they're legitimately working as independent contractors and not just classified as one while operating as employees.	If contractors are determined to be employees, then the hiring organization and the worker would need to complete an I-9 form as explained above. For legitimate contractors, an I-9 isn't necessary because they aren't considered employees under federal law.
Freelancers	Just like contractors, freelancers are not classified as employees and, therefore, don't need to complete an I-9 form. Yet, hiring companies should ensure these freelancers are genuinely self-employed and possess the legal right to work in the U.S.	Freelancers, like contractors, won't need to fill out an I-9 form unless it's determined that they are performing as employees. However, they must provide evidence that they can legally work in the U.S., usually when filling out the W-9 form, used to request the taxpayer identification number for purposes like reporting income paid or services rendered.